Human-Powered Speed in the Desert
September 22, 2016
Last week, teams of engineers and cyclists and officials from the International Human Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA) gathered in the Nevada desert for the annual World Human Powered Speed Challenge. Each year, the challenge pushes the limits of human-powered speed on land, furthering human-powered technology and often setting new records. Yes, these vehicles are technically “bicycles,” but they are certainly not the usual bikes you see around the neighborhood. These bikes—called recumbents because the rider leans backward and pedals with the legs stretched forward—are built purely for speed and resemble a rocket ship capsule on wheels.
The World Human Powered Speed Challenge takes place along a stretch of flat, remote highway outside Battle Mountain, Nevada. It is a sanctioned IHPVA event. (The IHPVA also keeps track of human-powered air and water speed records.) Teams from all over the world compete in the challenge, and each team hopes its designs and riders will be the fastest and set new world records. New records are not set every year, but this year several teams reached record speeds.
On Saturday, September 17, Canada’s team AeroVelo, comprised of aerospace engineers Todd Reichert (the “pilot”) and Cameron Robertson, set the overall speed record of 89.59 miles per hour (mph), or 144.18 kilometers per hour (kph) in their “Eta” recumbent speed bike. AeroVelo, which also builds human-powered aircraft, improved on its own world record of 86.65 mph (139.45 kph) set last year. Rider Florian Kowalik set the junior (ages 15-17) record of 65.93 mph (106.10 kph) this year for team GeeBee of the United States. The men’s multitrack (3-wheel) record fell in Nevada this year, too, with Gareth Hanks of Australia’s team Tri-Sled reaching 73.95 mph (119.01 kph). The women’s arm-powered multitrack record also fell this year, with Sarah Peircy of England’s University of Plymouth team topping out at 24.85 mph (39.99 kph). Speeds are recorded over a 656-foot (200-meter) stretch of level road with minimal wind. Human-powered vehicles illustrate the possibilities of clean energy as well as the heights of energy-efficient and aerodynamic technology.