American cyclist Denise Mueller set the women’s bicycle land speed record at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats on Saturday. Riding a highly customised bike behind a modified Land Rover, she hit 147mph.
Mueller, who is the reigning US women’s masters criterium champion, was the first female cyclist to attempt the motor-paced record. Speaking to ESPN, she explained: “Men have done this record since 1899, and a woman has never even tried to do this record. So, why not? I get to be the first ever.”
Mueller was towed until the Land Rover hit 90mph, at which point she released the tether and continued pedalling. She was on a fixed gear bike where a speed of 140mph corresponded to a cadence of 100rpm.
A fairing on the vehicle in front helped ensure she could draft it safely. As she pointed out to VeloNews: “Hitting a 140mph wall of air will knock me off my bike.”
Her top speed within the one mile timing trap was 147mph. After that, both Mueller and the car – which was driven by Shea Holbrook, one of the US’s leading female racing drivers – gradually slowed to 100mph, at which point Holbrook accelerated away and wind resistance helped bring Mueller to a stop.
Wet conditions the following day unfortunately meant she couldn’t improve on her record.
Mueller is still aiming to beat the 167mph (268kph) set by Dutch rider Fred Rompelberg in 1995, but her coach John Howard — a three-time Olympian, 20-time US national champion, and former men’s bicycle land speed record holder at 152mph – said she will need more space for this. “We don’t have enough track to beat the men’s world record. We’ve got four miles and we’d need six.”
I came off my bike just before Christmas and broke my femur. The care was excellent and I'm back on the bike, albeit with more rehab to be done.
Untitled, or entitled? I bet it speeds down towpaths and weaves in and out of boats, and it's definitely not wearing a helmet or hi vis.
Are these actually 'hi-viz' - or just brights?...
That one was completely different though, it was a driver not a car as in the other 3. So 1 in 4 of the stories manage to follow reporting guidelines.
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I think it would be fairer to blame the moon - as in "my client is a loony".
Nice idea but Gloucestershire Constabulary are not interested as exemplified by this prvious NMOTD. Not only was there NFA for the close pass in...