100 meter dash

[brazem]

Looking at the Track N Field Olympics last night, got me thinking about how fast guys like Bolt / Gay (all of them for that matter), can run the 100 meters... reaching top speed of close to 50km/h. And that got me thinking some more: could a top bike sprinter beat a top 100 meter on a 100 meter bike vs. run dash? And if so, by how much? Could a decent amateur bike sprinter do the same?

 

[Julian G.]

Well the 200 world record is something like 9 seconds, but that's with a rolling start. A standing start would probably make it pretty close, due to the logistics of accelerating a bike vs. accelerating on foot. 50 meters in a runner would probably be ahead.

 

[Freehub]

I'd like to see such a race.

 

[531Aussie]

HA! I can't see anyone running at 50kph!

Here are the 10m splits of Bolt's run, plus a bit more info:


http://www.sportsscientists.com/2008/08/beijing-2008-men-100m-race-analysis.html

Top speed of 43.9kph, which he mantained for about 30m