Top Speed WR

Steve UKLSRA

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Oct 29, 2015
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I've done some searching, but can only find e-motorcycles doing 200+mph (which I already knew about)...so, can anyone tell/point me to an existing e-bicycle based Top Speed World Record please.

We're going to run one of ours in road trim at Elvington in March to see what we can do (or not lol), but realise there's a long road to travel to get up there with the fast boys...I just don't know how long...I'm thinking that we may be able to have a crack at it in August at the World Wheelie Record Event if it sounds achievable...and building it isn't financially crippling of course...either that or we'll go for the fastest Kilo wheelie which I'm already getting hassled to do by Holeshot et al.

I know it's not in the spirit of restricted pedelecs either on or off-road, but it's something that'll raise the profile of e-bikes in the UK and show people how far they've come in such a short time (they all laughed at me in the pits a few years ago when I said that the TT Zero bikes would soon be snapping at the heels of ICE bikes and who's laughing now then, eh?).

Thanks in advance for any replies/help/ridicule....Steve C
 

soundwave

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May 23, 2015
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try look for ebikes going down hill not much there on you tube either lol

last time up forest ppl thought i was fkn off my head going down the red trails with my m8 problem is i just run out of gears at speed.

if i had 9t rear and 22t front would be over 80mph down hill:eek:
 
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Steve UKLSRA

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9t rear is probably the lowest the chain will wrap safely round, not sure on the front as I'm not set on which motor will suit it best yet.

We (minus the missus) regularly spend a day at Farmer John's DH track, no e-bikes allowed, which is local to us and you can hit 50mph no problem...if you don't value your skeleton lol (on a full DH bike of course!).

Elvo is a flat 2.2 mile runway, but the terminal speed is measured at the mile for ICE bikes to give you a braking space, just...so, there'll be no advantages, maybe a tail-wind but the hand of god doesn't count against you...Guy Martin did 100+ tailgating a tractor unit under his own power, but I'm struggling finding any info on "assisted" bikes on the net. I've sent the same question to UK Timing Assoc who do all the WR attempts in the UK and am hoping they'll come back with a definitive target to aim for.
 
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Artstu

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Aug 2, 2009
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58.6.JPG Of no real relevance to you, but thought it might be of interest, I clocked just shy of 60 mph into the Goyt valley, and the bike felt perfectly stable.
I've seen a few high speed electric bicycles on Youtube, have you looked there?
 
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Kinninvie

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Oct 5, 2013
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My Cannondale with BBS02 is quite happy at high speed with a bit of gravity assistance.
Fastest speed so far is 62.4Mph.
 

flecc

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Oct 25, 2006
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Such a record would have to be on the flat in a windless situation to have any validity.

There's a fundamental problem with such a record though. It's inherently true that the higher the e-bike speed, the less relevant the rider input, since it's proportion becomes so small.

That means such a record breaking bike would be effectively a light motorcycle with as tiny bit of effort added by the rider, so probably not inspiring for the public.

And it would certainly send a very wrong message about what pedelecs are and their real purpose.
.
 
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anotherkiwi

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Jan 26, 2015
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Then again it could be something like limited to 250 W, 350 W and 500 W classes by controller output, big chainwheels and strong riders, fairings...

Battle Mountain seems like the ideal place. Just have to convince the HPV folk that an electric motor assisted class is interesting.
 

Steve UKLSRA

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Thanks for the input/replies...To start with, flecc- firstly, wind speed/direction has no relevance in records apart from background info, all current records stand whether the rider had zero or 20mph tail-wind (the hand of god effect and it's caused arguments amongst the teams for years). I'm not purporting that this is going to be a road-legal pedelec run and in no way am I thinking of dong it with a throttle, in whatever form. I have been hassled to do a run since the LSR people have seen what I've been building/riding and they are under no illusions that this is going to be a legal pedal assist bike, although I will pedal all the way even if it is only to give it an extra 100W...It's to set a standard/record for others to follow, which can't be a bad thing for e-bikes in general. I'm sorry if you find it even mildly offensive, but it something I've done for many years in various forms and it's a by-line interest for the teams (ergo, give them a chance to laugh at me). I've contacted the relevant people and I'm waiting for a reply (read-being passed about)...the 60+'s above are all on hills and I can "dig" that, as we all can, but I doubt they'll let me build a dirty great ramp at the start line lol...I do like the idea of the different power classes tho and will forward that on, as all the other vehicles have to conform to regs to level the playing field and no doubt I will have to declare all that to the ACU/GWR/Straightliners as I sign on anyway.

I've got a guy looking into the elec side of it as I'm not up to speed on it all if you pardon the pun, but mechanically I know I can build something that'll not chuck me down the runway at 100+.

Maybe this is the wrong place to ask such a question, but I thought I may get an answer. I do apologise if anyone takes offense, but believe me, I'm only trying to raise the profile of electrically assisted push bikes to the thousands of people who attend the big meetings at Elvington/Woodbridge and other major racing meetings where we get international press/tv coverage.
 

Steve UKLSRA

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Oct 29, 2015
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Forgot to add...was that The Wanted Inn to Doveholes R'bout Artstu?
 

Steve UKLSRA

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Thanks SW...I'll pass that to my magic-string guy (prof/lecturer at Bradford Uni)
 

soundwave

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May 23, 2015
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Last edited:

Steve UKLSRA

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Oct 29, 2015
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I know it sounds daft SW and I await the ridicule, but I really would like to crack the double ton on one...but how the f**k would you fit pedals to those, I really want to be "pedal assisted" or whatever the GWR, etc stipulate...If I press my starter motor button at 250mph, does that class me as electrically assisted...maybe not lol
 

soundwave

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i suppose you could put a axle through the motor with a sprocket 1 side then add peddles each side.


problem is they will be spinning the same speed as the motor so some sort of gear box will be needed
 

Steve UKLSRA

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Oct 29, 2015
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That's got me chuckling...legs going at 250rpm+ lol...know what you mean though...I'd imagine we'd have to show some kind of proof that the pedals were still producing torque at whatever speed (easy done) to classify as "pedal assisted"...spoke to the As and When men (Cosgrove Hall) tonight re fairings and they seem to think it would be quite easy to get me in a streamliner fairing to achieve this...
 

Steve UKLSRA

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Oct 29, 2015
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There's this from a couple of years back

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/news/kidney-patient-sets-electric-bike-world-record/

Mat Dib, who suffers from chronic kidney disease, this week completed the Isle of Man TT mountain bike course in the fastest time of just under one and half hours on an e-bike, to become a Guinness World Record holder.
Thanks Wicky...that's where I'm coming from...love the bit about Connor even stopping for a brew at his mums lol, one of my heroes too!
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
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I'm sorry if you find it even mildly offensive,
I don't find it offensive at all and am entirely happy for such an event to take place. My "wrong message" observation was just that, an observation on the effect and not my disapproval. I've followed the Battle Mountain results for years and think Another Kiwi's suggestion a good one.

I understand the position with wind speeds and records, but still feel that for a pedelec class still air is important, especially if only using the legal 250 watt rating. With such limited power a 20 mph wind for example would have a ridiculously disproportionate effect.
.
 
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Steve UKLSRA

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 29, 2015
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I don't find it offensive at all and am entirely happy for such an event to take place. My "wrong message" observation was just that, an observation on the effect and not my disapproval. I've followed the Battle Mountain results for years and think Another Kiwi's suggestion a good one.

I understand the position with wind speeds and records, but still feel that for a pedelec class still air is important, especially if only using the legal 250 watt rating. With such limited power a 20 mph wind for example would have a ridiculously disproportionate effect.
.
I agree entirely flecc, but I'm wanting to join in with the "illegal on/off the road fast-boys" and am quite happy to build to any requirements the officials want me to comply to (I build and run a few ICE powered bikes to some success - currently about 72nd fastest bike in the world, but falling every meeting), even if that means I have to keep it to the 250W UK limit...I really am open to ideas here and am in the dark until the official bodies get back to me, they know I'm serious and will proceed so I guess they're making sure they know what they're saying before getting back to me...I really appreciate the feedback guys/gals, it's all got to help in the long run.
 
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soundwave

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