Beastie Bike Is Redesigned to break the 100 mph Record

Graeme Obree—cyclist, motivational speaker, and two-time World 4000m champion and World Hour record holder, has redesigned his Beastie prone bicycle ahead of an attempt to break the human-powered land speed record and, potentially, the 100 mph (161 km/h) barrier at the same time.

Obree's bike, named Beastie, has a compact front and a slim width, and unlike standard bikes, is not pedaled by foot using a circular motion but powered using a push and pull method. The design keeps the rider's knees from having to dip, which aids in aerodynamics. In addition, the bike has skin. Obree worked with the Glasgow School of Art to create a clear cover to encase the rider and make him resemble an engine.

Beastie has a compact front and a slim width and is powered using a push and pull method.

The bike wasn’t ready. In a released statement, Obree said, “This is disappointing but we have had technical issues in particular with regard to the fairing construction. We are not 100 percent happy with what we have and do not want to travel to Battle Mountain with any part of The Beastie unsatisfactory.”

The radical changes made to the now complete bicycle have improved both visibility and aerodynamics. It was tested at Prestwick airport at the end of June.

The new-look Beastie has a reshaped Kevlar and fiberglass shell. "The front section is rounded," Obree tells Humans Invent, "then it widens out and widens out and then comes back in, in a very smooth curve and narrows down to the back end … the most important part in terms of dividing the air and then pulling the air back in again with the least amount of energy is to have a laminar (non-turbulent) flow over the sides of it."

The new-look Beastie has a reshaped Kevlar and fiberglass shell

However, improved aerodynamics have their costs. "I wanted to go at a great speed right away but the guys couldn't launch me," he says. "Back when I tested it at Machrihanish airport, I only needed one person to launch it so I assumed it wasn't that hard to keep me upright and push me in a straight line but because it's now all slippery and fish-shaped it's hard for them."

Beastie Bike With improved aerodynamics

Visibility has been improved by the addition of a window panel for Obree to see out of when cycling. Though he can see more, Obree's vision is still highly restricted due to his proximity to the ground. For this reason, the June tests were limited to speeds of around 50 mph (80 km/h) as Obree couldn't gauge how much runway he'd covered during test runs. Combined with a smoother service, conditions at Nevada's Battle Mountain should prove much more conducive to high speeds.

Visibility has been improved by the addition of a window panel

Obree will be able to show off his years of work and attempt the record in the next few weeks at another speed event in the UK.

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Beastie Bike Is Redesigned to break the 100 mph Record