Fred Rompelberg,
Maastricht, the Netherlands,
eldest professional cyclist in the world,
current holder of the Absolute Speed World Record Cycling
with 268,831 km/h.
The photo shows Fred during his successful world record attempt on 1995-10-03 on his special bicycle behind a dragster of the Strasburg Drag Racing Team on a dried up salt lake, the so called Salt Flats at Bonneville near Salt Lake City in the federal state of Utah in the USA.
The exactly measured speed was 268,831 km/h.
A sponsor promised a considerable dollar amount for a successful attack on this record. The time is Fred’s greatest opponent in connection with that.
Specifications of bicycle and pace car
Bicycle
Rider: Fred Rompelberg, Maastricht, The Netherlands;
age 49(1995), height 6 ft, weight 170 lb;
married, two children;
current holder of 10 various bicycle world records.
Design: Dave Tesch, San Diego, San Marcas CA.
Built by: Dave Tesch, San Diego, San Marcas CA.
Cost: US $ 12,000.-.
Gears: Double reduction gearing,
primary built by Cook Brothers,
70 / 13 teeth - 60 / 15 teeth,
covering 114,2 ft distance with one pedal system rotation
(fourfold of a normal 10-speed gearing).
Wheelbase: 57 in (average of a normal race bike is about 40 in).
Saddle: Leather, manufactured by Brooks.
Brake: Shimano "Cantilever" type on rear wheel only.
Fork: Special Italian racing fork,
designed to provide suspension travel at high speeds.
Steering
dampener: Motorcycle type.
Wheels: Special aluminium rims, - hubs and - spokes;
18 in diameter for lower centre of gravity
(average of a normal race bike is 27 in).
Tires: V-rated motorcycle road racing slicks,
capable for more than 150 mph.
Weight: Total of 43 lb.
Pace car
Crew: Strasburg Racing / Strasburg Brothers.
Driver: Jeff Strasburg, Jeff set a record of 255.985 mph
at the Bonneville Salt Flats with a race car.
Body: Lakester, converted from a 1990 fuel dragster.
Engine: 476 in3 V8-cylinder "big-block" fuel-injected Chevrolet
fuelled by methanol, with approximately 800 hp,
approximately 6,000 rpm at 175 mph.
Tires: The car has been equipped with Bonneville land speed tires.
Wheelbase: 262 in.
Transmission: By PRTC Transmissions with a 3.25 rear axle ratio.
Fairing: Designed and built to exacting aerodynamic specifications
by Strasburg and Burkland Builders
for the purpose of creating a slipstream.
Paint: The paint shown on the photo by Brett Gilbert.
Testing: Bonneville Salt Flats, summer 1994,
Doug Mayor - USFRA timer -
¼ mile 131.81 mph; 1st mile 139.41 mph;
2nd mile 166.711 mph; 3rd mile 173.756 mph;
course exit speed 174.79 mph,
Compulink 3 timing system.
The Strasburg Racing-Team assisted in the record for the fastest race cyclist of the world,
1995 the record of Fred Rompelberg
was noted in the Guinness Book of Records,
record speed: 166.944 mph.