Interesting charts on human powered vehicle performance (2375 mph biking on the Moon!)

[Fumesucker]

[jberryhill]

1. Thank you

This is a great chart and has helped me wrapped my head around the issue of "is it me or my frame geometry?" in my quest to raise my average speed. I've been looking to get another 1.5 - 2 mph over the course of 10 hours out of my hybrid bike by changing various components, and you have convinced me that I'm probably ready to move to more of a road configuration.

[Fumesucker]

2. 2 mph extra is a lot on a bike

The power requirements go up drastically after about 15 mph or so, it takes about 160 watts to go 15 mph on a mountain bike but over 220 to go only 17 mph and 330 watts for 20 mph.

Here's another graph that might help you with your quest for more speed, it's human power output versus time, we can sprint fairly well but a ten hour stretch at 220 watts is going to be in the realm of a pretty good athlete..



On the other hand a full recumbent is only using 100 watts to go 17 mph and 150 watts to go 20 mph, less than half the power needed on a mountain bike for the same speed. A road bike at 20 mph is 250 watts in a full tuck.

The aerodynamics of a standard bike just suck, even Superman doesn't fly standing up straight.

[jberryhill]

3. I'm looking to go from 9 to 11

Last edited Wed Apr 30, 2014, 05:51 PM - Edit history (1)

My issue is not so much sustained power over time, but how many miles I can put behind me in 10 hours in the saddle. Another 20 miles would be great.

[recumbent]

4. Sources for HPV info sheets

Hello,

Would you possibly know the origin of the pictures in your thread?

Thanks in advance for any information

[Fumesucker]

5. I believe this is the original source

http://www.zzipper.com/documents/HPV_Paper.pdf

[gopiscrap]

6. Welcome to DU