Battle Mountain 2014

Releasing the Eta speed bike at the start of a 5 mile run

Once again I attended the Battle Mountain World Human Powered Speed Challenge and hung out with the AeroVelo team from Toronto for a few days, taking photos and attempting to help out where possible.

The contest consists of a 5 mile long course on very flat ground a few miles South of Battle Mountain Nevada, where the last 200 meters is timed through a trap to get an average speed at the end of the run.  Speeds set there are recognized as the official bicycle speed record.

They came back with a new bike this year, named Eta, which was designed for maximum aerodynamic efficiency.  It turned out to be a good bike, and obviously fast, but they were hampered by broken spoke blades on almost every run, and managed only three complete runs over the 6 day contest.

They still managed to best last year's speed by about 1 mph with a speed of 78.46 mph.  The dutch team that last year set the new record of 83.13 mph, managed to reach a speed of 82+ mph with a different rider this year.  The only record set was a new trike speed record by Gareth Hanks of 72.94 mph.

AeroVelo will be coming back next year with a new wheel design, and should have a good shot at besting the speed record with their obviously fast new bike, once they aren't hampered by bum wheels.

Practice runs are done with a carbon fiber cover to protect the fairing surface from scraping during a fall

The Eta bike uncovered

That's some chainwheel!

A better view of the transmission

Speed bike central -- the Battle Mountain Civic Center

Calvin talking with another competitor

AeroVelo planning for an evening build session

Todd Reichert warming up before a run

Some last minute fixes to the wheel well

Another speed bike competitor

It's a tight fit getting into the bike

Buttoning down the hatches before a run

This drone was taking video of the launches at the event

Drone closeup

Drone follows Eta down the course

Getting ready to launch

A speed bike competitor from Russia

Anemometers keeping it legal (legal wind is 1.67 m or below)

Competitors lined up and ready to go

The broken spoke conundrum, Eta's Achilless Heel

Eta all decked out in sponsor kit

Sponsors

A view from the front

The dutch bike that hit 82+ mph this year

Eta has a redundant camera system with two completely separate bullet cameras and screens

A view showing the two video screens

Closeup of the screens

A good view of Eta without the cover

Getting ready for a run

Waiting at the starting line

The Elan racing team bike

Zipping up for a run

One of the two front fairings, a bit worse for the wear, but carefully smoothed for the runs (it just looks like a mess, it's actually very smooth)

Cooling system on the dutch bike

Trefor launching Todd on another run

Special frame for carrying the bike frame

Anemometer for last minute wind speed checks

A good view showing half of the wheel fairing off

Setting it down in the frame

Custom Eta seat

Eivie, the bike that is ridden upside down and backwards (well, backwards, anyway)

Dutch bike on a run

Video of one of the speed bikes on the course