Markham: Wants title back ©Easy Racers

'Fast' Freddy Markham is one man who has earned his nickname.

The American, who started racing human-powered vehicles (HPVs) in 1978, has since set a grand total of 14 HPV speed world records.

At the top of the list is the 200m/656ft Single Rider Flying Start Speed Trial, which has since given rise to the more exotic title of 'the fastest man on Earth under his own power'.

Markham held this prestigious record between 1986 and 1992. Now held by his former tandem racing partner, Canadian Sam Whittingham, at a speed of 117kph/72mph, Markham is going back to reclaim it at the World Human Powered Speed Challenge at Battle Mountain, Nevada, USA, which runs from 1-6 October.

"I haven't had the top speed title since 1992," said Markham. "After you hang onto it for a while and then lose it, it's something you'd kind of like to have back."

But there is some controversy surrounding Markham's HPV. He plans to ride his tandem vehicle, Double Gold Rush, at the World Human Powered Speed Challenge, while the other racers will all ride individually.

Officially, if Markham does win the challenge, he will set a new record for the Multiple Rider category rather than the Single Rider. Whether this would give him the title of the fastest man on Earth is open to interpretation. Markham, however, is bullish about this technicality.

"Nobody will care," he said. "Say the tandem wins the whole thing and beats everybody there, it will again be the fastest bicycle in the world. Whether it's a single or tandem at that point to me doesn't really matter.

 

	Double Gold Rush: 'Still blindingly fast' ©Easy Racers

"Now it might matter to some, but it's a free-for-all race. If somebody else wants to double up and be the tandem and go through the engineering hassle it takes then more power to them, that may be the quickest way there."

There are also question marks over the relatively old age of Markham's tandem and, consequently, how well it can perform. These, though, are quickly dismissed.

"The tandem has aged and it is not the quickest thing any more. However, it's still blindingly fast and it's gone faster than virtually everything it's competed against."