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Welcome to Velo Vision magazine, covering specialised bikes, cycling as transport and human power. It's a quarterly dose of cycle inspiration.The current issue is Issue 15. The next issue is out early Dec 2004.
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New UK Women's HPV record setCommuting cyclist Claire King beats Boardman and sets a new benchmark for the UK This just in: **** PRESS RELEASE - 22/07/03 At Palmer Park Velodrome, Reading on 20th July, Claire King, riding an HPV-Heaven.Com 'Human Powered Vehicle' (HPV) covered 32.524 miles (52.343 km) in an hour, to establish a British Women's HPV Record. Lapping from start to finish with the consistency of a metronome, Claire covered the first 25 miles faster than Olympic Gold Medallist, Chris Boardman's Road Time Trial Record and went on to exceed the distance covered for both Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli's UCI Best Women's Hour Performance of 29.9 miles and Boardman's current UCI World Hour Record of 30.7 miles, all set on conventional racing bikes. When the sleek aerodynamic lid was removed from the bike at the end of the hour, Claire was met with a rapturous reception from the crowd. "It's the most attention I've ever had!" she said. Claire (35) is a normal commuting cyclist who rides just 60 miles a week around her home City of York. This is the first time trial she has ever competed in. Part of her race preparation was attending The Hook Norton Beer Festival the day before! Despite this we should not underestimate what a personal achievement this record represents. She really rose to the occasion - circulating 1.5 seconds a lap faster than she ever managed in practice. The bike Claire was riding was built by Geoff Bird (40) of Bloxham, Oxon in his small domestic garage and consists of a 'low racer' recumbent bicycle clothed in a glass- and carbon-fibre bodyshell. This silver projectile fully encloses the rider and has approximately one sixth of the air resistance of a conventional track bike. It was designed with the help of a 3D Computer Aided Design System. Geoff normally works in the motor racing industry. For more info and pictures of the bike go to: www.salmon7.fsnet.co.uk/t6bike.htm and www.hpv-heaven.com. For more information about HPV racing go to: www.bhpc.org.uk or http://www.ihpva.org. For UCI (conventional bicycle) World Records: see here. For a history of recumbent bicycles and HPVs: http://www.bikefix.co.uk/forbidden.html. **** I believe no benchmark has been set before for this record in the UK. I'm pretty sure the world women's hour record stands currently at 42.46mph (68.33 km/h), set last year in the White Hawk HPV by Ellen van der Horst - see here for more details. Posted on 28 July 2003 Your comments ...
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