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List of cycling records

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This is a list of certified and recognised cycling records as recognised by the Union Cycliste Internationale, International Human Powered Vehicle Association and World Human Powered Vehicle Association, Guinness World Records, International Olympic Committee, the UK Road Records Association or other accepted authorities.

Speed record on a bicycle

The record for the fastest speed on a bicycle is the fastest that a person could go on a two wheeled bicycle. The table below shows the records that people have attained while riding bicycles.


Name Year Speed Type of record
Sam Whittingham 2009 133 km/h (83 mph) Flat surface, unpaced[1]
Barbara Buatois 2010 121 km/h (75 mph) Flat surface, unpaced (woman)[1]
Fred Rompelberg 1995 268 km/h (167 mph) Flat surface, motor-paced[2]
Bruce Bursford 1996 334 km/h (208 mph) Riding on a roller[3]
Markus Stöckl 2011 164.95 km/h (102.50 mph) Downhill on a volcano, on a serial production bicycle.[4]
Eric Barone 2002 172 km/h (107 mph) Downhill on a volcano, on a prototype bicycle[5]
Markus Stöckl 2007 210.4 km/h (130.7 mph) Downhill on snow, on a serial production bicycle[6]
Eric Barone 2000 222 km/h (138 mph) Downhill on snow, on a prototype bicycle[7]

History of unpaced records

The International Human Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA) acts as the sanctioning body for new records in human-powered land, water and air vehicles. It registers non motor paced records (also called unpaced) which means that the bicycle directly faces the wind, without any motor paced vehicle in front. On land, the speed record registered by a rider on a 200 meter flying start speed trial is 133.28 km/h (82.82 mph) by the Canadian Sam Whittingham riding the Varna Tempest, a streamliner recumbent bicycle in year 2009[1] at Battle Mountain, Nevada.

The woman record holder for this same category was Lisa Vetterlein who reached 107.16 km/h (66.59 mph) in 2005. This record was beaten by the French woman Barbara Buatois when she reached 121.44 km/h (75.46 mph) at Battle Mountain, Nevada in 2009. She subsequently achieved 121.81 km/h (75.69 mph) at the 2010 running of the Battle Mountain event.

History of motor-paced records

Motor pacing is a type of human-powered record where a pace vehicle is modified by adding a tail fairing to keep the wind off the cyclist who is riding behind it. This type of record was invented by Charles “Mile-a-Minute Murphy” who drafted a train to set a 96 km/h (60 mph) record at end of the 19th century. A mile of plywood sheets was attached to the railroad ties, so Charles would have a smooth surface riding behind the train.[8][9]

In 1928, Leon Vanderstuyft from Belgium reached 122 km/h riding behind a motorbike at a velodrome.[9] Alexis Blanc-Garin from France set the record to 128.20 km/h in October 1933 riding behind a motorbike.[10] Albert Marquet, from France, reached 139.90 km/h riding behind a car in 1937.[11] On 22 October 1938, Alfred Letourneur reached 147 km/h at a velodrome in Montlhéry, France, riding behind a motorbike.[12] On 17 May 1941 Letourneur broke the record again, reaching 175 km/h (108.92 mph) on a Schwinn bicycle riding behind a car on the Los Angeles freeway near Bakersfield.

Another person to reach a remarkable record was the Frenchman Jose Meiffret in year 1962, when he reached 204 km/h (127 mph) behind a Mercedes-Benz 300SL car on a German motorway.[13]

Allan Abbott, a cycling enthusiast and motorcycle racer, established the motor paced bicycle speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats, a dried up salt lake in Utah, reaching 223 km/h (139 mph) in 1973.

John Howard, Olympic cyclist and Ironman triathlon winner, set a 244 km/h (152 mph) speed record also at the Bonneville Salt Flats, on July 20, 1985.

Fred Rompelberg from Maastricht, the Netherlands is the current holder of the motor paced speed world record cycling with 268.831 km/h (166.9 mph). He used a special bicycle behind a dragster of the Strasburg Drag Racing Team at the Bonneville Salt Flats. It is a Guinness record.

History of downhill records

During the last decade of the 20th century, two Frenchmen, Eric Barone and Christian Taillefer set the speed record descending on snow several times. On the 21st of April 2000, Eric Barone reached 222 km/h (138 mph) at Les Arcs ski resort, France, still a world record today, using a specially designed prototype bicycle.

If we analyse records using a serial production bicycle, as opposed to prototype bicycles, the record holder is Markus Stöckl, from Austria. He managed to set a world speed record in year 1999 on snow, descending at 187 km/h (116 mph) at Les Arcs. On 14 September 2007, Stöckl rode an Intense M6 mountainbike down the ski slope of La Parva, Chile, reaching the current record of 210 km/h (130 mph).

The top descending speeds have always been obtained on snow. Apart from that, the ashes of a volcano have been the other surface used. In November 2001, Eric Barone descended on the Cerro Negro volcano in Nicaragua at 130 km/h (81 mph), beating his previous record achieved in Hawaii in 1999. Barone believed he could do more, and returned to the same location on the 12th of May 2002 when he reached 163 km/h (101 mph) on a serial production bicycle and 172 km/h (107 mph), on a prototype bicycle, a world record.[14] Markus Stöckl did beat the serial production bicycle record in 2011, when he reached 164.95 km/h (102.50 mph) on a volcano in Nicaragua.[4] The prototype bicycle record, on a volcano, still belongs to Barone.

Hour records

Main article: Hour record

The hour record for bicycles is the record for the longest distance cycled in one hour on a bicycle. The most famous type of record is for upright bicycles meeting the requirements of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for old or modern bicycles. The old "UCI hour record" restricts competitors to use similar equipment as was used by Eddy Merckx in 1972, disallowing time trial helmets, disc or tri-spoke wheels, aerodynamic bars and monocoque frames. The new "Best Human Effort", also called "UCI Absolute Record" allows such equipment. Hour-record attempts are made in a velodrome, frequently at high altitude for the aerodynamic benefit of thinner air.

Another type of record registered by the International Human Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA) is for fully faired human-powered machines, typically streamlined recumbent bicycles. These feature a lower frontal area than a UCI bicycle due to their recumbent seating design of the rider. They enclose the rider and machine in aerodynamic shapes made of carbon fiber, Kevlar, or Fiberglass to reduce air resistance.

The current hour records are:

  • Fracesco Russo of Switzerland set a new World Record by covering 56.89 miles (91.556 km) in one hour at the DEKRA test track in Germany on 02 August, 2011 [15]
  • UCI "Best human effort": Chris Boardman, 1996, 56.375 km [16]
  • UCI hour record: Ondřej Sosenka, 2005, 49.700 km [17]
  • IHPVA: Damjan Zabovnik, 2008, 87.123 km [18] (on 19 July 2009 Sam Whittingham has achieved 90.598 km, but this record is pending approval by IHPVA and WHPVA committees)

24 Hours record

Mens' Road record

Ladies Road record

  • Edith Atkins set the Ladies road record at 422 miles (679 km) on 12 July, 1953.
  • Sandy Earl set a new road record at 442.46 miles on August 14, 2011.[23]

Mens track record

  • Hubert Opperman set the track record at 489.3 miles (787.5 km) in Melbourne in 1940.

Ladies track record

Long-distance records

Land's End to John O'Groats

Land's End to John O'Groats is the traversal of the whole length of the island of Great Britain between two extremities; in the southwest and northeast. The distance by road is 874 miles (1,407 km) and some of its current records are:

Land's End to John O'Groats to Land's End

Land's End to John O'Groats to Land's End is the traversal of the whole length of the island of Great Britain twice, between two extremities: Land's End in the southwest and John O'Groats in the northeast. The distance by road is approximately 1,748 miles (2,813 km) and the current record is:

One Thousand miles

On 13 March 1940 Pat Hawkins set the 'World 1,000 mile record' in Perth, having ridden the 1,000 miles (1,600 km) distance in 4 days, 8 hours and 7 minutes, cutting 9 hours 53 minutes off Vera Unthank's record.[32]

Seven days

On Sunday 17 March 1940 Pat Hawkins, an 18 year old from Western Australia, set the 'World Seven Days record' in Perth, having ridden 1,546.8 miles (2,489.3 km) to surpass the previous best (1,438.4 miles (2,314.9 km)) set by Mrs Valda [or Ada Vera] Unthank of Hastings, Victoria. Hawkins also broke the West Australian records for one, two, three, four, five, six and seven days, plus surpassing the Australian professional men's record of Ossie Nicholson.[33][34]

Ultra Marathon

The Ultra Marathon Cycling Association (UMCA) sanctions the Race Across America, an ultra marathon bicycle race across the United States that started in 1982. The average speed records are:

  • Fastest average speed (men): Pete Penseyres, 1986, who averaged 15.40 mph (24.8 km/h) riding 3,107 miles (5,000 km) in 8 days, 9 hours, and 47 minutes.[35]
  • Fastest average speed (woman): Seana Hogan, 1995, who averaged 13.23 mph (21.3 km/h) riding 2,912 miles (4,686 km) in 9 days, 4 hours, 2 minutes.

World Endurance record for distance in a calendar year

Mens' record

The world record for distance cycled in a year began in 1911, an era when bicycle companies competed to show their machines were the most reliable. The competition was organised by the magazine Cycling. The record has been officially established nine times[36]. A tenth claim, by the English rider Ken Webb in 1972, was disallowed.[n 1]

Year Record holder Country Distance
1911 Marcel Planes  France 34,666 miles (55,790 km)
1932 Arthur Humbles  Great Britain 36,007 miles (57,948 km)
1933 Ossie Nicholson  Australia 43,966 miles (70,756 km)
1936 Walter Greaves  Great Britain 45,383 miles (73,037 km)
1937 Bernard Bennett  England 45,801 miles (73,710 km)
1937 René Menzies  France 61,561 miles (99,073 km)
1937 Ossie Nicholson  Australia 62,657 miles (100,837 km)
1939 Bernard Bennett  England 65,127 miles (104,812 km)
1939 Tommy Godwin  England 75,065 miles (120,805 km)

Ladies' record

During 1938 Mrs Billie Dovey, the English 'keep fit girl' of the 1930's, achieved a record 29,899.4 miles (48,118.4 km). Contemporary advertising shows that she rode a Rudge-Whitworth bicycle and relied on Cadbury milk chocolate for energy. Mrs Dovey combined the attempt with a lecture tour, often finishing her ride and then giving a fitness lecture in the evening.[37][38]

In February 1942 Pat Hawkins, the holder of the 'World Seven Days record', completed a 45,402.8 miles (73,068.7 km) ride in Perth, West Australia, despite having missed seven weeks riding. The press reported her campaign in relation to Billie Dovey's record, to wit, after ten weeks she had recorded 7,302.8 miles (11,752.7 km) compared to Mrs Dovey's 5,238 miles (8,430 km). She took Dovey's record after 36 weeks, three days, one hour and 20 minutes. The endeavour was sponsored by Bruce Small Pty Ltd.[39][40][41][38]

Road bicycle racing records

The following is a list of Road bicycle racing achievements and records:

Notes

  1. ^ Ken Webb's claim was for 80,647 miles (129,789 km) in 1972. Webb insisted he had completed the distance but others said he hadn't and he was removed from the Guinness Book of Records.

References

  1. ^ a b c 2009 200 Meter Results. World Human Powered Speed Challenge
  2. ^ http://www.fredrompelberg.com/en/html/default.asp
  3. ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/pounds-1m-bike-breaks-record-by-going-nowhere-1597625.html
  4. ^ a b Downhill moutainbiker Markus Stöckl sets new world speed record
  5. ^ http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=67d_1222971493
  6. ^ http://www.pinkbike.com/news/speed-biking-world-record-2007.html
  7. ^ http://www.sunshineworldfrance.com/activities_les_arcs.php
  8. ^ http://www.teammccallusa.com/history.html
  9. ^ a b Photos and history of motor paced records (in spanish)
  10. ^ http://imageevent.com/dernysportuk/stayerpictures;jsessionid=4envui98y4.zebra_s?p=954&n=1&m=-1&c=2&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=2
  11. ^ http://sites.google.com/a/mpstraining.com/services/a-60-tooth-chainring
  12. ^ http://www.raleighbikes.com/home.html
  13. ^ http://cycling.ahands.org/bicycling/datewithdeath.html
  14. ^ http://lostajas.blogspot.com/2009_03_01_archive.html (in spanish)
  15. ^ http://www.bentrideronline.com/?p=5679
  16. ^ http://oldsite.uci.ch/modello.asp?1stlevelid=F&level1=4&level2=1&idnews=1571
  17. ^ http://www.wolfgang-menn.de/hourrecuci.htm
  18. ^ http://www.ihpva.org/hpvarec3.htm#nom27
  19. ^ Le Petit Braquet - Charles Terront
  20. ^ a b Papers Past > Evening Post > 6 December 1939 > Page 6 > NEW CYCLING RECORD
  21. ^ [http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/24-hour-world-record-broken Cycling News, 24-hour world record broken By: Cyclingnews staff. Published: June 18, 2009]
  22. ^ 541.17 miles/871km on June 24th/25th 2011
  23. ^ "Sandy Earl – New 12 & 24 Hr UMCA Record Holder". UltraRaceNews. Oct, 07 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ Record per Anna Mei
  25. ^ Record da Guinnes per Anna Mei
  26. ^ Anna Mei centra il record del mondo delle 24h
  27. ^ http://www.rra.org.uk/Records/LEJoG.htm
  28. ^ http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/tech/OtherStuff.htm
  29. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land%27s_End_to_John_o%27_Groats#Cycling
  30. ^ "Rockett speed for a cyclist!". Bath University. 2010-08-27. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  31. ^ http://www.rockettrides.com/?page_id=1026
  32. ^ Google News - The Age - Mar 14, 1940, Women's Cycling Record
  33. ^ (Trove digitised newspapers) Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 - 1954) 25 January 1941, Cycle Marathon Planned By Girl
  34. ^ (Trove digitised newspapers) Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890-1954) 18 March 1940, Girl Betters Nicholson's Record
  35. ^ http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/raam/raam2.php?N_webcat_id=51
  36. ^ Cycling, 1972, undated cutting
  37. ^ THE VETERAN-CYCLE CLUB, New England section, MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2011, 1938: "How to carry energy in your saddle-bag" by Christopher Barbour
  38. ^ a b (Trove - digitised newspapers) Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 - 1954) Saturday 25 January 1941. Cycle Marathon planned by Girl
  39. ^ (Trove - digitised newspapers) The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) Monday 2 February 1942. Woman Cyclist's record.
  40. ^ Google News - The Age - Apr 22, 1941. Cycling - Miss Hawkins well ahead
  41. ^ (Trove - digitised newspapers) The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), Wednesday 15 October 1941. W.A. Woman Cyclist sets new World record
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