What is the fastest recumbent bicycle?

The Cruzbike Vendetta V20c is the world's fastest recumbent road bike.

To be even more encompassing, the Cruzbike Vendetta V20c is the world’s fastest practical road bike; using the word “practical” to exclude racing bicycles designed solely for track use.

The power and skill of the racer will strongly affect performance. But when competitors are of equal caliber, the victory will go to the bicycle with the best aerodynamics, ergonomics, and biomechanical efficiency every single time

Aerodynamics

The aerodynamic superiority of racing recumbent road bicycles, like the Cruzbike Vendetta V20c and various models of rear-wheel drive (RWD) recumbents, over standard racing bikes is well known. By placing the body in a feet first recumbent position, the frontal surface area of the racer is drastically less compared to a standard bike, even when they assume the dangerous and uncomfortable tuck position.

Ergonomics

Ergonomics become extremely important in longer races. If you aren’t comfortable, you can’t perform as well.

We won’t delve into all the ergonomic problems of the traditional road bike, but they are legion. Recumbent bikes distribute the body weight over a much larger surface area, eliminating chronic pressure-related injuries to the prostate, genitals, wrists, and shoulders.

However, RWD (rear wheel drive) recumbent bicycles have a problem called “heel strike” which is when your foot runs into your wheel when you are turning. In order to reduce this, many RWD racing bikes position the feet very high in the air, which causes issues of foot numbness, visual obstruction of the road, and delayed planting of the foot on the ground in an emergency stop. The Cruzbike Vendetta V20 has none of these issues because your feet turn with the cranks.   

Biomechanics

The ability of the Cruzbike to allow the upper body to add torque to the cranks, much like a standard road bike, has been proven; and this is a feature that is inherently lacking in all rear-wheel drive (RWD) recumbent bicycles. As a separate issue, the chain on a Cruzbike V20 is less than half the length of RWD recumbent road bikes, thus reducing moving mass and wasted energy.

For these reasons, RWD recumbents may match the aerodynamics of the Cruzbike Vendetta V20, but they can never match the biomechanical efficiency. This is why the V20 has set so many records since its debut in 2012. The proof is in the pudding.

The Proof: Race Course and World Records Held by Cruzbike Vendetta Racers

For the reasons summarized above, the Cruzbike Vendetta V20 is the world’s fastest bike built for the open road. We have no doubt whatsoever that a well-trained team of professional cyclists on V20s would crush a similarly trained pro-team on standard road bikes on any long road course with a good mix of climbs, descents, and flats. They would lose some ground on the climbs simply because they weigh a bit more, but then more than make up for it everywhere else. The Cruzbike racers would also be safer (much less likely to sustain a head or neck injury) than the standard racers, and would enjoy a better view of the road ahead of them. All we need is a corporate sponsor with deep pockets to demonstrate this to the world.

Now here is a list of Cruzbike cyclists and their records. These are NOT professional cyclists. These are ordinary people working desk jobs, operating machinery, raising children, etc. Well-established course records, especially if they do not allow drafting, and World Ultra Cycling Association (WUCA) certified records are the best evidence to show what the Cruzbike Vendetta V20 can do when ordinary people strive to do extraordinary things on it. Pay special attention to the hilly races, like the Hoodoo 500 and the Texas Time Trials.  If you think your bike is faster than the V20, pick one of these records and go try to beat it. 

This list is NOT complete and is always changing. If you would like us to add or edit a record,  please send a detailed description of the record, with supporting links, to: records@cruzbike.com.

Cruzbike Record Listing

OFFICIAL TITLE DATE RECORD RIDER RECORD CLASS LOCATION MODEL NOTE
World Time Trial Championship (WTTC) 6-Hour Male Recumbent 2019 145.2 miles Cliff Federspiel Course Record Recumbent Borrego Springs, CA Vendetta Broke Jim Parker's existing course record set on a Cruzbike Vendetta V20.
World Time Trial Championship (WTTC) 12-Hour Male Recumbent 2021 272.4 miles Cliff Federspiel Course Record Recumbent Borrego Springs, CA Vendetta Broke Kevin Gambill's existing course record set on a Cruzbike Vendetta V20.
World Time Trial Championship (WTTC) 12-Hour Female Recumbent 2022 230.4 Maria Parker Course Record Recumbent AND 50-59 Age Group Borrego Springs, CA Vendetta V20c Surpassed Sandy Earl's existing course record by 40 miles.
World Time Trial Championship (WTTC) 24-Hour Male Recumbent 2016 & 2017 510 miles Jason Perez Course Record Recumbent Borrego Springs, CA Vendetta One of only 6 people to have exceeded 500 miles.
World Time Trial Championship (WTTC) 6-Hour Male Recumbent 2022 109.2 Marshall Cooperson 70+ Age Group Recumbent Course Record Borrego Springs, CA Vendetta V20
Texas Time Trial 26.5 Mile Sprint Male Recumbent Bike 2017 26.5 miles Alvin Maxwell Course Record Recumbent Glen Rose, Texas Vendetta Set record during 1st 6-months on a Cruzbike Vendetta V20.
Texas Time Trial 6-hour Shoot-out
Solo Male Recumbent Bike
2017 125.5 miles James Parker Course Record Recumbent Glen Rose, Texas Vendetta
Texas Time Trial Tin Butt 12-hour Solo Female Recumbent Bike Sep 23, 2011 212 Miles Maria Parker Course Record Glen Rose, Texas Vendetta Exceeds traditional frame record
Texas Time Trial Tejas 500
Solo Male Recumbent Bike
2017 27:32:12 Jason Perez Course Record Recumbent Glen Rose, Texas Vendetta 503 Miles on infamously hilly course
Blue Streak TT (10 mile) July 12, 2022 21:15 Michael "MJ" McClure Recumbent Course Record Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH Cruzbike V20 Broke record by Mike Mowett (28.24 mph)
Hoodoo 500 Stage Race - Recumbent Aug 28, 2015 32:31:00 Lief Zimmerman Course Record St. George, Utah Vendetta 521 Miles, 30,666 Ft Climbing
Hoodoo 500 Solo Race - Recumbent Male Aug 29, 2015 44:12:00 Ben Tomblin Course Record St. George, Utah Vendetta 521 Miles, 30,666 Ft Climbing
Hoodoo 500 Solo Race - Recumbent Female Aug 29, 2015 46:20:00 Maria Parker Course Record St. George, Utah Vendetta 521 Miles, 30,666 Ft Climbing
Assault on Mt. Mitchell - Recumbent May 18, 2015 6:23:42 Ben Tomblin Fastest Recorded Time - Male Recumbent Spartanburg, SC Vendetta 102.7 Miles, 10,357 Feet Climbing
Assault on Mt. Mitchell - Recumbent May 18, 2015 6:58:57 Maria Parker Fastest Recorded Time - Female Recumbent Spartanburg, SC Vendetta 102.7 Miles, 10,357 Feet Climbing
Bessies Creek 24 Hour - Female Recumbent Apr 8-9, 2016 457.7 Miles Maria Parker Course Record Brookshire, TX Vendetta V20 Exceeds male and female traditional and recumbent frame records
Bessies Creek 6 Hour - Male Recumbent Apr 2017 142 Miles Larry Oslund Course Record Brookshire, TX Vendetta V20 Exceeds traditional frame record
Heartbreak Double Century May 21, 2016 10 hours 46 minutes Jason Perez Course Record Lancaster, California Vendetta 201.6 miles with 16,539 ft climbing.
White Mountain Double Century Sep 10, 2016 10:42:00 Jason Perez Course Record Bishop, CA Vendetta V20 13,492 feet of climbing, Jason smashes traditional frame record and clenches historic California Triple Crown victory.
Mulholland Challenge Double Century April 2017 11 hrs 16 min 34 sec Jason Perez Course Record Agoura Hill, California Vendetta 1st place by over an hour. 18,000 ft of climbing
Solvang Double Century Mar 18, 2017 8 hrs 44 min 37 sec Jason Perez Course Record Buelton, California Vendetta Beat Marko Baloh. 8,200 ft climbing
Planet Ultra King of the Mountains Challenge 2017 15 hrs 13 min 47 sec Jason Perez Course Record California Vendetta 3 combined Century races
Devil Mountain Double Century 2019 13 hrs 17 min Jason Perez Course Record Recumbent San Ramon, California Vendetta 206 miles with 20,000 ft climbing
Bike Sebring Drafting 12 Hour Event - Recumbent Feb 19, 2022 285.5 Miles Cliff Federspiel Course Record Sebring, Florida Vendetta V20 Exceeds traditional frame record. Broke 276.6 mile record set by Kevin Gambill on a V20 on 2/13/16
Bike Sebring Drafting 12 Hour Event - Recumbent Feb 14, 2015 261.1 Miles Maria Parker Course Record Sebring, Florida Vendetta Exceeds traditional frame record
Big Jay's 6 Hour WUCA National Championship Aug 12, 2017 138.4 miles Larry Oslund Course Record Mahomet, IL Vendetta V20 Exceeds traditional frame record
Race Across America 4-Person 50+ Mixed Team Jun 17, 2017 6 days, 12 hours, 26 minutes Kevin Gambill, Larry Oslund, Jim Parker, Maria Parker Course Record Oceanside, CA to Annapolis Maryland Vendetta V20 Exceeds traditional frame record
WUCA 100 Mile Road Record - Men Unfaired Recumbent Oct 11, 2015 3 hours, 59 minutes, 31 seconds Larry Oslund World Record Surveyed Road Course Near Lumberton NC Vendetta
Bike Sebring 100-mile Event Feb 19, 2022 4 hours 5 minutes, 41 sec Jim Parker Course Record Recumbent Sebring, Florida Vendetta Broke record set by Troy Timmons in 2013 (4:09:32)
Saratoga 12/24 Hudson River Ramble 12-hour Women’s Overall Aug 10, 2009 211 miles Maria Parker Course Record Saratoga, New York Silvio Exceeds traditional frame record
Calvin's Challenge WUCA National 12 Hour Championship May 2, 2015 257 Miles Maria Parker Course Record Springfield, Ohio Vendetta Exceeds Traditional Frame Record
Bike Sebring Non-Drafting 24 Hour Event - Recumbent Feb 25, 2012 474.5 Miles Maria Parker Course Record Female Sebring, Florida Vendetta
Michigan National 24-Hour Challenge, Women's Record June 15, 2012 407.9 Miles Maria Parker Course Record Female Middleville, Michigan Vendetta
Michigan National 24-Hour Challenge, Husband Wife Combined Miles June 15, 2012 805.5 Miles Jim and Maria Parker Course Record Husband-Wife Middleville, Michigan Vendetta Exceeds Traditional Frame Record
Race Across America Jun 11, 2013 11 days 18 hours Maria Parker 50+ Recumbent Record Female Oceanside, CA to Annapolis, MD Vendetta
WUCA 24 Hour Road Record - Women Unfaired Recumbent Oct 13, 2012 469.198 Miles Maria Parker World Record Surveyed Road Course near Lumberton NC Vendetta
WUCA Cross State - Washington North-South May 16, 2015 0:12:28 Lief Zimmerman Cross State Recumbent Record Washington Vendetta 254.8 Miles
WUCA 200 Mile Road Record - Women Unfaired Recumbent Oct 12, 2012 9 Hours 17 Minutes 3.0 Seconds Maria Parker World Record Surveyed Road Course near Lumberton NC Vendetta Exceeds traditional frame record
WUCA 12 Hour Road Record - Women Unfaired Recumbent Oct 12, 2012 257.8 Miles Maria Parker World Record Surveyed Road Course near Lumberton NC Vendetta Exceeds traditional frame record
Heart of the South 500 Female Recumbent Mar 31, 2012 45 Hours 46 Minutes Maria Parker Recumbent Course Record Birmingham, Alabama Vendetta Training ride before RAAM
WUCA 200 Mile Road Record - Women Unfaired Recumbent Oct 08, 2011 9 hours 27 minutes 10 seconds Maria Parker World Record - Female White Oak, North Carolina, U.S.A. Vendetta Exceeds traditional frame record
WUCA 12 Hour Road Record - Women Unfaired Recumbent Oct 07, 2011 250.3 Miles Maria Parker World Record White Oak, North Carolina, U.S.A. Vendetta Exceeds traditional frame record
WUCA 100 Mile Road Record - Junior Men Unfaired Recumbent Jun 11, 2011 4 hours, 54 minutes, 43 seconds Will Parker Under 17 yo WRRA World Record White Oak, North Carolina, U.S.A. Vendetta
WUCA 100 Mile Road Record - Women Unfaired Recumbent Oct 01, 2010 4 hours, 27 minutes, 19 seconds Maria Parker World Record White Oak, North Carolina, U.S.A. Vendetta Exceeds traditional frame record
WUCA 100 Mile Road Record - Women Unfaired Recumbent Oct 10, 2009 4 hours, 48 minutes Maria Parker World Record White Oak, North Carolina, U.S.A. Silvio Exceeds traditional frame record
WUCA 200 Mile Road Record - Women Unfaired Recumbent Oct 10, 2009 9 hours, 55 minutes Maria Parker World Record White Oak, North Carolina, U.S.A. Silvio Exceeds traditional frame record
WUCA 12 Hour Road Record - Women Unfaired Recumbent Oct 10, 2009 240.01 Miles Maria Parker World Record White Oak, North Carolina, U.S.A. Silvio
WUCA 100 Mile Outdoor Track Record - Male Unfaired Recumbent Aug 6, 2017 3:48:10 Larry Oslund World Record Ed Rudolph Velodrome, Northbrook, Illinois Cruzbike V Prototype
UMCA 100 KM Outdoor Track Record - Male Unfaired Recumbent Aug 6, 2017 2:19:33 Larry Oslund World Record Ed Rudolph Velodrome, Northbrook, Illinois Cruzbike V Prototype
Fastest recumbent bicycle: Cruzbike Vendetta V20c

Vendetta V20c

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