Fastest Speed On A Bicycle

Certified and recognized cycling records are those verified by the Union Cycliste Internationale, International Human Powered Vehicle Association and World Human Powered Vehicle Association, Guinness World Records, International Olympic Committee, World UltraCycling Association (formerly Ultra Marathon Cycling Association), the UK Road Records Association or other accepted authorities.

Most records have been completed under special rules and circumstances, such as being motor-paced, on terrain advantageous for speed (such as downhill or low-friction surfaces), using a bicycle with one gear (for example, single-speed bicycles) or using highly aerodynamic cycles (for example, recumbent bicycles). As cycling is a diverse activity with vast differences between equipment, disciplines, and terrain, there is no one record that can popularly be considered a benchmark for “fastest cyclist”. The hour record is generally considered the most prestigious, due to its long history and standardization of rules.

Top Speed Record

The table below shows the records people have attained while riding bicycles.

Land speed record (outdoor)

Treadmill speed record (indoor)

History of unpaced records

The International Human Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA) acts as the sanctioning body for new records in human-powered land, water, and air vehicles. It registers non-motor-paced records (also called unpaced), which means that the bicycle directly faces the wind without any motor-pacing vehicle in front.

On land, the speed record registered by a rider on a 200-meter flying start speed trial was by the Canadian Sam Whittingham riding the Varna Tempest, a streamliner recumbent bicycle in 2009, at Battle Mountain, Nevada. His record has been surpassed by 0.5 km/h by Sebastiaan Bowier of the Netherlands in 2013 setting the new record of . The record was again surpassed on 19 September 2015 by Todd Reichert by riding the ETA, a streamlined recumbent bicycle at from the team behind the AeroVelo Atlas human-powered helicopter. Todd Reichert broke his own record again on September 17, 2016, to set a speed of at the 2016 WHPSC.

The female record holder for this same category was Lisa Vetterlein, who reached in 2005. This record was beaten by Barbara Buatois of France, when she reached at Battle Mountain in 2009. She subsequently achieved at the 2010 running of the Battle Mountain event. This record was beaten on 13 sept 2019 by Ilona Peltier of France, at at the 2019 WHPSC event.

History of motor-paced records

Motor pacing is a type of cycling record where a pace vehicle is modified by adding a tail fairing to keep the wind off the cyclist who is riding behind it. This type of record was invented by Charles " Mile-a-Minute Murphy" who drafted a train to set a record in 1899. A mile of plywood sheets was attached to the railroad ties, so Charles would have a smooth surface riding behind the train.

In 1928, Leon Vanderstuyft from Belgium reached 122 km/h riding behind a motorbike at a velodrome. Alexis Blanc-Garin from France set the record to 128.20 km/h in October 1933 riding behind a motorbike. Albert Marquet, from France, reached 139.90 km/h riding behind a car in 1937. On 22 October 1938, Alfred Letourneur reached 147 km/h at a velodrome in Montlhéry, France, riding behind a motorbike. On 17 May 1941 Letourneur broke the record again, reaching on a Schwinn bicycle riding behind a specially equipped midget racer, on a Los Angeles freeway near Bakersfield, California.

The first to surpass 200 km/h was the Frenchman Jose Meiffret in 1962, when he reached behind a Mercedes-Benz 300SL car on a German motorway.

Allan Abbott, a cycling enthusiast and motorcycle racer, elevated the motor-paced bicycle speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats, reaching in 1973. John Howard, Olympic cyclist and Ironman triathlon winner, reset the record to , also at the Bonneville Salt Flats, on 20 July 1985.

Fred Rompelberg from Maastricht, Netherlands was the holder of the motor-paced speed world record cycling with from 1995 to 2018. He used a special bicycle behind a dragster of the Strasburg Drag Racing Team at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Denise Mueller-Korenek claimed a women's bicycle land speed record at at the Bonneville Salt Flats on 10 September 2016. Mueller was coached by former record holder John Howard. On 17 September 2018, again at Bonneville, she took the outright world record, riding a special KHS bike with a 62Tx12T gear (488 gear-inches) to a new overall record top speed of 183. behind a converted rail dragster with a fairing.

History of downhill records

During the last decade of the 20th century, two Frenchmen, Éric Barone and Christian Taillefer, set the speed record descending on snow several times. On 28 March 2015, Éric Barone reached at Vars ski resort, France, besting his own record from 2000, using a specially designed prototype bicycle. In 2017 Barone achieved a new downhill record on snow reaching 227.72 km/h using a prototype bicycle.

Using a serial production bicycle, as opposed to prototype bicycles, the record holder is Markus Stöckl from Austria. He set a world speed record in 1999 on snow, descending at at Les Arcs. On 14 September 2007, Stöckl rode an Intense M6 mountainbike down the ski slope of La Parva, Chile, reaching the current record of .

The top descending speeds have always been obtained on snow. Apart from that, the ashes of a volcano have been the other surface used. In November 2001, Éric Barone descended on the Cerro Negro volcano in Nicaragua at , beating his previous record achieved in Hawaii in 1999. Barone believed he could do more, and returned to the same location on 12 May 2002 when he reached on a serial production bicycle and , on a prototype bicycle, a world record. Markus Stöckl did beat the serial production bicycle record in 2011 when he reached on a volcano in Nicaragua and again in 2017 when he reached down a volcano in Chile. The prototype bicycle record, on a volcano, still belongs to Barone.

One Hour Record

The hour record for bicycles is the record for the longest distance cycled in one hour on a bicycle. The most famous type of record is for upright bicycles meeting the requirements of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). Hour-record attempts are made in a velodrome, frequently at high elevation for the aerodynamic benefit of thinner air. Between 1997 and 2014 the UCI retrospectively restricted hour record competitors to roughly the same equipment as was used by Eddy Merckx in his 1972 record. In 2014, the UCI changed the hour record rules to permit using any upright bike allowed for endurance track events. However, other retrospective changes to hour record regulations are why the current hour records are not the farthest absolute distance.

The UCI hour records are:
* UCI men's record: Filippo Ganna , 2022,
* UCI women's record: Vittoria Bussi , 2023,

Another type of record registered by the International Human Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA) and the World Human Powered Vehicle Association (WHPVA) is for human-powered machines, typically fully streamlined recumbent bicycles. These feature a lower frontal area than a UCI bicycle due to their recumbent seating design of the rider. They enclose the rider and machine in aerodynamic shapes made of carbon fiber, Kevlar, or fiberglass to reduce air resistance. A further type of record is for partially streamlined recumbents, which are open but have either a windshield in front or a streamlined tail-box in the rear. This is registered by the World Recumbent Racing Association (WRRA).

* Streamlined recumbent bicycle (bicycle and rider enclosed in an aerodynamic shell): Francesco Russo of Switzerland set a new World Record by covering in one hour at the DEKRA test track in Germany on 2 August 2011. This record is approved by the WHPVA. On 19 July 2009, Sam Whittingham at the Ford Motor Company's 5-mile oval test track in Romeo, Michigan, achieved 90.598 km. This record was approved by the IHPVA and WHPVA committees. In 2008, Damjan Zabovnik achieved 87.123 km
* Non-streamlined Recumbent Bicycle (no shell, only disk wheels, and rider sitting on top frame). The best mark was achieved by Aurelien Bonneteau, a French rider at the Bordeaux velodrome. He rode a bicycle with a nearly horizontal seat to allow his back to lie flat, two standard sized wheels, an elliptical chainring, and shortened pedal arms to reduce the air volume swept out by his legs. His distance was , on 16 July 2014.

24 Hours Record

Please note that some records are made with at least one of the following beneficial factors: streamlined bicycles, being part of a 4x4 relay team, being in other aerodynamically favorable conditions such as behind trucks, special support teams, supplements etc. Different race locations (including elevation), weather conditions, etc. all do come into play.

Men's Road records

Women's Road record

* Beatrice Grimshaw claimed to have broken the women's road record c. 1900 however the distance ridden is unclear, no authority has recognised the record and there are doubts about her claim.
* Edith Atkins set the women's road record at on 12 July 1953.
* Christine Moody set the women's record at in July 1969.
* Sandy Earl set a new road record at on 14 August 2011.
* Maria Parker set a new road record at on 13 October 2012.
* Amanda Coker set a new road record at on 23 October 2021 becoming the first woman in history to break 500 miles in 24 hours.

Men's track record

* Dr Mitchell Anderson set the 24 hour outdoor track record at at the AARC in Wensleydale, Victoria, Australia on 30 March 2018.
* Ralph Diseviscourt set the 24 hour outdoor track record at in Vianden, Luxembourg on 11 July 2020.
* Christoph Strasser set the indoor track record at at Velodrome Suisse, Grenchen, Switzerland on 14–15 October 2017.

Women's track record

* Petra von Fintel set the women's human powered vehicle (HPV) land distance record at in 24 hours in a Milan velomobile at Klettwitz, Germany on 12 July 2015. In July 2018 Nici Walde claims to have ridden at the Opel Test Center in Rodgau-Dudenhofen, Germany. however the ride is yet to be recognised by the World Human Powered Vehicle Association.
* Elena Novikova (Ukraine) set the women's indoor track record at , average speed at Velodromo Fassa Bortolo Montichiari, Brescia, Italy on 17 September 2017.
* Seana Hogan regained the women's outdoor track record at , average speed at Hellyer Park Velodrome San Jose, California, United States on 4 May 2012.

Around The World Record

To qualify for the relevant Guinness World Record one must satisfy various requirements, such as total distance travelled, pass through two approximate antipodal points, provide specified evidence, etc.

The fastest known time (FKT) for circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle is awarded for completing a continuous journey around the globe by bicycle and other means, consisting of a minimum 29,000 km (18,000 miles) in total distance cycled.

Endurance Record

Men's record

In 1911 the weekly magazine ''Cycling'' began a competition for the highest number of 100-mile rides or "centuries" in a single year. The winner was Marcel Planes with 332 centuries in which he covered . The inspiration for the competition was said to be the efforts of Harry Long, a commercial traveller who rode a bicycle on his rounds covering every part of England and Scotland and who covered in 1910. The world record for distance cycled in a year began in an era when bicycle companies competed to show their machines were the most reliable. The record has been officially established nine times. A tenth claim, by the English rider Ken Webb in 1972, was disallowed.Ken Webb's claim was for in 1972. Webb insisted he had completed the distance but others said he hadn't and he was removed from the Guinness Book of Records. Apart from the 1911 competition organised by ''Cycling'', there was no authority that set rules for record attempts nor certified the mileage ridden. In 1937 the League of Victorian Wheelmen declined a request by Ossie Nicholson for patronage for his attempt on the record. Nicholson's response was to appoint a committee to supervise his attempt. The mileage had been traditionally verified by way of a sealed milometer and cards signed by upstanding members of society such as police officers or postmasters.

In November 2014 the UltraMarathon Cycling Association announced that it would recognise a new record category for the highest annual mileage in a year, and set rules for the record. All of the previous record holders from Marcel Planes to Tommy Godwin rode a double-triangle diamond frame bicycle, and their rides all commenced on 1 January. The UltraMarathon Cycling Association decided, however, to permit any bike type except for faired recumbents, and that an attempt may start on any day of the year running for 365 consecutive days. Odometers and cards were replaced by GPS recording and live tracking devices such as the SPOT Satellite Messenger.

In 2015, three cyclists commenced an attempt to beat the record set by Tommy Godwin. Briton Steve Abraham started his attempt on 1 January, American Kurt Searvogel, nicknamed Tarzan, started 10 January, and Australian Miles Smith started on 18 June. Abraham was hit by a moped rider on 29 March 2015, breaking his leg above the ankle. After two weeks' recovery, Abraham resumed cycling gradually, using just one leg to pedal a recumbent trike. Having lost so much distance, he launched a concurrent attempt on the record starting on 8 August 2015, however he announced on 22 January 2016 that he had ended his concurrent attempt. Abraham rode in his calendar year attempt. Smith ceased his attempt on 13 November 2015. Searvogel managed to overcome weather, injury and also married his one-woman support crew Alicia Searvogel, breaking Godwin's mark with five days to spare. Cycling Weekly reported a surprising number of people were less than charitable about Searvogel's amazing feat. Searvogel planned his attempt to hit his final mileage of 76,076 miles exactly, writing "The number is significant in that it took 76 years and 76,076 miles to take the record from the British – The spirit of 76 lives on". This UMCA record is also recognized as a Guinness World Record.

Women's record

During 1938 Billie Dovey, the English 'keep fit girl' of the 1930s, achieved a record . Contemporary advertising shows that she rode a Rudge-Whitworth bicycle and relied on Cadbury milk chocolate for energy. Dovey combined the attempt with a lecture tour, often finishing her ride and then giving a fitness lecture in the evening.

In February 1942 Pat Hawkins, the holder of the 'World Seven Days record', claimed to have ridden in Perth, West Australia, despite having missed seven weeks riding. A few days later the claim was withdrawn due to discrepancies in her logs. The press had reported her campaign in relation to Billie Dovey's record, to wit, ''after ten weeks she had recorded compared to Mrs Dovey's .'' She would have reached Dovey's record after 36 weeks, three days, one hour and 20 minutes. The endeavour was sponsored by Bruce Small Pty Ltd.

In 2016, Kajsa Tylen broke the record, exceeding Dovey's mileage on 24 November, with over a month of the year left to go. Guinness did not ratify Billie Dovey's record, and had set a target of over 50,000 km. Tylen cycled all over the UK and Europe, encouraging others to join her every day, and make 'sweat pledges' of support. Tylen set the Guinness World Record for females at .

On 5 April 2017, the 326th day of her year-long record attempt to ride more miles in a year than anybody ever, Amanda Coker broke the women's, as well as the overall mileage record, when she exceeded Kurt Searvogel's previous record of . The Guinness Book of World Records certified Coker's record at the end of her record-breaking day at . Coker completed her year-long mileage record with .

On June 4, 2016, Alicia Searvogel became the first woman over 50 years of age to make an attempt the Highest Annual Mileage record. On June 3, 2017, Searvogel finished her attempt with a total of . While she fell short of breaking Amanda Coker's overall woman's record, Ms. Searvogel was awarded the highest annual mileage record, and highest month mileage record in the 50–59 age category by the UMCA (now WUCA).

Long-Distance Record

Pembroke to Great Yarmouth

Pembroke to Great Yarmouth is the traversal of the whole width of the island of Wales and England between two extremities; Starting in Pembroke in the West and finishing in Great Yarmouth in the East. The record is also known as the Side to Side record. The distance by road using the traditional route is and the records are maintained by the Road Records Association. Some of its current records are:
* Upright bicycle: In October 2018 Nick Clarke claimed the record in 15h 23m 59s.
* Women's record: Maria Bloom, 2004, 16h 51m 56s.
* Men's Tandem bicycle Record: Tim Bayley & Adam Broyad, 2019, 14h 15m 20s.

Land's End to John O'Groats

Land's End to John O'Groats is the traversal of the whole length of the island of Great Britain between two extremities; in the southwest and northeast. The distance by road using the traditional route is and the records are maintained by the Road Records Association. Some of its current records are:
* Upright bicycle: In June 2018 Michael Broadwith claimed the record in 43h 25m 13s.
* Faired recumbent bicycle: Andy Wilkinson, 1996, 41h 4m 22s.
* Women's record: Christina Mackenzie, 2021, 51h 5m 5s.
* Women's tricycle record: Jane Moore, 2014, 88h 45m 21s.
* Men's Tandem Record: D Irvine & C Mitchell, 2015, 45h 11m 0s.
* Mixed Tandem Record: A Wilkinson & L E A Taylor ( Lynne Biddulph), 2000, 51h 19m 23s.

Return journey between Land's End and John O'Groats

Ben Rockett claimed to have set a record of 141h 8m 0s for an upright bicycle from Land's End to John O'Groats to Land's End, being the return journey of Land's End to John O'Groats. The distance by road using the traditional route is . The precise route he took is not clear as his website says the distance ridden was . Its status as a record however was dubious as no recognised authority certified the record.

In September 2017 James MacDonald set a Guinness world record, starting and finishing at John O'Groats. Guinness certified the record as covering in 5 days 18 hours and 3 minutes, beating Rockett's time by 3 hours and 5 minutes.

On 3 September 2020, Marcia Roberts became the first female to record the journey starting at Lands End, by bike, in a time of 11 days, 13 hours & 13 minutes and set a Guinness World Record. On 16 July 2023, Louise Harris successfully completed the return journey in 10 days 5 hours, breaking the original record by over 1 day 8 hours.

Sarah Ruggins cycled from John O'Groats to Land End and back in 5 days, 11 hours and 14 minutes in May 2025. This was 6h 49m faster than the previous allcomers' record and five days faster than the previous women's record.

One Thousand miles

On 13 March 1940 Pat Hawkins set the 'World 1,000 mile record' in Perth, having ridden the distance in 4 days, 8 hours and 7 minutes, cutting 9 hours 53 minutes off Vera Unthank's record.

*Men's record: Gethin Butler, 2001. After setting the Lands End to John O'Groats record in 2001 Gethin Butler continued to ride, completing 1000 miles in 55 hours 59 minutes 0 seconds.
*Women's record: Lynne Taylor, 2001. After setting the women's Lands End to John O'Groats record, Lynne Taylor continued to ride, completing 1000 miles in 64 hours and 38 minutes.

Race Across America

Race Across America is an ultra marathon bicycle race across the United States that started in 1982. The fastest average speed records are:

* Solo man: Christoph Strasser, 2014, who averaged riding in 7 days, 15 hours, and 56 minutes.
* Solo woman: Seana Hogan, 1995, who averaged riding in 9 days, 4 hours, 2 minutes.

Seven days

On Sunday 17 March 1940 Pat Hawkins, an 18-year-old female from Western Australia, set the 'World Seven Days record' in Perth, having ridden to surpass the previous best () set by Mrs Valda Unthank of Hastings, Victoria. Hawkins also broke the West Australian records for one, two, three, four, five, six and seven days, plus surpassing the Australian professional men's record of Ossie Nicholson. No authority appears to maintain this record, however notable distances ridden in seven days include:
* Tommy Godwin rode between 16 and 22 July 1939.
* Bruce Berkeley rode between 23 and 29 June 2014.
* Richard Nutt rode between 1 and 7 June 2015.
* James Golding rode between 19 and 25 June 2017.
* Bruce Berkeley rode between 6 and 12 January 2020.
* Matthieu Bonne rode between 20 and 26 March 2023.

One month

There are 2 authorities currently recognising this record, Guinness World Records and World Ultra Cycling Association (formerly the UltraMarathon Cycling Association). Tommy Godwin rode in July 1939, on his way to setting the World Endurance record for a single year however no authority has recognised this as a record. Current record holders are:

* ''WUCA record holder'' Amanda Coker rode in April 2017.
*''Guinness World Record'' holder Janet Davison rode between 24 July and 22 August 2015.
* ''WUCA male record holder'' Steven Abraham rode between 2 September and 1 October 2016.
* ''Guinness World Record'' holder Arvid Loewen (Canada) rode between 1 and 30 July 2020, travelling from Winnipeg to Halifax, Nova Scotia to Vancouver (via Winnipeg) and back to Winnipeg.

100,000 Miles

On 11 July 2017, 24-year-old Amanda Coker set a new "Fastest completion of 100,000 miles by bicycle record, doing so in 423 days. Coker's record improved by 77 days on Tommy Godwin's prior record of 500 days set in May 1940. The record was certified by the Guinness Book of Records and the Ultra Marathon Cycling Association (now the WUCA).

Racing Event Records

The following is a list of Road bicycle racing achievements and records:

One-day and stage races

* Grand Tour wins: Eddy Merckx (11), Bernard Hinault (10), Jacques Anquetil (8)
* Tour de France wins: Miguel Induráin (5 consecutive), Eddy Merckx (5), Bernard Hinault (5), Jacques Anquetil (5)
* Giro d'Italia wins: Alfredo Binda (5; 3 consecutive), Fausto Coppi (5), Eddy Merckx (5; 3 consecutives)
* Vuelta a España wins: Roberto Heras (4; 3 consecutive), Primož Roglič (4; 3 consecutive)
* Tour de France yellow jerseys: Eddy Merckx (96), Bernard Hinault (75), Miguel Induráin (60), Chris Froome (59), Jacques Anquetil (50), Tadej Pogačar (40), Antonin Magne (38), Nicolas Frantz and Philippe Thys (37)
* Giro d'Italia pink jersey: Eddy Merckx (78), Alfredo Binda (60), Francesco Moser (57), Gino Bartali (50), Giuseppe Saronni (49), Jacques Anquetil (42), Fausto Coppi and Bernard Hinault (31)
* Vuelta a España red jersey: Alex Zülle (48), Primož Roglič (42), Roberto Heras (34), Delio Rodríguez and Gustaaf Deloor (32)
* Grand Tour stage wins: Eddy Merckx (64), Mario Cipollini (57), Mark Cavendish (55)
* Triple Crown of Cycling: Eddy Merckx (1974), Stephen Roche (1987), Tadej Pogačar (2024)
* Monument wins: Eddy Merckx (19), Roger De Vlaeminck (11), Costante Girardengo, Fausto Coppi, Sean Kelly (9)
* Single Monument wins: Eddy Merckx (7x Milan–San Remo)
* Most road races won by a professional cyclist: Eddy Merckx (525), Rik van Looy (379), Francesco Moser (273), Rik van Steenbergen (270), Roger de Vlaeminck (259)
* UCI Road World Championships: Alfredo Binda (3x gold, 1x bronze), Rik van Steenbergen (3x gold, 1x bronze), Óscar Freire (3x gold, 1x bronze), Eddy Merckx, Peter Sagan

Classifications and awards

* Challenge Desgrange-Colombo (1948-1958): Ferdinand Kübler, Fred De Bruyne (3)
* Super Prestige Pernod (1959-1987): Eddy Merckx (7)
* UCI Road World Cup (1989-2004): Paolo Bettini (3)
* UCI Road World Rankings (1984-2004): Sean Kelly (5)
* UCI ProTour/UCI World Tour (2005-2018): Alejandro Valverde (4)
* UCI World Ranking (from 2016): Tadej Pogačar (3)
* Vélo d'Or awards (from 1992): Alberto Contador (4)

Track Cycling Record

Wheelie Record

The longest bicycle wheelie in one hour is , and was achieved by Manuel Scheidegger (Switzerland) in Bern, Switzerland on 12 September 2020.

Kurt Osburn (nicknamed ''Wheelie King'') from California, United States is the Guinness World Record holder for Longest Bicycle Wheelie, riding on the back wheel of a bicycle. On 8 August 1998, he rode a wheelie for a record 11 hours at the Anaheim Convention Center, California. In June 2012 David "Pixie" Robilliard failed to break the record.

From 13 April to 25 June 1999, Kurt rode 2,839.6 miles from Hollywood to the Guinness World Records Experience in Orlando on one wheel, also for a Guinness World Record, becoming the first person in history to ride a bicycle wheelie coast to coast. During his attempt he rode an average of 50 miles per day, sometimes with winds in excess of 40 miles per hour. Other facts: He cycled on the 110 Highway, had 4 flat tires (on the rear tire), over 1.8 million pedal revolutions from start to finish, and was chased by dogs almost daily.

Notes

References

External links

IHPVA

WHPVA

UCI records

British Road Records Association

British Cycling Time Trials

Fastest Human Powered Vehicles One Hour & Top Speed Lists

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