Rocket-powered bicycle tops 330km/h

The best part of it might have taken only a few seconds, but Francois Gissy had a brief peep into an entirely different universe as he piloted his rocket-powered bicycle to a monumental 333km/h at the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France recently.

He generated close to two Gs of force and took just 4.8 seconds to reach terminal velocity with little more than a puff of smoke and a high-velocity hiss.

When the acceleration eased, the bicycle came to a gradual stop safely, without the aid of anything as high-tech as disc brakes.

And the 333km/h top speed was achieved in just 250 metres.

How much the frail-looking bicycle had to do with the seemingly insane feat, and how much was due to Gissy's ability to keep the massive unleashing of power under some sort of control as the combination rushed headlong down the straight is almost beyond calculation.

With a cluster of three hydrogen peroxide-fuelled rockets generating a thrust of 4.5kN (a Learjet 40 jet engine produces around 16kN), or about 416kW, the fact that man and machine survived the shattering launch is amazing in itself.

Gissy likens the feat to gravity-powered downhill bicycle racing, with the qualification that, with enough rocket thrust to launch something way heavier and less simple than a bicycle, it's all a lot more dramatic. Especially without the aerodynamic fairing and solidity of a more conventional record-setting two-wheeler.

The rocket-powered bicycle left its occupant fully exposed to the elements, Gissy saying in an interview with Gizmag that the experience gave him a better understanding of the devastating effect of wind in powerful storms. He also expressed gratitude that his head remained bolted to his body afterwards.

Gissy, who had reached 185km/h in a previous run in 2013, when he  made mincemeat out of a Ferrari 430 Scuderia that had lined up for the challenge in the process, is planning on going even faster… If he can find a sponsor willing to contribute to the development of his next bicycle which he hopes will propel him to better than 400km/h in less than two seconds. Appropriately, he's already given it a name: Spine Crusher.

Reportedly Gissy also has plans for a "crazy" four-wheel vehicle but no details are hinted at as yet.

How much power can a person control with little help other than a pair of handlebars and a vertically-oriented seat to maintain body and machine as one unit?

We have the feeling Francois Gissy will have an answer to these – and more – questions.