French cyclist hits 207mph on rocket powered bike (video)
Daredevil rider Francois Gissy breaks bicycle speed record, going 0-207mph in under five seconds on a racing circuit in France
French rider Francois Gissy blasted himself to a new world bicycle speed record this weekend, riding his rocket-powered bike to 333kmph (207mph) in 4.8 seconds at a motor circuit in La Catallet, France.
The bike itself is stripped down to the bare essentials - a solid frame and a stretched out position so Gissy can control his super-speed machine, and is completely homemade.
Surprisingly, the brakes are just ordinary pads, while the tyres are specially made by Michelin to handle the speed and weight load.
But to make his way to such a colossal speed, Gissy and his team had to use highly concentrated 90% hydrogen peroxide in the rocket engines.
He smashed the designated quarter-mile section of the circuit in an astonishing seven seconds, beating his own previous world record of 285kmph which he set in October 2013.
Used for what can only be assumed as a gimmick, Gissy raced a Ferrari F430, which inevitably, he beat (might have ruined the whole thing if he hadn't.)
Still, he might be the fastest man on a bicycle in the world, but that's one dodgy haircut.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
German ultra-athlete breaks cycling altitude record
Guido Kunze rides 6,233m up the Ojos del Salado volcano on the Argentina-Chile border to set the new record.
University of Liverpool students target human-powered vehicle record
University of Liverpool’s Velocipede Team are attempting to break the human-powered vehicle world record with their ARION 1 machine.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
Knog Blinder 1300 review - excellent visibility for you and other road users
Solid performance, great mounting options and a respectable price point make the Blinder a great competitor for long nights this winter
By Joe Baker Published
-
Everything you want to know about the Q Factor
What it is and why it matters, how to measure it, what the Q stands for, and more
By Tyler Boucher Published