Fastest bicycle - level 3

25-09-2013 14:00

Sebastiaan Bowier has pedalled his way to the record books by completing the fastest ever time in the World Human Powered Speed Challenge.

The Dutch cyclist broke the world’s speed record for a bike as he rode across Battle Mountain road in the Nevada Desert. Setting off with a little help, he became the fastest ever cyclist in a human-powered vehicle travelling at 133.78 kilometres per hour (83 miles per hour).

"I pushed 200 watts halfway and then I started 350, 400 watts and 110 (kilometres) or so. At one and a half miles, I thought I would go 20 kilometres faster. So from there I went flat out and went sprinting."

Bowier's high-tech recumbent bike was designed by students from two Dutch universities.

Difficult words: pedal (move by working pedals of a bicycle), flat out (as fast as possible), recumbent bike (type of bicycle where you lie on your back).