World's fastest bicycles: Damjan 73.04 mph (117.54 kph)

World's fastest bicycles at the WHPSC World Human Powered Speed Challenge held on Highway 305 south of Battle Mountain, Nevada in October 2005. Slovenian athlete Damjan Zabovnik pedals the Eivie II, a vehicle that he built himself to a speed of 73.04 mph. This was the fastest that anyone from Europe has ever pedalled a bicycle, likely faster than all of Europe's fastest Tour de France riders, even downhill.

Unique about this vehicle is the fact that Damjan lies on his back and pedals with his head facing forward. He looks into a rearview mirror to see ahead. Hence he is pedalling "backwards", and is the only person in the world to do this so successfully. The rider sits and pedals in a recumbent or reclining seat position to make the frontal area of the vehicle smaller and hence more aerodynamic. His 73.04 mph was actually measured over a kilometer distance, which was faster than his 200 meter time. The video starts with him nearly a kilometer (1000 meters) away from end of the timing traps. I was located 200 meters from the finish. After he passes by, you can see the flash bulbs of cameras from specators located near the finish. In later years, Damjan has gone faster. His current fastest mark is 74.96 mph (120.64 kph) in 2007 in the same vehicle.

Riders have 5.5 miles to build up speed, the course is flat, and there is no drafting of another vehicle allowed during the competition. Speed is measured over the final 200 meters of the course. Wind speed was less than 2 m/s during this run so there are no strong tailwinds to push the riders along. These high speeds are due to strong human power and a very good aerodynamic design for the vehicle. I filmed this video from the "timing area" near the final stretch where he was at his maximum speed.
Last year's event website: http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/whpsc2007/speedchallenge-2007.htm

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• worlds
• fastest
• bicycles
• recumbents
• HPVs
• human
• powered
• vehicles
• racing

[branezz]

So... where is the bicycle? :))

[UprightMike]

The bicycle is inside the white body (called a fairing) with superior aerodynamics. He really is doing 117.5 kph inside there at this point down the 8 km long course. AND he's pedalling going backwards with his head in the nose of the vehicle. He's lying on his back using a mirror to see forward.

[bobbypinhead]

That thing almost sounded like it had an engine on it.

[TehFixedTV]

looks more like Chuck Norris's cumshot

[N11kon]

Thats not a normal bike. I want to see someone with a normal road bike

[a575981735977018]

What a beautiful sound when it passed!

[anthonyskibbles]

so wheres the BICYCLE!!!

[DanDavis10]

@filthyfun

Those bikes meant to do one thing: go FAST.

Sure it's not practical but they're built only to break world records.

[filthyfun]

yea what are the practical purposes behind that torpedo? can it turn? Can it go up hill? what about downhill? sure its fast but at what price it seems very limited in its abilities

[dangernba]

Impressive! He reminded me of Burt Munro with his Indian Scout! Look at my attempt: Caloi 10 descida 1,1 km . I reached 76 km/h, and it was awesome!

[camaro69cb]

if that person ever takes that thing into a trailer park there would be ufo sightings on the news

[92651233]

No way that's bull shit

[JacobJ5633]

it looks like a dildo....