the gravity bike history
The mid 1980's saw the birth of a new adrenaline gravity sport. The Gravity Bike. The sport was fueled by a new style bicycle on the scene, the BMX bike. It wasn't long guys were ditching the pedals and chain, reconfiguring the seats, designing knee rests, and handlebars. Now the only thing left, find the steepest road, jump on, tuck in and bomb the hill. The sport's popularity was propelled by magazines such as BMX Plus and BMX Action doing numerous articles and features on the bikes and riders. Features showed riders bombing historic gravity roads in Southern California such as, Glendora Mountain Road (GMR) and Cole Rd.
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As far as historical record keeping of gravity bike's who's who, the where's and when's early on of the sport, it's somewhat poor at best. Many of the major riders and contributors of the sport have gone unrecognized. Literally hundreds, if not thousands, have mounted a G-Bike and silently hauled butt down the steepest road they could find. With the advent of the internet in the mid 90's, interest was sparked worldwide. Now riders around the world were in contact with each other sharing ideas and pics. The gravity bike popularity exploded. In 2000, the X Games had it's first and only Gravity Bike race, with the legendary, Tommy Brackens taking home the gold. Around 2010, the sport's racing popularity slowed somewhat. The International Gravity Sports Association (IGSA), founded by Marcus Rietema, had kept the racing alive with a Gravity Bike class in the IGSA race schedule that started in 1997 and ran thru 2011. Following the slight downturn in 2010, popularity has surged and has a huge following. In 2014 there were more riders around the world then anytime in the history of the sport. As of late, the National Championships were held in Australia in 2014, with Brett Phillips (AUS) taking the number one spot. In 2016, the sport has seen a major resurgence, the sport has taken off again ever where in the world except the United States. South America and Europe the sport is growing leaps and bounds with the new interest in the bikes with numerous outlaw and sanctioned races. In 2016 and 2017 with new WGSA gravity bike world records being set, interest in gravity bike speed racing has spiked. With rumors of new riders and speed bike builds the 2019 L'Ultime Descente Speed Challenge will probably be a slugfest for top speed honors in gravity bike and the records will fall. GO FAST
2000 x-games gravity bike results
the gravity speed bike greats
The gravity bike innovators and speed merchant pioneers in the beginning are names like Dan Hanebrink (Holland), who took the sport when it was in it's infancy, to the next level with his designs and aero work. Probably recognized as the true godfather of the gravity bike sport. Other gravity bike greats included, Jared Hanebrink (Holland), Scott Breithaupt (Germany), Jeff Bottema (USA), Brett Phillips (AUS), Eddy King (USA), Harry Leary (USA), Dave Stinson (UK), Greg Hill (USA), Tommy Brakens (USA), Peter Casti (AUS), Karl Ebel (South Africa), Neil Orta (USA), Tommy Brakens (USA), Fermin Rodriquez (Spain), Kelly Stamps (USA), Hugo Neito (Mexico), Harlin Whitman (USA), Dave Kessler (UK), Cedric Burel (FRA), Polo Medina (Spain), Dwight Garland (USA), Art Gonzalez (Mexico), Richard Kerr (USA), and Mathew McLemore (USA). These guys , all gravity speed merchants, were the ones always pushing the envelope in search of a taller mph. As of 2016, the new GBike speed demons that have come along are Cyril Schroeder (CAN/FRA), Paul Janson (SCO), Cedric Touchette (CAN) setting the new WGSA gravity bike world records.
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Even though, the sport's sanctioned races around the world have waned for a few years, now in 2017, the sport has become bigger than ever around the world except the for the US, riders still mount their two wheel gravity missiles and bomb the hills, just for the love and the thrill of this great sport that will never die. Two gravity bike builders/innovators/riders of modern day are Harlin Whitman of S.I.N. Cycles (USA) and Brett Phillips of GravityBike HQ (Australia). Both of these custom builders have produced some of the baddest ass gravity bikes ever to bomb a hill. S.I.N. Cycles in Portland, OR, always blew away the gravity community with their innovative G Bike designs and concepts. GravityBike HQ's Brett Phillips, constantly stunned the G-Bike world with his futuristic gravity bike creations, and for good reason, Brett holds multiple World Championship wins on them. Brett also owns one of the premier gravity bike websites on the worldwide web. These two gravity speed merchants have already two wheeled their names down in gravity bike history books, as two of the greatest innovators of this great sport. A newcomer from the UK has shown up on the gbike scene, Stef Cree. Cree another incredible builder/rider is looking forward to a serious WGSA world record attempt in the near future and no doubt he'll probably collect one or two records. Watch for this guy at the next speed challenge to wow the gravity bike speed racing community. Vive le GBikes! GO FAST.
1998 garland sets first gravity speed bike world record
As far as the "certified" speed scene, nobody had made any noise until 1998. An American rider, by the name of, Dwight "Snarlin" Garland, bombed a hill in Fountain Hill, AZ. He posted an official run of 64.2 mph / 103.32 km/h speed to set a Guinness World Record. That record would stand for 19 years!. Certainly an impressive speed back then, however, riders showing GPS speeds today, have proven that speed is somewhat soft by today's gravity bike speeds. GPS speeds in the 70's are not uncommon. Still, no one would challenge the WGSA Unlimited Faired Gravity Bike record with a certified attempt for 19 years. Long live "Snarlin" Garland, the first true gravity speed bike world record holder. GO FAST
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2016 Schroeder records fastest speed for gravity speed bike
On Sept. 9 & 10, 2016 Cyril Schoeder (CAN) would emerge on the hill at the 2016 L'Ultime Descente at Les Eboulements, Canada and set the fastest officially recorded speed for a gravity bike. Cyril would do this while riding in the WGSA Stock Non-faired Speed Bike class. On the first day of the event, Cyril's first pass would surpass the Guinness world record held by Dwight Garland (USA) of 64.2 mph 103.32 km/h who was riding a Unlimited Faired Speed Bike at the time, whose class record still stands at this time. Throughout the day Schroeder would go faster increasing his top speed to 70.04 mph 112.73 km/h for the world record.
On the next day, Schroeder would continue to up his new WGSA world record finishing the day out and raising the WGSA Stock Non-Faired Bike world record to 71.69 mph km/h 115.38 km/h! An awesome achievement for a non-faired bike. Cyril is how the fastest certified gravity bike in history. GO FAST
On the next day, Schroeder would continue to up his new WGSA world record finishing the day out and raising the WGSA Stock Non-Faired Bike world record to 71.69 mph km/h 115.38 km/h! An awesome achievement for a non-faired bike. Cyril is how the fastest certified gravity bike in history. GO FAST
2017 gravity bikes set four new world records at the Canadian hill
2017 saw two previous WGSA records fall and two new class records set. Once again the 2017 L'Ultime Descente Speed Challenge was the place to be to rewrite gravity bike speed racing history. Cyril Schroeder (FRA/CAN) a current WGSA world record holder in gravity bike was joined Paul Janson (SCO) and Cedric Touchette (CAN) who was no stranger to the hill. Between the three riders, four WGSA world records would be set at the 2017 event.
PauL Janson (SCO), of Team Rooket of Scotland, is well known around the European gravity circuit as one of the top designer/builder/rider/drivers. Paul has driven carts, gravity bikes and sidecars at some of the UK's top events Janson would ship his Gbike over the pond to challenge a WGSA world record held by Dwight Garland (USA) that was set 19 years ago while riding in the Unlimited Speed Bike F class. Garland had posted a speed of 103.32 km/h 64.2 mph in 1998. Janson would also configure his 2-wheeler to set a new WGSA world record in the Unlimited Speed Bike NF (non-faired) class that same weekend. Paul was successful in both classes, setting a new WGSA record for Unlimited Speed Bike NF of 114.77 km/h 71.31 mph and breaking Garlands long standing Unlimited Faired record by posting a speed of 114.28 km/h 71.01 mph! Janson had installed the full fairing late in the event but was plagued with some brutal crosswinds and turbulence on the course that kept him from letting the bike run to it's full potential. With the sketchy conditions, Paul wrestled the faired bike down the road adding 11 km/h 7 mph to the record. An outstanding speed accomplishment! Paul was now in the gravity speed racing history books and had become a dual WGSA record holder. In his words, his world record story below. GO FAST
What a buzz, what a weekend, what great people, what a great event and what a hill!!! Awesome!
I have piloted carts and bikes and have been a passenger on a sidecar at some of the UKs best gravity events, Cairngorm, Dalby and Border Bogies, which have their own challenges and moments, but this hill at l'Ultime Descente, is superb. It’s not technical, it’s not long, but you need to have a good set up and you need to be on it at all times, as it is fast! The start is a gentle roll off, but the speed picks up quickly as you start on the initial 10% gradient, round a sweeping right hand bend. Pick your line and stick to it. Focus on the next section - the 18% drop.
There is absolutely no time to take in the stunning view, which is approaching fast. You straighten up and pick your line between the guardrail on the right and the central barrier on the left. On the bike you tuck in just a little more, grip the bars a little tighter and feel every single movement as 16" bicycle tyres wheels race over the surface of the road pushing towards 70MPH, and into territory they have possibly never been tested.
This section is a rush - you on a machine built by yourself - with no propulsion other than Mother Nature - the acceleration and speed pushing you beyond 70mph - WOW!
The timing section looms up very quickly and flashes by in an instant, barely visible, even though they are fluorescent orange lines across the road - but is not all over.
The incline may flatten off, but you are now into the slowdown/braking zone, where the road appears to narrow and the concrete barrier to the left is an imposing feature, which will show no mercy, if you get complacent or unlucky. Sitting up to induce some drag helps to slow the bike down gently, before you round the last corner and the last 10% gradient and begin the final braking towards the end of the run.
We had some issues, but we weren't going to let them stop us having a go – that is Team Rooket at its best.
In the end we achieved our initial goals of going over 70MPH, and set two new WGSA records as well.
Paul Janson - Unlimited Speed Bike NF (Non faired) -114.77 km/h 71.31 mph
Paul Janson - Unlimited Speed Bike F (faired) - 114.28 km/h 71.01 mph
Will we try again? - you bet! Paul Janson, WGSA world record holder
I have piloted carts and bikes and have been a passenger on a sidecar at some of the UKs best gravity events, Cairngorm, Dalby and Border Bogies, which have their own challenges and moments, but this hill at l'Ultime Descente, is superb. It’s not technical, it’s not long, but you need to have a good set up and you need to be on it at all times, as it is fast! The start is a gentle roll off, but the speed picks up quickly as you start on the initial 10% gradient, round a sweeping right hand bend. Pick your line and stick to it. Focus on the next section - the 18% drop.
There is absolutely no time to take in the stunning view, which is approaching fast. You straighten up and pick your line between the guardrail on the right and the central barrier on the left. On the bike you tuck in just a little more, grip the bars a little tighter and feel every single movement as 16" bicycle tyres wheels race over the surface of the road pushing towards 70MPH, and into territory they have possibly never been tested.
This section is a rush - you on a machine built by yourself - with no propulsion other than Mother Nature - the acceleration and speed pushing you beyond 70mph - WOW!
The timing section looms up very quickly and flashes by in an instant, barely visible, even though they are fluorescent orange lines across the road - but is not all over.
The incline may flatten off, but you are now into the slowdown/braking zone, where the road appears to narrow and the concrete barrier to the left is an imposing feature, which will show no mercy, if you get complacent or unlucky. Sitting up to induce some drag helps to slow the bike down gently, before you round the last corner and the last 10% gradient and begin the final braking towards the end of the run.
We had some issues, but we weren't going to let them stop us having a go – that is Team Rooket at its best.
In the end we achieved our initial goals of going over 70MPH, and set two new WGSA records as well.
Paul Janson - Unlimited Speed Bike NF (Non faired) -114.77 km/h 71.31 mph
Paul Janson - Unlimited Speed Bike F (faired) - 114.28 km/h 71.01 mph
Will we try again? - you bet! Paul Janson, WGSA world record holder
Paul Janson WGSA Unlimited Speed Bike NF world record holder
114.77 km/h 71.31 mph Cyril Schroeder (FRA/CAN), the current WGSA Stock Speed Bike NF (non-faired) record holder, arrived at the hill again only this weekend he would be campaigning a Stock Speed Bike F (faired) to set the WGSA record for that class. Cyril would take last year's 2 wheeler and add very mild aero work consisting of a close out panel between the frame tubes. During Fridays speed session, Cyril was the most consistent of anyone to bomb the hill, ever. Schroeder had obviously rung all the speed he could get for the conditions out of his bike. Of the seven runs he made on Friday, the split was from 110.09 km/h 68.40 to 111.80 km/h 69.46 mph! Pretty impressive! No doubt, Cyril knows the hill and his machine.
Saturday, the conditions were stellar with a tailwind. Schroeder was now in the speed zone and well past the 120 km/h 75 mph mark. Cyril would jockey his 2 wheeler into the history books and officailly set a new WGSA world record for the Stock Speed Bike F class. He would stop the timers posting a speed of 125.43 km/h 77.93 mph. Schroeder had now set multiple WGSA records in gravity bike. GO FAST |
Paul Janson WGSA Unlimited Speed Bike F world record holder
114.28 km/h 71.01 mph Cyril Schroeder WGSA Stock Speed Bike F world record holder
125.43 km/h 77.93 mph |
Cedric Touchette (CAN), no stranger to the big Canadian speed hill, once set a street luge world record in 2008 that stood for 8 years! Cedric showed up at the 2017 event to challenge the WGSA Stock Speed Bike NF (non-faired) world record currently held by Cyril Schroeder. During the first day's speed session, Touchette spent time getting re-acquainted with the hill, this time on two wheels. He would increase his speed with each lap and finish the day posting a speed of 110.99 km/h 68.96 mph. He now had his sights now on claiming the WGSA world record on Saturday. The following day was the greatest day in gravity speed racing history and Touchette was a big part of it!
Cedric warmed up with his first pass and then he was off and running big numbers on his non-faired 2 wheeler. His next pass he would claim the WGSA world record by running a 123.56 km/h 76.77 mph blast tacking on an increase of 10% to the former record! He wasn't done yet, his next pass would be his fastest. Touchette rode into the gravity speed racing history books when the display read 126.31 km/h 78.48 mph! With Sunday a blow out because of winds, Cedric would take top speed honors for gravity bike at the event and was now the new WGSA Stock Speed Bike NF world record holder and officially the fastest gravity bike in the world! An incredible achievement by one of the gravity speed racing greats. Is 129 km/h 80 mph in the future? No doubt! Watch for Cedric Touchette in the future for more big numbers at "the hill" GO FAST |
Cedric Touchette WGSA Stock Speed Bike NF world record holder
126.31 km/h 78.48 mph |
Top Speed Friday Saturday Sunday
Cedric Touchette The Fastest Gravity Speed Bike in the World 126.31 km/h 78.48 mph 2017