Liverpool Students Aim To Build And Race Fastest Bike In History

It's 40 times more aerodynamic than a Bugatti Veyron, has a top speed of 90mph, generates enough power to light the average UK home - and is entirely pedal-powered.

Meet the ARION1 Velocipede - a 'bicycle' which one team of UK engineering students believes will become the fastest human-powered vehicle in history.

The University of Liverpool Velocipede Team (ULVT) - all members of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers - are hoping their design will smash the 83.13 mph record set in September 2013 by TU Delft and VU Amsterdam universities.
They will be the first UK university team to ever compete in the global competition.

ARION1 will be designed, manufactured and ready to race by May 2015, and will attempt the record in September 2015 at the World Human Power Speed Challenge in Battle Mountain, Nevada.

Team Leader Ben Hogan, 22, said:

"This is the first time that the University of Liverpool have attempted this exciting project and the team and I have been overwhelmed by the positive response we have received at this early stage of our journey.

"We are extremely excited about attending the 2015 event and having the opportunity to showcase the UK's innovation for sustainable transport on an international stage."

The rider will be just five inches from the floor and will need to generate over 700 watts of pure human power.
ARION1, which emits zero carbon emissions, weighs less than 25 kilos, is 98.4% efficient and will travel at almost double the current sprint cycling record.

Philippa Oldham, Head of Transport at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said:

"This is a fascinating project and ULVT will be working at the very cutting edge of vehicular engineering.

"To get to the speeds they intend to, the team will have to make sure everything is perfect, from the vehicle's aerodynamics to the size of its wheels. It's an extremely tough ask to get a human powered vehicle to travel at 90mph - and a leap into the unknown - but with the right engineering approach it is possible.

"As a project it displays the very best of UK engineering innovation and I wish them all the very best for the record attempt."

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

Please find images attached.
Picture caption for attached images: Concept design graphics for the Arion1 Velocipede
For interviews with the team and design photos of ARION1, contact the Institution of Mechanical Engineers' Press Office on 020 7973 1261 or email media@imeche.org
Follow the team's journey at www.facebook.com/ULVTeam
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers was established in 1847 and has some of the world's greatest engineers in its history books. It is one of the fastest growing professional engineering institutions. Headquartered in London, we have operations around the world and over 105,000 members in more than 140 countries working at the heart of the most important and dynamic industries such as the automotive, rail, aerospace, medical, power and construction industries.
For more information, please contact:

Dan Hearn
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
E: media@imeche.org
T: 0207 973 1261