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On Sunday, the Salt Flats of Bonneville, Utah, witnessed a new land speed record. Extreme cyclist Denise Mueller-Korenek jumped in her two-wheeled race and, with the help of an aerodynamic-looking vehicle, she reached an average speed of 183.932 miles per hour over a distance of three and a half miles .
The bike that Mueller-Korenek ran to break the 167MPH speed record was not your classic Schwinn. It featured 17-inch wheels and high-speed tires to help lower its center of gravity; an elongated frame made to measure to improve stability; short-stroke shocks to help dissipate vibrations at high speed; and a steering stabilizer to minimize oscillation, which could potentially be deadly at these speeds.
There is no doubt that Mueller-Korenek trained hard to make sure his body was up to par, but the laws of physics, aerodynamics and biology prevent a human from reaching a speed without help. So, for the first mile and a half of her record run, she was towed behind a dragster equipped with a windshield on her back to eliminate any wind resistance once the tie connecting the bike and the vehicle was released.
The smooth, featureless surface of the Bonneville Salt Flats and the gear configuration on his bike, giving the impression of a slow, slow pedal, make it difficult to percept the speed at which Mueller -Korenek was driving. If all goes well, they will post additional videos on his YouTube channel showing the race from other perspectives. But the next time you hit the highway at 60 miles an hour, remember a third of the speed she drove – and without the peace of mind of a seatbelt or the presence of airbags in the air, was a mistake.
[Project Speed via New Atlas]Source link
