Hour record

The hour record for bicycles is the record for the longest distance cycled in one hour on a bicycle. There are several classes of records. The most famous is for upright bicycles meeting the technical requirements of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). It is one of the most prestigious records in cycling. Hour-record attempts are made in a velodrome, frequently at high altitudes for the aerodynamic benefit of thinner air.

The first recorded hour record was in 1876 when F. L. Dodds rode 26.508 km (16.471 mi) on a penny-farthing bicycle. In 1972, Belgium's Eddy Merckx set a record of 49.431 km (30.715 mi) that stood for twelve years, and remains a benchmark for the sport. The UCI record is currently held by Ondřej Sosenka (49.700 km (30.882 mi)).

History

Because of the importance of aerodynamics, the hour record has seen some of the most innovative equipment, but this has led to debate in the cycling community over the extent to which records should reflect only the skill, strength and stamina of the cyclist, or whether changes in bicycle design should be accepted.

On July 7 1933, Francis Faure set a record of 45.055 km (27.996 mi) riding an aerodynamic recumbent, but the UCI rejected the trial in 1934 and barred recumbents from racing. This led to a division of the sport and hence two classes of the record. In one branch, any design is allowed, provided the power only comes from the rider; this is currently administered by the International Human Powered Vehicle Association. In the other, only upright bicycles are permitted; this branch is administered by the UCI.

UCI administered Hour record

The Hour record is usually attempted by road cyclists towards the end of their career. This is true of Miguel Indurain (Spain), Francesco Moser (Italy) and Chris Boardman (Great Britain). Eddy Merckx said his hour record attempt was "the hardest ride I have ever done", and was set in Mexico City at an altitude of 2,300m (7,550 ft).

In January 1984, Francesco Moser set two consecutive records, the second being 51.151 km (31.784 mi). This was the first noted use of disc wheels, which provided significant aerodynamic benefit. Moser's record is also disputed for another reason. At the time he was coached by Dr Francesco Conconi, a proponent of doping methods such as blood transfusions and the use of EPO. Conconi agreed that Moser had used blood transfusions, which were not banned at the time.

In 1993 and 1994, Graeme Obree, a Scottish cyclist noteworthy for building his own bikes, posted two records on bikes that put him in an unusual body position with his hands tucked under his chest. In 1996, Chris Boardman set a record using another position pioneered by Obree, his arms straight out in front in a "superman" position. Both positions were controversial, and while the records were allowed to stand, the positions were banned from future use. Obree and Boardman both made several attempts to top the previous record.

With the increasing gap between modern bicycles and what was available at the time of Eddy Merckx's record, the UCI established two records:
*the official UCI Hour Record (which restricts competitors to roughly the same equipment as Merckx, disallowing time trial helmets, disc or tri-spoke wheels, aerodynamic bars and monocoque frames) and
* the unofficial Best Human Effort.

All records since 1972, including Chris Boardman's 56.375 km (35.03 mi) in 1996 were downgraded to "Best Human Effort." In 2000, Boardman made an attempt on the "UCI Hour Record" riding a more traditional bike, and rode 49.441 km (30.721 mi), topping Merckx's record by 10 m (30 ft) -- an improvement of 0.02%. In 2005 Ondřej Sosenka improved Boardman's performance at 49.700km (30.882 mi) using a 54x13 gearing. At 2 m (6.6 ft) tall, Sosenka used an unusual saddle position and a small vertical frame height to stay within UCI regulations. [Ondřej Sosenka has posted photographs of his record-winning bicycle and other information in Czech at http://www.sosenka.cz]

The veteran's record set in 1994 by Francesco Moser at the age of 42 was faster than his more celebrated record set in 1984, when he first used a bull horn handlebar, steel airfoil tubing, disk wheels and skinsuit to beat Merckx's 1972 record. It was also faster than Graeme Obree's first hour record in 1993. The bike Francesco Moser rode at age 42 in Mexico City was an Obree 'praying mantis'-style bike modified with a chest pad. He was so inspired by Obree's bike after meeting him at a race, and seeing his record, that he wanted a copy of it. The details are in Obree's book"The Flying Scotsman". No doubt the high altitude of Mexico City helped Moser beat Obree's mark set at lower altitude in Norway. However, at that time Chris Boardman still held the overall record. Later that year, Obree would beat both of their marks for his second hour record at low-altitude Bordeaux in France.

IHPVA Hour record

The IHPVA record led to the development of fully faired bicycles: recumbent bicycles, low to the ground, enclosed in a carbon fibre and Kevlar shells to keep air resistance to a minimum. The current record was set 2008-07-12 by Slovenian national Damjan Zabovnik at 87.123 km (54.136 mi) ridden on the approximately 5.8 km oval track at the Eurospeedway Lausitz, near Klettwitz, Brandenburg, Germany. To date, 122 one-hour runs by cyclists using aerodynamic fairings on their human-powered vehicles have exceeded the (35.03 mph or 56.38 km/h) UCI record by Chris Boardman. [ [http://www.recumbents.com/wisil/fastest_list.asp recumbents.com Fastest Human Powered Vehicle databases ] ]

The previous records were set 2006-07-02 by 49-year-old Fred Markham, a 1976-80 US Olympic team member, at 85.991 km (53.432 mi) on the track at the Nissan Technical Center North America, near Casa Grande in Arizona. [ [http://www.recumbents.com/wisil/racing2006/dempsey2006.htm Dempsey-MacCready One Hour Record Attempts] , WISIL HPVers, 26 June 2006] [ [http://rob.bikerevuk.com/nissan/hour1.html Circles in the desert; an hpv hour record attempt] , Rob English, 2 July 2006] Markham won $18,000 as a share of the $25,000 Dempsey-MacCready One Hour Prize offered to the first HPV to surpass 90 km. The prize has since expired and its shares awarded to those that had traveled the furthest through July 2, 2006. Markham displaced the previous record by Whittingham, who cycled 84.215 km (52.329 mi) July 31, 2004 on the 4.8 km oval GM/Opel Test Track in Dudenhofen, Germany. Both rode vehicles called "Varna" designed and built by the Bulgarian sculptor George Georgiev, who lives in British Columbia, Canada. [ [http://www.fortebikes.com/Opel_hour_record.htm Another Hour on the Hamster Wheel] , Sam Whittingham, November 19, 2003 ( [http://www.timetogetnaked.com/hpv/opel_hour_record.html alternate link] )] . Sam Whittingham subsequently won back the record one year later again at the Nissan Technical Center North America with 86.752 km.

During 2007, the 1933 record of Francis Faure was finally broken by another cyclist riding a recumbent bicycle without the addition of any aerodynamic fairings. This cyclist, 41-year old Sean Costin, rode a recumbent bicycle made by the Polish manufacturer Velokraft (model name NoCom), covering 28.459 miles (45.800 kilometers) on the 382-meter (0.237 mi) outdoor concrete velodrome in Northbrook, Illinois on June 6, 2007. Costin then rode 29.76 miles (47.89 km) on the 250-meter (0.155 mi) indoor wooden velodrome at the ADT Event Center in California. In the later event, he converted his Velokraft NoCom to a fixed-gear machine. Both events were conducted and sanctioned by the WRRA World Recumbent Racing Association. [ [http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wrra/ World Recumbent Racing Association ] ]

Hour records and holders (Male)

Hour records (female)

The corresponding female records are: [ [http://www.bikecult.com/bikecultbook/sports_recordsHour.html UCI records both genders] ]

;Hour record
* 46.065 km/h Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (NED) October 2003
* 45.094 km/h Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (FRA) December 2000
* 44.767 km/h Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (FRA) November 2000
* 43.501 km/h Anna Wilson-Millward (AUS) October 2000

;Best hour performance
* 48.159 km/h Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (FRA) October 1996
* 47.411 km/h Yvonne McGregor (GBR) June 1995
* 47.112 km/h Cathérine Marsal (FRA)April 1995
* 46.352 km/h Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (FRA) October 1989
* 44.933 km/h Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (FRA) September 1987
* 44.770 km/h Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (FRA) September 1986
* 43.082 km/h Keetie Van Oosten-Hage (NED)September 1978
* 41.471 km/h Maria Cressari (ITA) November 1972
* 41.347 km/h Elsy Jacobs (LUX) November 1958
* ...others

;IHPVA
* 57.47 km/h Rosmarie Bühler (SUI), June 2001
* 62.26 km/h Corinne van Noordenne (NED), August 2001
* 68.33 km/h Ellen van Vugt (NED), August 2002
* 68.97 km/h Ellen van Vugt (NED), August 2004
* 73.41 km/h Rosmarie Bühler (SUI), August 2004

ee also

* Track cycling
* Cycling records
* Racing bicycle

References

External links

* [http://www.uci.ch/modello.asp?1stlevelid=F&level1=4&level2=1&idnews=1571 UCI hour records]
* [http://www.ihpva.org/Races/ IHPVA records]
* [http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/fastest_list.asp Fastest IHPVA Streamlined Bicycles: Top Speed and One Hour Performances List - updated frequently]
* [http://www.failuremag.com/arch_sports_graeme_obree.html Comprehensive history of the event] , centered around Graeme Obree.
* [http://www.ihpva.org/hpva/hpvadempr.html Incentive Prize for new hour records]
* [http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/racing2007/nissan2007/default.htm Nissan One Hour Challenge Event for Streamlined Bicycles]
* [http://www.bikecult.com/bikecultbook/sports_recordsHour.html Bike Cult listing of Hour records including data on machines and athlete]
* [http://www.wolfgang-menn.de/hourrec.htm Hour records with pictures of Vehicles]
* [http://www.bicycleman.com/history/history.htm Bicycle Man history including early hour records]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV3Xd6VBSsA Video of finish of Sam Whittingham's 53.918 mph Hour Record]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUgXtZFdUcs Video of finish of Fred Markham's 53.432 mph Hour Record]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKUQU6XjiyA Video of finish of Rob English's 50.105 mph British Hour Record]