Comments on: Graeme Obree’s first test run in “the Beastie”

By: Jay

Jay — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 23:42:18 +0000

I had no idea how high the record was. Almost 83 mph from a human powered vehicle seems almost unbelievable. I am excited to see how this turns out.

By: art

art — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:02:08 +0000

Humidity management is one of the reasons why some of the faster fully faired HPVs have the rider wearing a fighter pilot style air mask ducted to one of the wheel wells. It also avoids having big intake and exhaust vents, which would otherwise be needed to get sufficient oxygen turnover. Attempting the record in Scotland should alleviate some of the solar cooker concerns.

By: James Thomas

James Thomas — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 19:38:18 +0000

One of mine as well. I really am hoping that he can overcome the odds (yet again) and pull off the record.

By: Mark Sanders

Mark Sanders — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:47:44 +0000

One of my all time Heros

By: littleman

littleman — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 16:18:49 +0000

Those kind of shells have a nasty habit of fogging up or turning into a solar cooker. In any thing like this there is always trial and error. The bike he breaks the record on (or not) may look nothing like this.

I wonder what the un-faired record is and would he have a chance at that one?

By: | Graeme Obree’s Beastie undergoes full fairing trial | Velomobiles

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 18:48:44 +0000

[...] fully faired trials can take place and a Scottish venue has been found. The Bicycle Design blog reported on trials that took place at Machrihanish in Argyle. The site is a former RAF airfield with a 10,000 ft or [...]

By: Androo

Androo — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:39:15 +0000

Well, he only hit 40 mph with the skin off, in a low visibility situation with standing water.

That’s not to say that he will be able to break the record, but I think he’ll give it a good shot.

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 03:09:02 +0000

I highly doubt it too. At 80+ mph, the aerodynamics will be the biggest factor by far. If you look at previous winning designs, they seem to be a smaller shell around the bike. Couple that with his odd drivetrain system that doesn’t seem like it’s offering any advantages, and it’s a longshot if he’s only maybe hit 40mph so far.

Maybe his initial concept to lay prone was in hopes of being more aerodynamic, but that doesn’t appear to have worked with this design.