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Fastest Human Pure-Muscle Speeds Illustrated
Battle Mountain 2001 Kyle Edge/Matt Weaver Sprint Velocity Plots
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(click images for larger version) |
Summary:
Here are plots of speed-versus-distance of two of the fastest "pure muscle" human sprints as of 2001. The runs were performed in the 1992 "Kyle Edge" streamlined bicycle ("HPV", "Speedbike") and spanned roughly 5 miles of roadway in 5 minutes from a standing start. The first run yielded two world records and nearly a third. The second run was faster yet, but was eclipsed by an incredible performance by Sam Whittingham of Canada in George Georgiev's 2001 "Varna Diablo" garnering the current human speed world record of 80.55-MPH. No data other than official speed-trap times are available for Sam's world-record sprint.
The actual data from each run is overlaid with a computer prediction of an "target" performance for comparison. The simulation was done a day or so before I left for Battle Mountain on an old program I wrote when I built the Cutting Edge in the late 1980s. My simulation program used estimates of the 1992 Kyle Edge aerodynamics combined with my muscle power estimates (actually reduced to yield a run near 80-MPH) based on stopwatch timing of hill climbs locally last summer (2001) and previously. The computer device that did the actual recording of the speed versus time and distance was done using an SRM device that my friend Matthew Schneps offered. Matt heard I was intent upon obtaining a velocity data-logs of the runs (for all the teams!) after my experience in 2000 and offered his SRM for the occasion.
I was pleased to successfully log my two runs in 2001. The data tells a great deal. It would have been very valuable to have done so also in 2000. I found the overlay of the simulation run and my actual performance startling. I seemed to know quite intimately when I was "on" or "off" as I rode. I also found it ironic how close the "over-80-MPH" starter simulation I hurried to produce turned out in comparison to the top speed actually achieved at Battle Mountain 2001.
Discussion (copy of an email):
----- Original Message -----
Hi Derek,
Here are some interesting graphs of actual run and simulation data from
Battle Mountain 2001. The
"planned first sprint" graph was the one and only
simulation I did just before leaving for Battle Mountain. It was the one
computer printout I brought with me to the race to study. (the actual graph
I brought had a little extra data on it beyond what you see there - stuff
about my power output and timing, etc... that I omitted here. Same velocity
curve, anyway. I considered it a relatively conservative calculation for
myself in the Kyle Edge. I figured that would be a good starter run, and
then follow with an 85-MPH run.
As things would turn out, my chain was skipping on my first run, and I was
worried about upping my power with a skipping chain while maintaining the
delicate control of the bike. It is intense rocketing down the road on two
wheels flat on your back at over 70-MPH. A very physical yet very mental
thing. Fractions of a second from crashing any moment. Until the chain
skipping, I was nearly perfectly matching the simulation. I can recall the
details of just about every bobble and deviation in the speed and what was
happening and what was going through my mind. The
first run was quite a
breeze, almost silly, like a warm up run and not at all representative of
what I can do. But I made it safely from start to finish, which is a pretty
intense affair in itself. I was content and looked forward to the next
night.
(I wish to add - I actually grew uneasy and nearly stopped pedaling on my first run just before the final mile while traveling over 72-MPH or so. I think I feared what might happen with the chain skipping as I increased my power for the final stage, and for a moment my body refused to proceed. I talked to myself, and the thought went through my mind of, "Hurry before it's too late! - you can still go at least as fast as Sam!" I eased the power up more gently than planned (in hopes of avoiding any violent skipping of the chain), and doubted one last time for a moment before I continued and managed to match Sam's latest world records set only the day before. I lost track of my position on the course during those moments of doubt, and wasn't sure if I had just entered or exited the final 200-meter trap (between 5 and 5.1 miles on the course). I continued pedaling to be sure and eventually saw a road marker that I recognized as beyond the finish. I then proceeded to burn up my brakes with the four horsepower or so braking load applied for an extended time. The bike filled with smoke, and the brake rotor was officially "taco toast" and warped beyond repair. Fortunately I happened to bring a second rotor - it seems I only had two days of racing anyway!
As it turned out, on my first run (Friday, October 5) I actually surpassed the streak of all Sam's astounding record-breaking runs of the preceding four days, including two of three world records he set only minutes before. I established new world records in the Kilo and Mile, and nearly the top-speed too had I not peaked slightly late on that first run. It may have not been what was expected, nor was I racing a new bike like I hoped, but I could not complain. In the stop zone I exclaimed, "We got a run in! We got a run in!" to the Battle Mountain "Dream Team" (My Father John Weaver, Joe Anderson, Rob Hitchcock, Don Dillon, Jim&Shar Peterson, Chanda Smith) that stayed up late and really made getting the "repaired" 1992 Kyle Edge back together before the 2001 Battle Mountain event came and went). It was a phenomenal experience - both Battle Mountain, and support I received from some incredible individuals prior to my arrival at Battle Mountain. I'll share more details later.
On Saturday, October 6, Sam Whittingham went on to have the run of his life and reveal what an incredible, disciplined "warrior" athlete he is (that's the word that comes to mind - and I don't mean in a "bloodthirsty" or violent way). Sam surpassed my brief (24 hours!) world records and officially set an 80.55-MPH top speed. I've heard it said that, "records are made to be broken". No kidding. I cannot say enough how pleased I am for Sam's achievement! I was in awe and enthusiastic that Sam was able to exceed the astounding and memorable mark of 80-MPH, yet had to cope with my failure to do all I had in store and that I know many have awaited patiently to see. It was bittersweet for me, and I was admittedly holding back a few tears, but I put on as best an encouraging smile I could so nobody would mistake that I was in the least bit disappointed over Sam's achievement. I am indeed enthusiastic for Sam and George Georgiev, the builder of his beautiful bike.
For the final night/second run, I was constrained by a "5% backup rule" to validate either the two world records (flying kilo, mile) I had after the first night, or any new records I might set. So, I had to keep things at or under 81-MPH, so I decided to simply repeat what I originally planned to do the first night and make sure not to accidentally exceed 81-MPH.
As things turned out, I was stuck in the bike 30 minutes in serious condition from overheating (I mean serious agony, heat-stroke, delirious...), but I was intent on backing up the first runs no matter what.
(I wish to add some more here - my honest fear as I sat sweltering was that of... brain damage! I value my mind, my body... and I've read of nervous system damage - cognitive and regulatory (thinking, and also breathing, body temp, heart, etc...) - that has occurred when individuals merely "voluntary" subject themselves to heatstroke conditions. I know I can push myself hard. That concern was indeed competing heavily with my choice to perform my second and final run on October 6. Not a fun predicament. I'm glad I ran, but I will not regret that I did not do all that I had in store. I was reminded later in the evening by Quentin van Marle of Blueyonder, who said something to the effect of, "My God, were you alright...?" Quentin had overheard my frantic exclamations of "Get Me Out Of Here, Get Me Out Of Here!" as I pulled into the stop zone and the end of that torturous run. Sam had it together beautifully that night - achieving the greatest speed recorded of a human being under their own physical power - he did it! I honor Sam and what he accomplished.)
So I rode, but the ride was just an act of "going
through the motions" eager
to get to the finish and get out of the torture chamber. It was quite easy
like the first run to be where I wanted to be, but the final kick again
worried me, and I decided in the last 15 seconds to not continue through
with it and simply back up my first run. 15 seconds, what a fork in the
road. I don't regret that decision, but it is remarkable what a fine line
it was between ending in second versus holding all the world records. Funny
how many others think that is "all I can do" in spite of my reiteration that
there's plenty more left. I wonder why they don't see or acknowledge more.
Anyway, most of all, I found the correlation between my computations and the
actual SRM datalog of my velocity remarkable. That's the point of all this
given your inquiry about the simulations. Imagine getting in an automobile
and driving Hwy 1 from one end of Santa Cruz to the other with a
progressively accelerating speed and holding that speed curve from "memory"
well within 1-MPH for 5 minutes or so of driving...! My simulations are
reflecting reality. I can't say I had "memorized" that acceleration curve.
Yes I looked at it, but once in the bike I largely just pedal and hang on.
I think I have a clue what the bikes can do. Now it's a matter of just
putting it all into the books. I will.
Matt
