Outstanding Achievements

This page describes selected achievements similar to records but not or not yet formally ratified as WHPVA records or not conforming to existing WHPVA rules or categories.

Fastest Rail Vehicle at Rail Championship Laupen 2001 Photo Sabine Sonderegger

Fastest Speed over 4000m in Velodrome Oerlikon 2013

Index of Outstanding Achievements

Land

LAND - WOMEN'S 12 HOUR STANDING START (Single Rider)

Distance (mi)	Distance (km)	Avg Speed (mph)	Avg Speed (kph)	Type	Name	Designer	Rider	Location	Date	Elevation Meters
355.24	571.68	29.60	47.64	-4	Heidjer Milan SL	Eggert Bülk	Petra von Fintel	Klettwitz, Germany	12-Jul 2015	116

Rail Vehicles

In 2001 speed championships for rail vehicles were carried out on the track between Laupen and Gümmenen, Switzerland, presumably the last event of this type. The track conforms to the requirements for WHPVA 200m speed trial and the runs were measured with professional electronic equipment. However the category "rail vehicle" does not formally exist nor was it applied for.
The fastest run of 74.5 km/h was by Hansueli Russenberger on the fully faired asymetrical bicycle "Team Gridelli" (photo above). Peter Bretscher reached 66.3 km/h with the same vehicle. Lukas Frei achieved 70.5 km/h on "Snapper", Charles Henry 69.1 km/h with the same vehicle. Various other vehicles,including one with rowing action and another with solid steel wheels, achieved speeds between 28 and 67 km/h and 18.5 km/h were reached on what is probably the only existing rail kick-board.

»»  200 meter flying start speed trial - data and article on Future Bike website (German language)

Velodrome

In 2012 Charles Henry pedalled 4000m in 3 minutes and 40 seconds (standing start) with his fully faired bicycle "PoB" (Peregrin on Birk), on the 333m velodrome in Oerlikon, Switzerland. This is about 65.35 km/h and is slower than Robert Lafleur's existing road record of 68.7 km/h. Charles Henry and team have applied for a record in a new "velodrome" category and this is pending. The main difference between a record on a road and on a velodrome is the steep banking of the latter. In the case of Oerlikon, it is an oval with the ends banked 45°. This mainly increases the rolling resistance in the curves but also may have physiological effects.

»»  400 meter standing start speed trial - info on website of Charles Henry  (German language)
»»  Original record application (PDF 2 MB, English language)