If you were disappointed by a lacklustre result in the corporate triathlon this summer, we’ve got some good news for you. Red Bull Advanced Technologies has partnered up with Swiss bicycle manufacturer BMC to create a prototype for the new Speedmachine – which is being called the “world’s fastest bike.”
It’s a bold claim, for sure, but we won’t have to wait long to see how quick the Speedmachine actually goes, as it makes its debut at the Ironman World Championships this weekend. However, it’s reasonable to expect some pretty big things from the new bike, as it’s basically the first bike designed with the same approach as a Formula 1 car.
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Blending the bicycle manufacturing expertise of BMC with the unparalleled expertise in aerodynamic simulation housed inside Red Bull Advanced Technologies, it’s almost certainly going to be one seriously slippery bike. In addition to the heavyweight technical expertise of both Red Bull and BMC, the project has enlisted the athletic prowess of road cycling time trial legend Fabian Cancellara and elite triathlete Patrik Nilsson.
Both Cancellara and Nilsson were heavily involved in the prototyping and development of the Speedmachine, offering insights into athlete riding positions that are both aerodynamic and biomechanically efficient. As a result of the different regulations between road cycling and triathlon on time trial bikes, BMC will be producing two different frames to ensure compliance across both disciplines.
As far as the setup itself, there hasn’t actually been too much revealed about the nitty-gritty details of the Speedmachine, however, it’s easy to spot the design progression originating in the decade-old TimeMachine bike. The basebar and stem are nicely integrated, the solid crank looks more aerodynamic than standard top-line SRAM, and the drink bottle effectively forms a part of the aggressively proportioned frame.
We’ll have to tune into the Ironman World Championships this weekend to see how fast the Red Bull and BMC Speedmachine actually rolls, with the lava fields of Kona sure to offer an excellent challenge for the new steed. With no word yet on when a version will be sold to the public, you’ll have to wait a little longer to go quick at your corporate triathlon.
