# Faster in 100 meter race & 200 meter race. Runner or bicyclist? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 3, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564 "2012-09-03T18:48:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/1 "2012-09-03T18:48:06Z")
Assume a standing start. Humans standing up and bicyclist perched on seat with one foot on ground. Any chance for bicyclist to overtake runners in 100 meter race? How about 200 meters? ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/2 "2012-09-03T18:52:34Z")
Record for 250m standing start is 17.096s, so I’m going to say runner has no chance at 200m. That’s starting clipped in with someone holding you upright, but there’s lots of cushion in the time. Not sure about 100m. > **[List of world records in track cycling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_world_records_in_track_cycling)** > > World records in the sport of track cycling are ratified by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). Item 3.5.001 of the UCI regulations defines the events in which world records are recognized. > Key to tables: > .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output... ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/3 "2012-09-03T18:58:44Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Record for 250m standing start is 17.096s, so I’m going to say runner has no chance at 200m. That’s starting clipped in with someone holding you upright, but there’s lots of cushion in the time. Not sure about 100m. > > [List of world records in track cycling - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_world_records_in_track_cycling) Human 200 meters record is 19.19. I’m thinking getting your feet on the pedals and getting straightened out for acceleration may take a second or two for the cyclist. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/4 "2012-09-03T19:06:14Z")
It’s kind of interesting that if you Google “100 yard bicycle race” you get hits on newspaper archives prior to 1950; among those I’ve looked at so far, they have a winner’s name but no time. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/5 "2012-09-03T19:10:44Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Human 200 meters record is 19.19. I’m thinking getting your feet on the pedals and getting straightened out for acceleration may take a second or two for the cyclist. Right. A second or two. Allowing 2s to get into the pedals, the record cyclist gets to 250m at the same time as the runner gets to 200m. Logic requires the cyclist passed the 200m mark in under 19s. As for shorter distances, it’s worth noting that a 250m TT track cycle is going to be geared for top speed. For 100m you’d probably gear it lower for better acceleration, so looking at split times (if there were any) from a 250m TT won’t necessarily answer your question. Also, why are you arbitrarily imposing the time penalty for getting feet into pedals? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/6 "2012-09-03T19:11:44Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Human 200 meters record is 19.19. I’m thinking getting your feet on the pedals and getting straightened out for acceleration may take a second or two for the cyclist. I think for an average biker and an average runner, the runner would likely win, because it takes more practice to get the best acceleration from a bike. And the bike’s gearing would be a factor. I would also guess that, with Olympic caliber athletes for both, AND a bike properly tuned for a short sprint, the bike would win. But I can’t prove it. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/7 "2012-09-03T19:33:34Z")
Moved to the Game Room from GQ. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/8 "2012-09-04T05:45:41Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I think for an average biker and an average runner, the runner would likely win, because it takes more practice to get the best acceleration from a bike. And the bike’s gearing would be a factor. > > I would also guess that, with Olympic caliber athletes for both, AND a bike properly tuned for a short sprint, the bike would win. > > But I can’t prove it. Well I’m hardly average at either. I don’t run, but I do walk a lot and I do ride a bike. I have a very hard time imagining that I wouldn’t beat myself on a bike by at least 25 meters in 100 meters. Not only now (I’m 63) but virtually my entire life once I started riding geared bicycles, at least. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/9 "2012-09-04T07:10:15Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > Well I’m hardly average at either. I don’t run, but I do walk a lot and I do ride a bike. I have a very hard time imagining that I wouldn’t beat myself on a bike by at least 25 meters in 100 meters. Not only now (I’m 63) but virtually my entire life once I started riding geared bicycles, at least. Maybe for you, but for elite athletes, I think a race to 100m between a sprinter and a cyclist from a standing start would be neck-and-neck, with the (very slight) advantage to the sprinter. At 200m, forget it, cyclist wins. This would be a great race to see. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/10 "2012-09-04T15:02:07Z")
Downtown Chicago blocks are roughly 100m long. On my mountain bike (good geometry for acceleration) I can beat a taxicab to the other end. I find it hard to believe I couldn’t beat a sprinter. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/11 "2012-09-04T15:27:35Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Human 200 meters record is 19.19. I’m thinking getting your feet on the pedals and getting straightened out for acceleration may take a second or two for the cyclist. But the OP specified the runner is standing, not in blocks, so I’m thinking that’s probably, what, between half to a full second longer because of the slower acceleration? (Is there an accepted number for the advantage starting blocks give? ) And I don’t know if the OP could prevent the runner from crouching hands-to-ground, which, even without blocks, gives a time advantage. Of course, as mentioned, the cyclist record is 250m, not 200m, so the cyclist still comes out ahead. My WAG was in line with the consensus: for similar levels of ability, the runner has little chance at 200m, and it’s probably pretty close at 100m. My inclination is that if the cyclist/bike was as optimized as Usain Bolt’s technique (some kind of rapid shifting device; optimized gear ratios; high traction tires, etc.), the cyclist would have the advantage. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/12 "2012-09-04T15:59:32Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > Downtown Chicago blocks are roughly 100m long. On my mountain bike (good geometry for acceleration) I can beat a taxicab to the other end. I find it hard to believe I couldn’t beat a sprinter. I would easily take that bet if you’re going up against an elite sprinter. [Here’s one video of a real-life race](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnxAvOGHIxU). The cyclist wins, but it’s close. 10.08 vs 10.51. I will revise my statement that at 100m the slight advantage is to the sprinter. I now think it’s slightly to the cyclist. It’d be a fun race to see. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/13 "2012-09-04T17:14:56Z")
According to [this guy](http://www.crankcycling.com/usain-bolt-vs-sean-eadie/), citing a “top cycling biomechanicist’s” models from [Outside Magazine](http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/the-wild-file/The-Wild-File--Runners-vs--Cyclists.html), it’d be the cyclist in the 100m. But it’d be awfully close (0.16s). The cyclist would go across the line in 9.40s I’d also be really interested to see this race. Couldn’t tell you who’d win. Edit: One advantage of this race is that we might actually get to see Bolt going full-out. Or is it just me that thinks we haven’t seen the best from Bolt yet, because no one can really push him to his limits? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/14 "2012-09-04T18:24:36Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > Downtown Chicago blocks are roughly 100m long. On my mountain bike (good geometry for acceleration) I can beat a taxicab to the other end. I find it hard to believe I couldn’t beat a sprinter. Does the taxi driver _ **know** _ you are racing it? I doubt that, for if s/he did know, you’d be blown away. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/15 "2012-09-05T03:17:34Z")
It’s fairly common for a human runner to beat a race horse at those distances, as has been done for various TV shows. But realy they cheat – they use a human sprinter, vs. a long-race horse. If they extend it to a longer distance, the race horse wins easily. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/16 "2012-09-05T03:22:03Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > It’s fairly common for a human runner to beat a race horse at those distances, as has been done for various TV shows. But realy they cheat – they use a human sprinter, vs. a long-race horse. If they extend it to a longer distance, the race horse wins easily. Well, it depends on how long they extend it. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/17 "2012-09-05T06:40:50Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Well, it depends on how long they extend it. I’m not sure what you mean by this. Even if extended to 100 miles (160 km), the world endurance horse record is 5¾ hours. Typically, your horse has to finish under 6 hours to be in the top few places. The closest human race would seem to be Marathon events, at 26+ miles, about ¼ of the distance. The world record for these is about 2 hours (men) or 2¼ hours (women). Even assuming humans could keep up that pace for a race 4 times longer (which is not reasonable), they would still be 2 hours and 25 miles behind the endurance horse. Seems like the longer you extend it, the further behind the human gets. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/18 "2012-09-05T11:06:59Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > Does the taxi driver _ **know** _ you are racing it? I doubt that, for if s/he did know, you’d be blown away. If Chicago taxi drivers are anything like taxi drivers where I live, you wouldn’t be blown away, you’d be run over 😉 > [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > It’s fairly common for a human runner to beat a race horse at those distances, as has been done for various TV shows. But realy they cheat – they use a human sprinter, vs. a long-race horse. If they extend it to a longer distance, the race horse wins easily. Horses have twice as many legs to sort out before they really get started. > [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > The closest human race would seem to be Marathon events, at 26+ miles, about ¼ of the distance. The world record for these is about 2 hours (men) or 2¼ hours (women). Even assuming humans could keep up that pace for a race 4 times longer (which is not reasonable), they would still be 2 hours and 25 miles behind the endurance horse. The [Man versus Horse Marathon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_versus_Horse_Marathon) (actually 22 miles) is a cross-country race in Wales. The horse usually wins (with a 15 minute delayed start), but not always. There are cyclists as well, and they don’t beat the horses. Si ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/19 "2012-09-05T11:25:48Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > The closest human race would seem to be Marathon events, at 26+ miles, about ¼ of the distance. There are plenty of 100 mile running races, ultramarathons are gaining popularity. But the terrain will determine if humans or horses win those. In relatively gentle terrain the horse will win easily, the rougher terrain gives more advantages to humans. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564/20 "2012-09-05T13:48:16Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > The [Man versus Horse Marathon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_versus_Horse_Marathon) (actually 22 miles) is a cross-country race in Wales. The horse usually wins (with a 15 minute delayed start), but not always. There are cyclists as well, and they don’t beat the horses. The wiki article specifically mentions a cyclist has won the race at least once, in fact, before a runner did. There’s no info in the article on how cyclists do in general, though. Of course, on pavement a top cyclist would smoke horses over distance (even if the horse could run on something softer). > [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Even if extended to 100 miles (160 km), the world endurance horse record is 5¾ hours. Tour de France winners average about 40km/hour for the whole race (good chunks of which they’re conserving energy for other days). Every single entrant in the TdF should be able to do 160km in under five hours without straining. Which is I guess getting a little away from the OP. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-in-100-meter-race-200-meter-race-runner-or-bicyclist/633564.md?page=2)