popular science

In the October 1980 issue we told you about remarkable hu-
man-powered vehicles (HPV’s) capable of 60+ mph speeds.
One of the pedal-powered speedsters — Vector Beta — set a
world record for one-person-powered HPV’s, flashing
through the speed trap at 56.66 mph at the 1980 Internation-
al Human Powered Speed Championships.
Now you can pedal your own HPV: Vector designer Al Voi-
gt, a General Dynamics engineer, offers his sleek record hold-
er through Early Winters Ltd. (110 Prefontaine Pl. S., Seattle,
Wash. 98104) at, well, a record price: $10,000. The tricycle
features a slippery fiberglass and Lexan shell (total coefficient

of drag: 0.11), with two steerable wheels in front and one in

the rear (behind the supine rider). It’s 116 in. long, 25 in.

wide, 32 in. high, and weighs 51 lbs. Steering, braking, and

gear-shift functions are on a single joystick, which also in-

cludes a computer that gives time and distance traveled, av-

erage speed of trip, as well as instantaneous speed. Vector’s

power train is a six-speed derailleur, 100-tooth front chain

wheel, and an 11-28-tooth rear cluster. With this gearing, the

Vector is no hill climber: It’s designed to do 60 mph with the

rider pedaling at 82 rpm. What if you can’t pedal that fast? “In

the Vector,” says designer Voigt, “30 mph is a nice, easy pace.”

—R. L. Stepler

POPULAR SCIENCE, SEPTEMBER 1981, PAGE 65

Now you can buy

a record-holding, 56.66-mph

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