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The International Human Powered Vehicle Assn. hosts speed championships at Battle Mountain, Nevada every year. This year the top speed was recorded by Todd Reichert pedaling AeroVelo -- a recumbent bicycle with a very low air drag fairing. He first broke his old top speed with a new record of 88.26 mph (142.04 kph) and then backed it up later with 89.59 mph (144.17 kph).

Results from this year's event:
    http://www.ihpva.org/home/ [ihpva.org]
Results from previous years and more details:
    http://www.recumbents.com/wisil/whpsc2016/speedchallenge.htm [recumbents.com]

IHPVA rules for the 200 Meter Flying Start Speed Trial were written around 1970 when the club used Ontario Motor Speedway (now a shopping mall) for top speed runs. As such the rules allow the course to include a tiny down grade (2/3 % grade -- 8 inches in 100 feet or 2/3meter in 100 meters) which matched the slope at OMS. Since the human engine is only good for one or two full out sprints per day, records only require a single run (unlike car records which require a return run on the same course). Windspeed is also regulated to minimize any tailwind or sailing assistance.

In the 1980s a road outside Battle Mountain was identified as a good course -- at high altitude for low drag and with a legal amount of down grade. Since then the Nevada highway department has joined the fun by paving that stretch of highway with very smooth pavement and leaving out the noise bumps along the side of the road (which would destroy high pressure bike tires). During the event the road is closed for a few hours every morning and evening when the wind is at a minimum.

Original Submission