Jeff Wills

The world's fastest bicycles are in Northern Nevada this week. It looks like good weather and good road conditions, which means records may fall.

Here's what's up:
First video posting from Sam:
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=433045376820
I don't know if this works for people not on Facebook.

More photos from Mark:
https://picasaweb.google.com/mark6mueller/20100912#
Today's qualifying:
https://picasaweb.google.com/mark6mue...88028080177570

Sam's text:

Here we are again! This one goes to 11.I will try to post a video update everyday. The World Human Powered Speed Challenge is in it's 11th year here in Battle M0untain. I will once again be attempting to better my own land speed record of 82.7mph set last year in the newest Varna Tempest. The event start...ed this morning with preliminary safety trials on the short 2 mile course. This evening we will be on highway 305 for the main speed trials.
I will be riding in the "vintage" class this year. Not because I am getting older but because I am using the older Diablo III. This bike is very similar in size but is built a little stiffer and stronger. I have a feeling it may be slightly slower but there is only one way to find out!
This morning was a chance to make sure that the bike is behaving as it should. There is a documentary film crew (Neil and Claudia) here with us again working on "Human Power - The Film". We decided to fasten a camera hanging off one side of the bike during qualifying. This had a much higher than expected effect on the speed and control of the bike. The footage better be worth it!

BlazingPedals

Interesting concept, putting the mid-drive out on the end of the boom. I wonder if they're counting on the nosecone stiffening the boom to prevent too much flex way out there? Could be a way to use the body as a structural member.

gcottay

Thanks, Jeff.

85 MPH this year?

For those who may not be familiar with it, here's a link to the event website.

LWB_guy

For somebody who has been there:

Are any of the top ten drivers still cheating? By cheating, I mean having another person hold the bicycle until the driver has accelerated up to his minimum speed ? Or has cheating been eliminated ?

LWB_guy

Oh, I see from the "official" website gcottay posted that the drivers all have a zone of 4 miles in which to accelerate before being timed. So no driver has started solo from a complete stop under his own power alone. All are cheating. I guess that answers my question.

Ultraslide

I get your point, but as long as the riders are following the rules of this competition they are not, in fact, cheating.

BlazingPedals

IHPVA rules concerning starts:

"3.2.3.1 Standing Start: A standing start is defined as an unassisted start from the stationary position, except that the vehicles which are unstable at low speeds may be assisted by one assistant for not more than 15 meters. The assistant may not push the vehicle."

So it is not necessary for the streamliners to be self-launching.

Jeff Wills

All of the bikes use some sort of assistance to get moving. (Trike designs obviously don't need assitance.) Whether by human assistants or detachable trolley, they all need help starting and stopping. Some details can be seen in the trailer for Human Power, The Film: https://www.humanpowerthefilm.com/

I get where you're going, though: I'd like to see them start and stop unassisted. There's a weight and drag penalty- I'd like to see what it costs them.

purplepeople

Don't know if he brought it this time, but with the Eivie II, Damjan used a launching system that has a pair of training wheels on a frame that is form fitted to the back of the HPV. The frame is tethered by rope at the start line and when he takes off, he rides on 4 wheels until the tether reaches it's limit and pulls off the back of the fairing.

:)ensen.

StephenH

I can't think why that would be considered cheating in any sense of the word. There are very specific rules, and if you're following those rules, you're not cheating. Given that they're duct-taping guys inside tubular bodies with 2 wheels, you can figure they need to do something different to start and stop.

gcottay

What an, um, unusual comment. There are no drivers involved. All are cyclists. Since all are following detailed rules, no rider is in any sense of the word cheating.

Are you taking a class in inflammatory rhetoric?

Jeff Wills

It's got to be better than a class in inflammatory bowel disease!

Jeff Wills

Sam's aiming for 85, but the weather's been getting sketchier as the week's gone on. We have tomorrow, then there's next year.

I've been getting good photos, though:



Tonight, Barclay Henry in the Backslider had problems and was passed by Jim Schoeder in the Arrowhawk in the timing traps. The fastest head-to-head HPV trike race ever!

LWB_guy

Well, if you're gonna cheat, you might as well do it right -- strap on an air-breathing engine and a tankful of jet fuel.....I mean you're out in the middle of the desert anyway, what the heck!

BlazingPedals

Cheating would mean a rule is being broken. WHICH rule is being broken??? If you have some special knowledge, let's hear the specifics; otherwise, knock off with the whining.