PREVIEW

Some crazy - but stunningly fast - contraptions were seen at Betteshanger Park in Kent during the 2024 Human Powered Vehicle World Championships earlier this month (16-18August).

The event pits innovative pedal-powered bikes, trikes and more, known as ‘human powered vehicles’, against each other - with entries ranging from the homespun to aerodynamic marvels capable of spectacular speeds.

The Open overall competition and velomobile category, featuring three-wheeled, faired designs, saw Dutch competitor Pieter Sijbrandij take overall first place with his remarkable Tuna velomobile, after impressing in disciplines including sprints, a time trial, and a 3-hour race.

Meanwhile, Swiss rider Christoph Rindlisbacher triumphed in the prestigious 3-hour race itself, averaging 33.4 mph on his Peregrin on Birk cycle. Austria’s Andrea Hammerle claimed victory in the Women's Faired category, averaging 23.15 mph over the same distance.

The Betteshanger event also highlighted the versatility of HPVs, with races featuring hand-cyclists, four-wheel pedal cars, unfaired cycles, tandems, and even Brompton bikes. In the UK, these innovative cycles are mostly confined to high-quality race circuits like Betteshanger, but in Europe, dedicated tracks have been built to connect towns and cities.

Examples of these FietsSnelWeg (Fast Cycle Way) can be found between Arnhem and Nijmegen in the Netherlands, which make HPVs practical for commuting.

One competitor's father recounted how his son travels 220km along the Rhine by velomobile each week to study at university, returning home the same way at the end of the week.

Enthusiasts claim a track built between Oxford and Cambridge could enable travel by HPV at speeds of around 33 mph—faster than a car can currently achieve under optimal conditions.

The Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) movement traces its roots back to the 1930s when French designer Charles Mochet created aerodynamic cycles that set world speed records. This breakthrough led to a split with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the main regulatory body for cycling, as they sought to maintain control over cycle design. The separation allowed the HPV movement to innovate freely, placing it at the forefront of cycle design and leading to the early adoption of materials such as carbon fibre.

Interest in these energy-efficient machines was reignited during the fuel crisis of the early 1980s.The 1982 Festival of Cycling on the Isle of Wight marked the formation of the first HPV association in Europe, shortly followed by the establishment of the British Human Powered Club. In the UK, pioneering designers like Mike Burrows, famed for his Lotus bike, and Miles Kingsbury, were creating cycle designs that would go on to break records.

Fast forward to the 2020s, and the designs of these two pioneers still hold records. Mike Burrows' faired Windcheater bike remains the fastest for the Land's End to John o' Groats route, completing the journey in around 42 hours, ridden by Andy Wilkinson. Similarly, Miles Kingsbury's Beano, piloted by the accomplished rider Steve Slade, continues to dominate UK races, with Slade having claimed multiple World Human Powered Vehicle Championship titles.

The event at Betteshanger certainly left an impression on local leaders, with the Mayor of Deal attending the start of the 3-hour race with his family. The mayor even tried out a trike built by UK manufacturer ICE, based in Cornwall, though he declined to join the race, as he was dressed in his best suit.