Bicyclist sets new land speed record of 183.9 MPH

[MillCreek]

https://www.npr.org/2018/09/18/649221471/woman-rides-bicycle-to-183-9-mph-a-new-world-record?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=news

When I first saw the headline, I wondered what sort of violation of the laws of physics this was.  Then I read the article: the bicyclist was towed on a cable behind a dragster equipped with a windscreen for the cyclist.  The bicyclist disconnected the cable at 150 MPH and started pedaling while the dragster and windscreen kept pace in front of the cyclist, who reached a top speed of 183.9 MPH. 

This is quite an accomplishment, but it is not as impressive as the cyclist getting up to that speed unaided.  I am sure I could go pretty fast too, if I was towed along.

[French G.]

I prefer the guys trying to break the speed record downhilling on a volcano with like a 100% grade. Video somewhere, the crash was epic once front frame and back frame decided they were no longer living together.

[freakazoid]

Sounds like she would've been able to do it on her own if they had set up multiple gears to go through instead of just the one. Still might've needed the dragster to block the wind and create the slipstream.

[Hawkmoon]

Sounds like she would of been able to do it on her own if they had set up multiple gears to go through instead of just the one. Still might of needed the dragster to block the wind and create the slipstream.

I think the number of gears needed to allow a human to get from zero to 183 MPH would weigh so much that the feat wouldn't be possible.

[Fly320s]

Sounds like she would have been able to do it on her own if they had set up multiple gears to go through instead of just the one. Still might have needed the dragster to block the wind and create the slipstream.

Fixed.

/pet peeve

[French G.]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rTfu0hjVtzE

The one I was thinking of. 107 mph and a bunch of rehab time. Ow.

[Regolith]

The actual human powered land-speed record sits at 89.58 mph. That's for an unaided run on flat ground.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cycling_records#History_of_unpaced_records

They set those records on an unusually flat stretch of highway a few miles south of my home town. About once a year the certifying body, IHPVA, shuts down the highway and hold an event where people come from all over to try and break the current records. My high school physics class used to help out with the event. Unfortunately, I didn't get to go because I had a football game on the same day.  

[freakazoid]

Fixed.

/pet peeve

Fixed. 

[MechAg94]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rTfu0hjVtzE

The one I was thinking of. 107 mph and a bunch of rehab time. Ow.

Cool.  Looked like he needed a parachute to pop out near the end.....or maybe a stronger bike. 

I was also sort of wondering if he would make it down to the water and hit a ramp. 

[230RN]

On the "assist" from a dragster, after all, Chuck Yeager, aboard "Glamorous Glenda," "Glamorous Glennis"  had to be carried up to altitude slung under a B-29 and start out at x hundred miles an hour in order to break the sound barrier.  That was considered legit, right?

 

Thanks for the correction, sumpens.

[MechAg94]

As a land speed record without conditions, it is still the last speed record.  They just bypassed some pretty big barriers to get there.  She still accelerated under her own power to a pretty good speed. 

As they targeted the overall record, their team revamped the same dragster that was used to set the men's record. Dutch cyclist Fred Rompelberg, the now-previous record holder, had gone 167 mph behind the car in 1995.

She didn't invent the method.

[Regolith]

On the "assist" from a dragster, after all, Chuck Yeager, aboard "Glamorous Glenda," had to be carried up to altitude slung under a B-29 and start out at x hundred miles an hour in order to break the sound barrier.  That was considered legit, right?

The B29 didn't continue to stay in front of it in order to give the X-1 an aerodynamic advantage, though.

Being towed up to 130 and then accelerating to 183.9 means that she had a ΔV of 53.9mph, and that was with an aerodynamic assist. Impressive, but the woman who has done it the fastest unassisted had a ΔV of 75.69 mph.

[230RN]

^ "The B29 didn't continue to stay in front of it in order to give the X-1 an aerodynamic advantage, though. Wink"

True, but I figured I'd better go back in that one and add a big grin and a popcorn.

[Perd Hapley]

The bike is a lie.

[Hawkmoon]

The bike is a lie.

 

You mean she ran 183.9 MPH?

[freakazoid]

The bike is a lie.

 

[sumpnz]

On the "assist" from a dragster, after all, Chuck Yeager, aboard "Glamorous Glenda," had to be carried up to altitude slung under a B-29 and start out at x hundred miles an hour in order to break the sound barrier.  That was considered legit, right?

 

Glamorous Glennis.

YW.

[Ron]

Anything over 30 mph on a bike feels sketchy to me.

[230RN]

Glamorous Glennis.

YW.

Ouch.  Me go fix. 

[French G.]

It was going to be Glenda but Chuck caught Glenda one morning before brushes, soap, and makeup, turns out not so much on the glamour.