3 ms·

Might want to reread the article. It's only towed by the car until it hits about 100mph since below that speed, it's not really possible to turn the pedals due

Might want to reread the article. It's only towed by the car until it hits about 100mph since below that speed, it's not really possible to turn the pedals due to the insane gearing. Above that speed, the race car detaches and the bicyclist pedals up to 183.9mph.

grendelt 8y ago
Yep. Getting towed to get enough speed still seems... something.
- usrusr 8y ago
  It's hardly a rounding error compared to all the drafting. Nobody who has ever ridden a bike fast in and out of a slipstream would waste much thought about that little towing assist at the beginning, it's almost comparable to the little push the official gives to send a time trialist down the ramp.
noonespecial 8y ago
I guess the real question is, how much of the propulsion (after the rope connection is detached) is actually from pedaling and how much is just a pneumatically coupled "tow line" from the car. Still quite a feat to control a bike at that speed with near certain death so few inches away.
- s0rce 8y ago
  Does the higher air pressure from behind actually provide net thrust. If you neglect that you still have some air resistance, rolling resistance from the tires on the ground and various frictional losses in the bike. Overall, since the record on rollers indoors is higher (200 mph iirc) it seems being pulled being a vehicle isn't a huge benefit.
userbinator 8y ago
There's also a "non motor-paced" category of records which does involve pedaling from a standstill to the maximum speed. Presumably involving many shifts. They are not surprisingly slower, because just as in driving a car, accelerating requires the most power, and maintaining speed much less. A multispeed bike would have more frictional losses in the gearing too. If she tried to get to 183.9mph from 0, on a bike with an appropriately large number of gears, she would probably be tired out long before she got to that speed.
- nostromo 8y ago
  Another massive advantage is being in the slip stream of a vehicle.

grendelt 8y ago

Yep. Getting towed to get enough speed still seems... something.

usrusr 8y ago
It's hardly a rounding error compared to all the drafting. Nobody who has ever ridden a bike fast in and out of a slipstream would waste much thought about that little towing assist at the beginning, it's almost comparable to the little push the official gives to send a time trialist down the ramp.

noonespecial 8y ago

I guess the real question is, how much of the propulsion (after the rope connection is detached) is actually from pedaling and how much is just a pneumatically coupled "tow line" from the car. Still quite a feat to control a bike at that speed with near certain death so few inches away.

s0rce 8y ago
Does the higher air pressure from behind actually provide net thrust. If you neglect that you still have some air resistance, rolling resistance from the tires on the ground and various frictional losses in the bike. Overall, since the record on rollers indoors is higher (200 mph iirc) it seems being pulled being a vehicle isn't a huge benefit.

userbinator 8y ago

There's also a "non motor-paced" category of records which does involve pedaling from a standstill to the maximum speed. Presumably involving many shifts. They are not surprisingly slower, because just as in driving a car, accelerating requires the most power, and maintaining speed much less. A multispeed bike would have more frictional losses in the gearing too. If she tried to get to 183.9mph from 0, on a bike with an appropriately large number of gears, she would probably be tired out long before she got to that speed.

nostromo 8y ago
Another massive advantage is being in the slip stream of a vehicle.