# Fastest human powered sports (no gravity assist) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 17, 2026, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-human-powered-sports-no-gravity-assist/1027771 "2026-02-17T23:28:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-human-powered-sports-no-gravity-assist/1027771/1 "2026-02-17T23:28:39Z")
So no skiing. From a standing start over an official distance, no demonstration events. This is what I have so far. **Running** 100 meters in 9.58 seconds - speed 10.43 m/s, 23.35 mph. **Skating** 1000 meters in 1:05.37 - speed 15.3 m/s, 34.2 mph **Bicycling** 250 meters in 15.949 - speed 15.67 m/s, 35.05 mph I’m surprised that the skaters are so close to the cyclists. Longer distances would favor the bicycle but none of them seem to be standing start. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-human-powered-sports-no-gravity-assist/1027771/2 "2026-02-17T23:35:10Z")
To be clear, you want the human to be moving, right? Because there are plenty of sports where a human propels some object much faster than that. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-human-powered-sports-no-gravity-assist/1027771/3 "2026-02-17T23:35:34Z")
**Human Powered Flight** 27.5 mph > **[Musculair](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musculair)** > > Musculair 1 and Musculair 2 are two human-powered aircraft designed and built by German academic and engineer Günther Rochelt. > Rochelt designed Musculair 1 and completed building it in 1984. His son, Holger, won a Kremer prize in the same year for his flight over a 1,500 m (4,900 ft) triangular course, improving the record to 4 minutes and 25 seconds. In the same year, he set a world speed record at 35.7 km/h (22.2 mph), receiving a second Kremer prize. Later that year, Holger and his sister Kat... ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2026, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-human-powered-sports-no-gravity-assist/1027771/4 "2026-02-22T21:33:13Z")
The hour record for a human powered vehicle is (depending on who you ask) is probably 57.44 miles: > **[LAND - MEN'S 1 HOUR STANDING START (Single Rider) - Records-Land - World Human...](http://www.whpva.org/land.html#300)** > > World Human Powered Vehicle Association See note > **[International Human Powered Vehicle Association](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Human_Powered_Vehicle_Association)** > > The International Human Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA) is a US-based organization dedicated to promoting the design and development of human powered vehicles (HPVs) and the keeping of speed and distance records for these vehicles and bikes. > The IHPVA was founded in 1976 in the USA and was for many years an association of individual members with the publications Human Power and HPV News. In 1997, the IHPVA was reorganised into an international association with national organisations as membe... Brian ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2026, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-human-powered-sports-no-gravity-assist/1027771/5 "2026-02-22T22:05:06Z")
Rowing: > **[List of world best times in rowing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_world_best_times_in_rowing)** > > There are no world records in rowing due to the huge variability that weather conditions can have on times. Instead, there are world best times, which are set over the international rowing distance of 2,000 m. > Rowing times are strongly affected by weather conditions, and to a lesser extent by water temperature – the majority of these times were set in warm water with a strong tailwind. World best rowing times have also decreased because of improvements in technology to both the boats and the oa... Converting to MPH is left as an exercise for the reader. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2026, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-human-powered-sports-no-gravity-assist/1027771/6 "2026-02-22T22:13:42Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > The hour record for a human powered vehicle is (depending on who you ask) is probably 57.44 miles: I’m guessing that’s with a windbreaking (non-human-powered) vehicle? ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2026, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-human-powered-sports-no-gravity-assist/1027771/7 "2026-02-22T22:25:42Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m guessing that’s with a windbreaking (non-human-powered) vehicle? Nope. Although the bikes can and will have fairings for streamlining. ---
**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:** [February 22, 2026, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-human-powered-sports-no-gravity-assist/1027771/8 "2026-02-22T22:35:15Z")
The bike for those interested: [https://www.russo-speedbike.com/metastretto/](https://www.russo-speedbike.com/metastretto/) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2026, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-human-powered-sports-no-gravity-assist/1027771/9 "2026-02-22T22:41:26Z")
Interesting to note that the emphasis is on the vehicle and engineering rather than the athlete. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2026, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-human-powered-sports-no-gravity-assist/1027771/10 "2026-02-22T22:45:59Z")
Also interesting to note that the lead designer is also the pilot. Could they achieve even greater results with a world-class cyclist (who isn’t necessarily an engineer)? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2026, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-human-powered-sports-no-gravity-assist/1027771/11 "2026-02-22T23:06:28Z")
Yes would be interesting with Pogacar peddling it… Brian ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-human-powered-sports-no-gravity-assist/1027771/12 "2026-02-23T19:04:28Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > The bike for those interested: [https://www.russo-speedbike.com/metastretto/](https://www.russo-speedbike.com/metastretto/) It looks like someone decided to merge together a light-cycle from _Tron_ and a suppository. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-human-powered-sports-no-gravity-assist/1027771/13 "2026-02-23T19:34:56Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > It looks like someone decided to merge together a light-cycle from _Tron_ and a suppository The _Fantastic Voyage_ sequel none of us were asking for