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How do you get a pedal bike to go at 240km/h? Simple - you stick it behind a Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Ah, but you're not allowed to connect the bike to the car...
Actually, this is a properly impressive record. British cyclist Neil Campbell, who previously set a world cycling speed record of 217km/h has smashed his own benchmark, thanks to the slipstream effect of tucking in tight behind a speeding Porsche.
The record attempt took place at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire, previously a base for massive US Air Force B52 bombers. Oddly, its runway is quite short - just 3km - which meant that both Porsche and bike had to get up to speed very quickly.
Campbell's bicycle was created by Cheshire-based Moss Bikes, designed to be incredibly strong and stable at speeds of up to 200mph (322km/h). Formed from a mix of carbon fibre and 3D printed parts, it has interchangeable gears, a wheelbase that's much longer than a conventional bicycle and tyres specially rated for the purpose.
The Cayenne Turbo was, basically, stock, using the 550hp turbo V8 engine, with a 0-100km/h time of 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 285km/h. At the back, though, the Cayenne was fitted with a special aerodynamic rig, which creates a cocoon of air in which Campbell could ride safely with no turbulence.
Driving the Porsche was Andy Frost - a British drag racing champion whose usual car is a 4,000hp, fire-breathing dragster called 'Red Victor'. It was the driver's task to remain in constant contact with Campbell and to ensure every stage of the runs occurred like clockwork to allow the best chance of capturing the record.
The technique used was for the Porsche to tow the bike up to a speed of 177km/h, at which point Campbell unhitches from the car, and pedals like hell. Campbell said: "We've got so little space that it was essential that we got up to speed as quickly as possible. The acceleration of the Cayenne was incredible - it was like being strapped to a rocket. I was pedalling throughout, harder and harder, before I released from the car at just over 100mph and got my head down and gave it all I could. All the time the Cayenne was right ahead of me, clearing the air - it was so stable. I look back on the pictures and think 'what was I thinking' but I was focussed I didn't really take it all in. It's an incredible feeling - to get 149mph on such a short runway is beyond anything I expected. We're within touching distance of the world record. I can't thank my team and supporters enough for the help and confidence they've given me."