Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

Denise Mueller-Korenek Sets New Paced Cycling Speed Record

posted by takyon on Wednesday September 19 2018, @03:59PM   Printer-friendly
from the push-pedal dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes:

VeloNews reports: Mueller-Korenek rides 183.9mph, smashing world record

On the Bonneville Salt Flats, tucked in behind a 1,000-horsepower drag race car, Denise Mueller-Korenek hit 183.932 miles per hour, smashing a 23-year-old world record.

"It was a crazy wild ride to 183.9 mph, but so worth the sacrifice and years of focus on becoming the fastest human on a bicycle in the world," said Mueller-Korenek after breaking the record on September 16.

She hit the record speed on her second attempt, breaking Fred Rompelberg's 1995 Paced Bicycle Speed Record, 167mph.

Mueller-Korenek, 45, is familiar to top speeds on Utah's salt flats. She previously set a women's world record of 147.75mph in 2016. This Sunday, the mother of two took the world record outright, paced by an overhauled version of the dragster that paced Rompelberg to his record speed.

Also at NPR.

Original Submission #1  Original Submission #2 

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Denise Mueller-Korenek Sets New Paced Cycling Speed Record | Log In/Create an Account | Top | 37 comments | Search Discussion
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

  • (Score: 4, Interesting) by bob_super on Wednesday September 19 2018, @06:22PM (2 children)

    by bob_super (1357) on Wednesday September 19 2018, @06:22PM (#737161)

    She was the only power for 3.5 miles. She has to fight bearing friction and tire friction (ground and air) at two hundred mph for a couple minutes, while getting hit by occasional turbulence.

    What was interesting to me is how small her tires are, and using spokes. Speed record bikes normally use big tires and filled wheels.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPEgG-T3zMI [youtube.com]

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   +2  
       Interesting=2, Total=2
    Extra 'Interesting' Modifier   0  
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  
    Total Score:   4  

  • (Score: 2) by Nuke on Thursday September 20 2018, @12:50PM (1 child)

    by Nuke (3162) on Thursday September 20 2018, @12:50PM (#737466)

    They must have used smaller wheels to keep the height lower so the dragster's wind shield did not need to be so large. But smaller wheels are a disadvantage otherwise because their rpm will be higher and so more power is needed to turn them against their bearing resistance. That resistance is very low of course (lightly oiled ball bearings I expect) but at such a high speed it becomes a significant power sink.