This bizarre-looking bike went 127 miles per hour

[btj]

http://grist.org/list/this-bizarre-looking-bike-went-127-miles-per-hour/

In 1962, José Meiffret used this odd-looking bike to ride down the German Autobahn at an incredible, record-breaking 127 miles per hour. That gigantic gear had 130 teeth. The bike had wooden rims to keep it from overheating. It weighed 45 pounds. And it went fast. As. Hell.

Topic

[mstone]

Well this should inspire some fixie envy.

[Vicegrip]

He was drafting Tim…….

[dbb]

I think the non-downhill, non-draft assisted record is about 82 mph. Details at http://www.recumbents.com/wisil/whpsc2012/speedchallenge.htm

[Mikey]

Sur la plaque baby!

[DismalScientist]

@dbb 45415 wrote:

I think the non-downhill, non-draft assisted record is about 82 mph. Details at http://www.recumbents.com/wisil/whpsc2012/speedchallenge.htm

This “non-downhill” course seems to have about the same slope as going down the WOD from Westover to Shirlington.

[dbb]

@DismalScientist 45417 wrote:

This “non-downhill” course seems to have about the same slope as going down the WOD from Westover to Shirlington.

Okay – semi-non-downhill

the 2/3% slope standard seems to be a reflection on the slope of the runway they started the competition on. to keep the records they embraced the slope as the upper limit. Sort of like a DC area legislative approach

[TwoWheelsDC]

@dbb 45418 wrote:

Okay – semi-non-downhill

the 2/3% slope standard seems to be a reflection on the slope of the runway they started the competition on. to keep the records they embraced the slope as the upper limit. Sort of like a DC area legislative approach

With auto/motorcycle runs, records usually only count if there are two runs in opposite directions, and the speeds are averaged. So the benefit of any slope “benefit” is cancelled out. I’m guessing they do the same for the human powered vehicles.

[dbb]

I don’t think so. I think the rules are on the site I referenced. Anybody that can go 80 mph on a slight down slope is a hero to me. As long as we are comparing similar performances, the fastest rider still is identified.

[jabberwocky]

I’ve got a healthy appetite for dangerous behavior, but I’ve hit ~60mph descending on the road bike and think thats about my limit.

[btj]

@jabberwocky 45423 wrote:

I’ve got a healthy appetite for dangerous behavior, but I’ve hit ~60mph descending on the road bike and think thats about my limit.

I once hit ~46 mph going down a big hill and it felt plenty dangerous to me. The only reason I even know the speed the driver behind me told me so at the stop light at the bottom. He said, “Do you know how fast you were going?” and I thought he was angry but then he said, “46 miles per hour!” with more of a “wow, I’m impressed” tone and smile.

Haven’t gone that fast since.

[jabberwocky]

@btj 45425 wrote:

I once hit ~46 mph going down a big hill and it felt plenty dangerous to me. The only reason I even know the speed the driver behind me told me so at the stop light at the bottom. He said, “Do you know how fast you were going?” and I thought he was angry but then he said, “46 miles per hour!” with more of a “wow, I’m impressed” tone and smile.

Haven’t gone that fast since.

I remember hitting almost 60 on the descent off Shenandoah Mtn in the 2011 Alpine Gran Fondo. I’ve been in the high 40s/low 50s several times on big descents. Anything over 45 gets a bit scary. I just keep thinking “I’m going ludicrously fast, riding a bike I built myself, a few feet over sandpaperish pavement in basically my underwear”.

It depends a bit on the bike, actually. My carbon roadie is way more stable than my old steel CX bike (that one started feeling squirrely in the high 30s, and I don’t think I ever had the guts to take it over maybe 45 on any descent).

[thecyclingeconomist]

http://www.recumbents.com/wisil/whpsc2012/whpsc_site.htm

I think a 0.6% grade is pretty darn flat…

(mile) Elev. (ft) Delta (ft) Grade (%)
5.0 4790 At Start Parking Lot
4.5 4777 -13 -0.49%
4.0 4761 -16 -0.61%
3.5 4744 -17 -0.64%
3.0 4723 -21 -0.80%
2.5 4703 -20 -0.76%
2.0 4682 -21 -0.80%
1.5 4664 -18 -0.68%
1.0 4649 -15 -0.57%
0.5 4632 -17 -0.64%
0.0 4620 -12 -0.45%
-0.5 4613 -7 -0.27%
-1.0 4613 0 0.00%

[krazygl00]

@jabberwocky 45426 wrote:

I remember hitting almost 60 on the descent off Shenandoah Mtn in the 2011 Alpine Gran Fondo. I’ve been in the high 40s/low 50s several times on big descents. Anything over 45 gets a bit scary. I just keep thinking “I’m going ludicrously fast, riding a bike I built myself, a few feet over sandpaperish pavement in basically my underwear”.

It depends a bit on the bike, actually. My carbon roadie is way more stable than my old steel CX bike (that one started feeling squirrely in the high 30s, and I don’t think I ever had the guts to take it over maybe 45 on any descent).

That’s exactly what I was thinking My fastest so far has been about 50mph, and I was looking at the wheels thinking, “I built those wheels and I’m an idiot!“

[culimerc]

I think the my high score is 48. It would’ve been higher, but I ran up on a car. (Damn car drivers get out of my way if you cant keep up!):cool:

[vvill]

I don’t remember what mine is exactly. Somewhere between 45-49 I think. Anytime I go into the 40s I start feeling a bit nervous, though I’ve never had any weird handling sensation from the bike.

[Author]

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