Recumbent bike speed records set in Nevada desert

Canadian cyclist Sam Whittingham broke his own record at the World Human Powered Speed Challenge in Battle Mountain, Nevada, this week.

Riding the Tempest Varna recumbent bike, Whittingham sped along at 82.438 mph over a 200 meter distance. That tops last year's record of 82.33 mph. [That's Whittingham in the video at left setting the 2008 record at Battle Mountain last year.]

Meanwhile, Barbara Buatois of France pedaled the Diablo III Varna to 72.534 mph to set the women's speed record.

Both bikes are actually recumbents housed in a lightweight shell. The Varnas are made by Georgi Georgiev, who also makes handcycles at his Varna factory on Gabriola Island, British Columbia, to improve the lives of those with disabilities.

Whittingham, owns Naked Bicycles, a maker of handmade bicycles. He's been setting speed records for at least the past 10 years.

Buatois and Whittingham were among nearly 20 cyclists who showed up at Battle Mountain this week to battle air friction.

The Human Powered Speed Challenge website calls State Route 305 “one of the straightest, flattest and smoothest surfaces in the world.” It also helps that that the course is at 4,619 feet elevation and the Nevada Department of Transportation newly repaved the road.

The cyclists are allowed a 4-mile acceleration to gain their top speed before being timed over the 200 meter distance.

Here's this week's results at Battle Mountain.