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Re:The world's fastest human-powered vehicle tops 85 mph by x0054 on Saturday September 19, 2015 @05:05AM (#10243765)
Does it have to be a bike? What about a rowing rig, where you can leverage the powerful muscles in your back and upper body?
Re:The world's fastest human-powered vehicle tops 85 mph by jacorreia on Saturday September 19, 2015 @11:26AM (#10244498)
Contrary to what it might look like, rowing is almost entirely dependent on your legs, your arms/back merely keep the momentum going at the back of the stroke. Also, the muscles in your back are nowhere near as strong/large as the muscles in your legs, there's nearly a magnitude of difference. Though if you added power from your arms in addition to fully utilizing your legs (it would be much harder to concentrate) then there would be a benefit. But then you run into how to engineer such a thing, especially with respect to aerodynamics.
Re:The world's fastest human-powered vehicle tops 85 mph by jdietrich on Saturday September 19, 2015 @05:36AM (#10243807)
The limit is cardiovascular, not muscular. World class rowers and cyclists have about the same power output. A rowing bike would be larger (so less aerodynamic) and difficult to engineer.