National Museum of American History
"Gold Rush" Bicycle
September 22, 1987 – April 15, 1988
On view is the "Gold Rush," an aerodynamically designed bicycle made of light-weight, synthetic materials, including aramid, spandex fibers, and polyester film. The cycle is considered one of the fastest human-powered land vehicles ever built. Enclosed in a shell to reduce wind drag, and featuring wheel coverings and custom-built gears, the "Gold Rush" reached a record-setting speed of over 65 mph while racing on a paved road in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains in May 1986.
