Speeds of movement on different bicycles in different conditions. Cyclist speed: average, maximum speed ◄ MOYBIKE

Almost every child had a bicycle as a child. Vivid memories associated with them: summer, children ride bicycles in the park, proudly calling them "mopeds". Few people perceive cycling as a sport, and even more so as a competition. However, many professionals prove the opposite by overtaking even racing cars in their vehicles. Cycling is an amazing way to not only lead healthy lifestyle life, but also to set a world record.

Not just a vehicle

Unfortunately, not everyone takes this transport seriously. For more than a hundred years, the bicycle has been doing an excellent job with its main function - to quickly and easily transport people. Unlike a car, a bicycle is freedom of movement. Athletes conquer peaks and surfaces, whether it be the bottom of a salt lake or a slope in the middle of the desert. Even age is not the limit for these daredevils: there are cyclists who, at the age of 100, are ready to set a speed record on a bicycle. Regardless of gender, race or creed, people around the world want to conquer unknown roads and demonstrate amazing human capabilities.

The Frenchman who surpassed the Ferrari

François Gissy is an extreme sportsman who has developed speeds of up to 333 km / h on a bicycle in five seconds. The race, which took place in the south of France, proved the viability of the bicycle as a high-speed transport. Gissi equipped his "horse" with a jet engine that uses hydrogen peroxide as fuel. Incredibly, the Ferrari racing car could not catch up with the Frenchman! The ambitions of the young man did not end there, he dreams of breaking his world speed record on a bicycle, reaching 400 km / h.

The oldest cyclist in the world

Another Frenchman, however, already elderly, set his own record. On a bicycle, Robert Marchand covered 22.5 km in 1 hour. At 105, Grandpa looks cheerful and fresh - the influence of an active lifestyle is noticeable. The pensioner expressed the hope that he would have a rival. Marchand sees this as a great stimulus for development.

By his own admission, the man has been cycling for almost half a century. This is an activity that he sincerely loves. Many journalists asked about the secret of his energy at such an advanced age. But Robert says he never went on a diet in his life and worked until he was almost 89 years old. In fact, he never smoked. Maybe it's all about cycling. Fresh air and moderate exercise stress- here it is, the secret of longevity. Robert Marchand rides with cyclists half his age and can give them a head start. IN Lately a man monitors his health more and tries not to overexert himself.

Women's cycling: major record

Denise Müller reached a speed of 236 km / h, driving through a dry salty plain. An American has set an unprecedented women's cycling speed record. Her bike was equipped with seventeen-inch wheels and an upgraded frame. A Range Rover Sport was driving in front of the cyclist, thereby creating aerodynamic conditions for riding.

All these innovations do not change the fact that Müller achieved high results thanks to the strength and speed of her legs. The American does not rest on her laurels, but sets new goals for herself. Deniz wants to break the "male" record set on the same lake. Back in 1995, Fred Rompelberg from the Netherlands reached a speed of 268 km/h. The Dutchman crossed the road according to the same principle - on a modernized bicycle with the participation of a car.

Bicycle speed record. Results from all over the world

This sport can be called truly French. This country hosts the main cycling race in the world, the Tour de France, many of its citizens become professionals and achieve amazing results. Eric Baron was no exception. The race took place on the Alpine track at an altitude of almost 3000 meters. The cyclist overcame the slope, having developed 223 km / h. The young man did not break the speed record on a bicycle in a straight line, he acted even more courageously: the Baron conquered a snowy mountain.

But not only the French beat the speed record on a bicycle. Earlier in the article, Fred Rompelberg from the Netherlands was already mentioned. He was able to "wind up" the speed of 268 km / h - maximum speed on a bicycle, a record that this man set. His record was never broken. A man overcame Bonneville on a modernized bicycle - a dried-up salt lake with rarefied air, which contributes to high-speed riding.

A citizen of another European country, Austria, conquered the slopes of the Chilean desert. On Mount Atacama, Max Stöckl reached a speed of 167 km/h. In just 20 seconds, the cyclist covered 1200 meters. On the young man a special suit was worn to promote aerodynamics. Airbags were inserted into his helmet in case of unforeseen situations. The cyclist's team filmed the race from different angles, so now anyone can see the record on the Internet.

Cycling is a serious kind of competition, dangerous and reckless. Thrill-seekers all over the world, hoping to set a new world record, are upgrading their two-wheeled iron horses.

Cycling is the most democratic - no need to spend money every day on training in the gym, it is enough to buy a bike once. This sport is not only a great way to improve your the physical state, but also to get a lot of new impressions: there is nothing more beautiful than to ride an unfamiliar city from beginning to end on a bicycle. Experts believe that in fifty years humanity will no longer be able to set a record - the limit will be reached. Each of us is able to overcome himself and set his own record, most importantly, to maintain the courage of the spirit.

The average speed for all cyclists is the same. However, pedaling is easy for some, while others become exhausted after a few kilometers. There are many reasons why this is happening. Within the framework of the article, key ones will be considered.

Average cyclist speed

Since there are still more experienced cyclists than beginners, the following data is calculated for experienced riders. Oddly enough, in different countries and cities, the average speed of a bicycle is different. IN major cities it reaches 30 km / h, in the villages - 10-20. On the highway, cyclists sometimes accelerate to 40-60 km / h. It depends not so much on the riding technique as on the type of bike. But more on that later.

Factors affecting speed

It is quite obvious that the factors that slow down the speed of riding also affect the severity of pedaling. That is why every cyclist is obliged to carefully consider and take them into account.

tire pressure

The most easily corrected factor is tire pressure. The higher it is, the better the roll and the easier it is to pick up speed. When driving on highways and city roads, you can heat the tires all the way, but for a primer, it is better to reduce the pressure. By the way, the overall hardness of the bike also affects the ease of rolling. I mean bike racks. Keep in mind that for the softness of riding a two-suspension (and even single-suspension) bike, you will have to pay with the increased difficulty of accelerating.

Tire

The next factor is the width of the tire and the shape of its tread. First of all, it should be borne in mind that the real need for thick wheels appears only on frank off-road. In urban conditions, the law “the thinner the tire, the better” works. Therefore, when choosing a bike, you should clearly be aware of how it will be used. As for the tread, almost bare tires are suitable for the city, studded tires are suitable for the primer. The reverse situation is fraught with great agony when driving.

Weight and wheel size

We note right away that the larger the wheel size, the more profitable the energy conversion when driving. For the city, the best option would be 29-inch wheels. For extreme driving - 24. Not otherwise.

Regarding the weight of the wheel, the following can be said: it is not so much the diameter that affects the weight, but the quality of the configuration. The hub, spokes, aluminum rim will weigh much less than steel. By the way, the degree of wear of parts of the wheel also refers to the quality of the equipment. It is worth being aware that nothing affects the dynamics of acceleration like the weight of the wheels.

General bike geometry and aerodynamics

The length of the frame and the fit of the rider on it are important. For example, with a low saddle and a wide steering configuration, driving will not only be terribly difficult, but also dangerous to health. The most aerodynamic is the design of road bikes (see photo below). They are characterized by a low riding position, in which his body is approximately parallel to the ground, a narrow steering wheel and a long frame. Its opposite is the highly specialized BMX bikes, designed strictly for stunts.

Total bike weight

In general, the mass factor only comes into play in specific conditions such as descents/climbs and off-road. On a light car, of course, it is convenient to ride in any conditions, while on a heavy car it is only convenient to go down.

Weather

Accelerating against a headwind over 15 km / h is not an easy task. But with a passing one, only a bumpy road will force you to drop below 30 km / h. By the way, bicycle wheels, which have blades instead of spokes, suffer greatly from side wind.

Pedaling technique

With the same average speed, in one case it is possible to drive with almost no effort, and in the other - struggling with exhaustion. Whatever the bike, the pedaling technique and attention to speeds (unless, of course, the bike is single-speed) most affect the speed.

cadence

Cadence is the rate of pedaling per minute. We will immediately stipulate that the cadence should always be in the range of 60-90 rpm. Most beginners make the same gross mistake - they pedal jerkily, periodically letting the bike roll by inertia. At the same time, they constantly have to overcome the threshold of cadence. And it takes much more effort than constantly twisting at the optimum speed. By the way, special bicycle computers help to monitor the cadence.

Health hazards and some myths

In general, the bike is easy to roll in almost all gears (except for the fastest ones), so if pedaling is hard, the only way to make it easier is to speed it up. Constant pedaling with great effort is fraught with complications in the knee area, so it’s worth choosing gears for riding very carefully. And if it is impossible to go to high speed, you should immediately downshift. The average speed will not suffer, but the knees will be much easier.

Leg trajectory

Another common misconception is that pedals need to be pushed like pistons. This is not true. It is necessary to apply a uniform force along the entire circumferential trajectory of the pedal. With such a ride, firstly, the dynamics of muscle tension will be constant, and secondly, additional muscle groups will be involved. This is so important that in any school of cycling the focus is on pedaling technique. The average speed almost does not depend on the technique of pressure on the pedals, but the ergonomics of the expended forces are completely dependent on this.

More ways to make your ride easier

There are still a few small tricks that can have a beneficial effect on the pleasure of riding. So, first, you need to ride in a relaxed way - there is nothing in cycling that would make you tense up. Second: shoes should be a continuation of the leg, the foot should not hang out in the sneaker. And thirdly: they will accelerate best while standing, in the so-called position of a dancer. This will not affect the average speed of the cyclist, but it will greatly save his strength.

World speed record on a bicycle - 268 km / h
Installed 50 year old Fred Rompelberg from the Netherlands on the Bonneville Salt Flat (Utah, USA) in 1995 (ideal flat salt deposit: the lake either appears during the rainy season or has long since dried up).

There are two components of success: an air bell (slipstream) from the vehicle in front and the maximum gear ratio. This made it possible to reach speeds of 268 km/h. Dragracers acted as a “wall”, a self-developed double system was used as a bicycle (a large front star turns a small sprocket, to which another large star with a chain on the rear wheel is welded).

By the way, even though riding in a bell is relatively easy, driving at such super speeds is very dangerous. If the journalists do not lie, then Rompelberg fell at the previous record at a speed of 220 km/h. As a result, two and a half dozen fractures.

But the record in 1899 installed Murphey, who accelerated the bike to speed 90 km/h(dispersed it with a steam locomotive). Good question which one is better.

Downhill world speed record - 212 km / h on a special bike
Installed in 1995, in France, by the famous French downhill athlete Christian Taillefer. The cover was a properly run-in and ice-covered ski slope in France. For maximum reduction air resistance, a special flat futuristic frame was created with an integrated “saddle”, a rigid fork that does not reduce speed and a flat handlebar, a fully-fitting leotard suit for the racer.

Frenchman Eric Barone in Nicaragua slid down the slopes of an extinct volcano. He managed to get his bike up to speed 130.43 km/h rushing down the slope of the active volcano Cerro Negro. Thus, he beat his own previous world speed achievement in 118 km/h, which was installed in 1999 in the Hawaiian Islands. However, in November 2005, Baron made another attempt to break the world record, which failed. When descending the slope of the same Sierro Negro volcano in Nicaragua, the athlete’s bike could not withstand the impact on a rocky section of the slope and at great speed it literally fell apart into 2 parts. The cyclist miraculously survived, but his injuries are unlikely to allow him to surpass the achievements of the past years.

On September 14, 2007, at the high mountain resort of La Parva in Chile, Austrian athlete Markus Stoeckl broke the previous world mountain bike speed record on snow. new world speed record on a mountain bike - 210 km / h!

October 1972 was marked by a high-profile event, when a Belgian cyclist, a living legend, set a record, breaking 49.431 km in 1 hour at the Olympic Velodrome in Mexico City.

This record was long considered something unattainable until it was broken in January 1984 by the Italian cyclist, the current president of the UCI, Francesco Moser. He drove in 1 hour 51.151km on a road bike with disc wheels, which was used for the first time, which gave a significant advantage from an aerodynamic point of view. Although, as it became known later, according to the doctor who monitored Moser's health in those years, drugs that are now regarded as doping were involved in the preparation of Francesco, but were not banned at that time.

In the mid-90s, the UCI divided the hourly driving record into two types. Streamlined aerodynamic helmets, three-spoke wheels, carbon fiber cast frames…. - all this is very different from what was available to Merckx in 1972. Therefore, the UCI decided to separate two areas: the official UCI hour record (with very strict restrictions on specifications bicycle to match those of Merckx's time) and unofficial, referred to as the best achievement in recognition of the UCI.

Current official UCI hour record installed by 30-year-old Czech cyclist Ondrej Sosenka, who plays for the Italian cycling team Aqua e'Sapone. In July 2005 at the Moscow velodrome in Krylatskoe Ondrej Sosenka traveled 49,700 km in 1 hour. His bike had an unusual design, with an interestingly placed saddle and a low frame height in vertical section, nevertheless, he met all the requirements of the UCI.

Unofficial UCI hour record today is 56.375km, and was installed by English cyclist Chris Boardman in September 1996 at the Manchester Velodrome. His bike had an original handlebar, a carbon cast frame, a five-spoke front wheel and a disc rear wheel.

There are many reasons why the bicycle, as a mode of transport, occupies one of the leading places in the world, these are:

• economical;
• fast enough;
• good for your health;
• environmentally friendly;
• and just great.

However, many are wondering what speed can a cyclist develop in different conditions? Regardless of the reasons, we will try to answer this question and deal with the factors that affect the speed of movement.

speed test

Other types are not designed for fast driving, so they do not participate in the comparison. For interest, let's add the indicators of an electric bike. Also read and make no mistake with the choice.

Test conditions: distance 15km; asphalt road good quality, without sharp drops; air temperature 22 degrees Celsius, weak side wind 3-5 m/s. Subjects: Men and women between the ages of 25 and 35, cycling 1-2 hours daily.

Results:

• electric bike - 25-30 km / h;
• highway - 21-25 km / h;
• tourist - 20-23 km / h;
• hybrid - 19-21 km / h;
• mountain - 18-20 km / h;
• urban - 15-17 km / h.

The e-bike could have shown better results, but its riding speed is limited by the controller. For touring bikes equipped with cycling backpacks, the optimal speed is 17 km/h.

City

Urban riding conditions level out the speed characteristics of different types of bicycles due to the need for frequent maneuvering and overcoming obstacles. Bicycle speed in the city is 15-18 km/h.

Also interesting is the fact that in the conditions of megacities, at distances up to 5 km, a bicycle is “faster” than other modes of transport. At distances of 5-10 km, its average speed is comparable to a car. Plus, the cyclist has the opportunity to move not only on the roadway, but to lay his route through the park or yard areas.

Professionals

Experienced athletes are able to cover distances of 100 kilometers, moving at an average speed of about 30 km / h. So Rui Costa (winner of the 242 km group race) in 2013 covered the distance at an average speed of 36 km/h.

For example, here are the norms for obtaining ranks for cycling-road in the discipline "individual time trial" (RUSSIA):

A bit of history

According to the TRP standards in the USSR, in order to get a gold badge, it was necessary to ride a bicycle:

Factors Affecting Bicycle Speed

Cyclist training

Most of all, the speed of riding depends on the physical strength and endurance of a person. The second place is occupied by driving technique. The gender of the rider does not significantly affect the speed of movement.

Windage

In the absence of wind, airflow resistance problems begin at speeds of 25-27 km/h. With a headwind, movement difficulties arise at a speed of 10-15 km / h. The influence of the air flow depends on how much .

On a mountain bike, with a high seating position, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bresistance to the oncoming flow increases, and the ride slows down. On a road bike, thanks to the narrow handlebars with a lower grip, it is possible to provide the torso with an almost horizontal position. This makes it easier to move around by reducing the area of ​​the body that resists the oncoming air flow.

rolling resistance

On hard surfaces, rolling resistance can be reduced by a smaller wheel-to-road contact area. This can be achieved by either pumping up wide tires heavily, or replacing them with narrower ones.

On soft surfaces (soil or sand), the opposite is true. Wide or slightly flat tires take precedence over narrow ones.

The weight of the cyclist and the bike itself affects when moving uphill, reducing the average speed. Therefore, it is recommended to choose lighter bike models.

Wheel size also matters a lot. retains inertia longer and overcomes uneven road surfaces more easily, which has a positive effect on driving speed.

Friction forces

The technical condition of its rubbing parts is reflected in the speed of a bicycle. The chain and bushings must be kept well lubricated and free from contamination. Too soft shock absorbers reduce speed, but add comfort when driving on uneven surfaces.

We hope that the information in this article will help you to optimally choose and set up a bike for your conditions of movement. We wish you good speeds and driving pleasure.

Many people wonder what is the maximum bike speed ever reached? Despite the seemingly direct question, it is rather difficult to answer it. Do you mean the speed of the bike on a straight section of the track? Or can we take into account the options associated with free descent? Should an artificial reduction in air resistance be created in advance, or should the rider be left to fight the wind? Let's try to answer these questions.

Let's just say that an untrained person who is "not in a hurry" in urban traffic is able to move at a speed of about 12-15 km / h, if you take into account both ups and downs. It is this range of values ​​that should be taken as the average speed of a bicycle.

If the cyclist is more or less trained, “some conveniences” are created for movement, such as toe clips, which allow you to use muscle strength not only when pressing the foot on the pedal, but also when pulling the pedal up. If the bike is equipped with good gear shifters, and, most importantly, good brakes, then in such cases the cyclist is able to “moose”, that is, move at a speed of about 30 km / h for a long time.

If a trained person changes to a lightweight road bike (if you remove the front and rear fenders, for example), then on a flat section of the track you can accelerate to 40 km / h and keep this speed for several minutes.

There is even a world speed record. In the summer of 2005, on the famous cycling track in Krylatskoye, Czech O. Sosenka kept the speed of cycling for 1 hour (an hour men's race) at least 49.7 km / h. He probably held 50, but just missed it. His bike had only one gear and a very high saddle. by wear physical strength this record is very difficult.

On mountain passes, if good roads are laid in that place, for example, on the Seminsky Pass, in the Altai Mountains, it is possible to comfortably maintain speeds of up to 60-70 km / h on a 9 km long descent, even in the case of fairly heavy mountain bikes. Apparently, these values ​​\u200b\u200bshould be taken as the maximum speed on a bicycle for ordinary amateurs.

Records

If we talk about world records, then the absolute world speed record on a bicycle was set relatively long ago - in 1995 it was 268.8 km / h, more than a quarter of a thousand km / h!

Its author was Fred Rompelberg, a resident of the Netherlands. This victory can be considered very valuable, because the cyclist turned 50 this year. The track for setting the record was located in the USA, in the state of Utah - a perfectly flat surface of an ancient salt lake called the Bonneville Plain.

Naturally, the bike was not simple, but specially equipped, with a special, significantly increased gear ratio and a special transmission system for the rear sprocket. In addition, in front of the cyclist, of course, as in many other records, a special car was moving, creating a zone of low pressure behind itself.

In the following figure - the hero himself, as well as the process of driving for the "leader"

The most high speed the ride recorded in the descents on a bicycle is also divided into two - if we take into account the ice surface and the unpaved separately.

In downhill skiing on a winter track, on a mountain bike, with all the “bells and whistles”, namely, the excellent aerodynamics of a piece bike, aerodynamic bicycle equipment, Eric Baron firmly holds the record. In the Alps (by the way, on the day of cosmonautics, April 12, 2000), he accelerated to a speed of 222 km / h.

This record was less than the absolute record, despite the fact that the bike went downhill. But we must remember that the air resistance was increasing, and the vibration was also increasing, which worsened the stability of the bike.

It was the vibration that almost led to the sad outcome of the attempt of the same Eric Baron to set a world record in downhill on a gravel track. After 2 years, on the slope of the Sierra Negro, he still took third place, after his own second, “driving” 400 meters down the gravel.

The word "driving" is not in quotation marks for nothing, as it was a real hell: at the end of this period, the highest speed was 210.4 km / h, and the bike simply tore apart, despite all the precautions. If not for the competent protection of the cyclist and a high-quality helmet, the Baron would not have been able to accept congratulations, even in the hospital.

Some more records

A jet-powered bicycle at the airport accelerated to a speed of 263 km / h. This experience was provided by specialists from the Swiss company Exotic Thermo Engineering. The engine ran on hydrogen peroxide, and the dashing extreme François Gissy drove this bike. This, of course, is a very high speed, but the principle of movement on muscular strength has not been preserved.

If you keep the principle of human muscular strength, and not an extraneous source of energy, but slightly change the design from a classic landing to, then you can accelerate to 133 km / h on a 200 m road section. The Dutchman Sebastian Bowyer was able to achieve this speed. He moved lying in a special capsule of aerodynamic configuration made of carbon fiber. In order to achieve such a speed in a given section, he had to accelerate about 8 km!

In conclusion, I would like to say that in the world of sports records dedicated to the bicycle, there can always be room for your dreams to come true, if, of course, you have not stopped “reinventing the wheel”