May 19, 2009

A Road Built for Speed: Route 305 Welcomes Fastest Humans with New Road Surface

(Battle Mountain, NV) -- Records are made to be broken, and this year’s 10th anniversary of the World Human Powered Speed Challenge should prove that axiom true thanks to new pavement and the strong legs of Sam Whittingham.

Last year, the Canadian cyclist pedaled his Varna Diablo III recumbent bike to a new world record speed of 82.3 mph (132 kph) through the 200 meter speed trap set up on State Route 305 just south of Battle Mountain, NV.
“No question this year should be a record breaker,” Whittingham said. “With the new road, plus knowing that last year we got the record with less than ideal pavement; it should bring out a lot more riders and designs.”

The Challenge is set for Sept 14-19, but not before the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) re-paves the 9-mile stretch of the blacktop that connects Battle Mountain with the mountain mining town of Austin, NV -- the “field of dreams” for these unique athletes.
“The human powered racers should be very pleased with this final product,“ said Scott Magruder, public information officer for NDOT. “We expect some records will be broken.”
Lander County officials urged the highway department to go beyond the normal “chip and seal” resurfacing, urging a design that results in a super-smooth surface. The $3.8 million project – made possible through federal and a small amount of stimulus money -- would not only satisfy transportation needs, but also assist with economic development, tourism and marketing in the town of Battle Mountain.

“What will make this unique is the actual thickness of the material we are placing,” Magruder said. “The pavement will be done in three layers and the top layer will offer a very smooth ride. We will essentially have a surface that is twice as thick as a normal resurfacing project.”
NDOT is bidding the project this month which means the road should be complete by the end of August, he said.

This is good news for Whittingham and the group of riders and designers who will descend on the stretch of highway in September. The road’s lack of slope, remoteness and Great Basin Desert climate that provides hot and still air has always been ideal. The sketchy part was the crumbling road surface.

“This is kind of what we have been hoping for,” Whittingham said. “There is a lot of fear factor doing this, very little protection for the cyclist. You have to have the mentality of a NASCAR driver or jet pilot”
The speed trials require a five mile stretch of highway. Riders, mostly in recumbent- style bikes surrounded by an aerodynamic shell, must get to speed pedaling huge gear rings. The energy expended usually allows just one pass per day, although Whittingham set his latest world record on his unprecedented second run in 2008.

Whittingham has become a household name in this little-known sport. He is a well-know custom bicycle builder -- Naked Bicycles based in Qudra Island, north of Vancouver. But since the 1990s he has ventured into the desert, employing the speed bullets designed by fellow Canadian Georgi Georgiev. The record meant a big pay day for Whittingham as he claimed the $26,748 prize as the first rider to break the deci-Mach barrier – one tenth the speed of sound.

“One of the big reasons the sport was founded is to determine more efficient forms of transportation,” Whittingham said. “There is no question as this could be a direct translation to more efficient, renewable energy transportation if we are able to go the speed of cars expending less than a half horsepower of energy.”
Lander County is also seeking a direct translation with renewable energy as the county has embarked on promoting solar, wind and geothermal resources as well as the fastest human powered racers. (Find out more at www.landeropportunity.org)

“This race is a good fit for us. We hope that the new road surface will bring more racers, visitors as well as draw attention to what we have to offer as far as green power,” said Kim Nelson, Executive Director of the Lander County Convention and Tourism Authority. “The event is as green as it gets. These racers have made amazing progress in aerodynamic efficiency.”

The International Human Powered Vehicle Association (www.ihpva), the athletes, volunteers and spectators have all been great to work with,” she said. The feelings are mutual.

“I’ve gotten a soft spot for Battle Mountain over the years, the people are friendly and very supportive.” Whittingham said.

To view Sam Whittingham’s record-breaking run log on to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQwpGLCAMm4
To find information on attending the Speed Challenge log on to:
http://www.battlemountaintourism.com/index.html