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Denise Mueller sets women’s bicycle speed world record at 147mph

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Photos provided by Cirrus

Denise Mueller set the women’s bicycle world speed record by riding 147mph while drafting a modified Land Rover. The bike was a completely custom creation by KHS and DaVinci Bikes, outfitted with a dual crown suspension fork and cirrus Body Float suspension seatpost. The latter two, along with the overall design of the bike, were to reduce vibrations and subtle bumps from creating instability, which would be disastrous at those speeds. Check out the bike and more details, below…

denise-mueller-womens-bicycle-world-speed-record-at-147mph

Other custom touches include double-reduction gearing, massive 60 tooth chainrings, custom built 17-inch dragster wheels with shaved tires, an elongated frame, and steering stabilizers.

Mueller is an accomplished bicycle and motosports racer, the current National Criterium Champion, and a 15-time National Champion, as well as a mother of three. Her coach, John Howard, set the men’s speed record 30 years ago by riding 152.2mph. It was beaten in 1995 by Fred Rompleberg of the Netherlands with a top speed of 167mph. The team said she’d like to top that number, but their current track isn’t long enough. Regardless, she’s not just the new women’s record holder, she’s apparently the only woman to ever seriously attempt the land speed record for bicycles.

Follow future progress and get more info and history at TheProjectSpeed.com.

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gatouille
gatouille
7 years ago

Ridiculous.
Prefer the International Human Powered Vehicle Association.

AtlBikeShop
7 years ago

Wow. Congrats on going super fast on a bike!

Andy
Andy
7 years ago

Seems like an odd setup for high speed riding, but what do I know. Is there a reason they didn’t use a steel frame, 29-inch wheels, a XC suspension fork, and a more aggressive geometry?

Paul S.
Paul S.
7 years ago
Reply to  Andy

High speed stability… She doesn’t need 4″ of travel, but that 1″ of travel has to have amazing high-speed compliance.

Dave
Dave
7 years ago

The term “double reduction gearing” is incorrect. The compound gearing is to increase the rear wheel rotational speed for a given pedal cadence above what any available combination of a single chainring and rear cog can provide.

Phil Succuluski
7 years ago

Is there a video anywhere?

gringo
gringo
7 years ago

Pretty cool achievement! I would be curious to hear why her team opted for such small diameter wheels considering the stability offered by something larger. I would think you want to avoid speed wobbles at any cost. either way very cool.

@gatouille WTF? get a hobby!

Howard Ashley
7 years ago
Reply to  gringo

Smaller diameter wheels are stronger. Much stronger. They apparently avoid speed wobbles with a steering damper. Two of them! Yes they want to avoid speed wobbles very much.

Lumpa Lumpa
Lumpa Lumpa
7 years ago

Be carefull, the bicycle marketing gurus will take the opportunity to create a new bicycle familly….. ;-()

alvis.
alvis.
7 years ago

Infocrank. Any power numbers released?

Person
Person
7 years ago
Reply to  alvis.

Yep, She’s putting down ALL of the watts.

Oli
Oli
7 years ago

woman’s bicycle? I don’t see a sloping top tube.

Tom
Tom
7 years ago

Respect!

I read in a more detailed article that the draft vehicle stays in front of her when slowing down to 100, then accelerates away to allow wind resistance to aid the braking.

100 mph on a bike with no lead vehicle must feel pretty exciting!

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