400m Race: Runner vs Bike

i tried to ride a 400 m time trial on my bike once and flew out into lane 8 on every turn. staying in lanes is going to bury this guy

Bike wins. Even a fixed gear will be up to speed quick enough to catch up within 400. Now, a 100, maybe...

Bike and it is not close. All the bike rider has to do is ride slow enough not to fly out of his lane--i.e. he doesn't have to be all out.

It's not that hard to ride a 3 minute mile on a bike (i.e. 44.xx per 400 meter lap), so I'm going with the bike.

Not even close, the bike wins easily.

An average recreational track cyclist can do a 500m TT in something around 45 seconds. Good local level guys can post high 30's. That's on a banked track, fixed gear, standing start.

Obviously on the unbanked track, the cyclist needs to slow or coast or both. I think a lot depends on the bike used; if it's a fixed gear, then the cyclist will have to slow down significantly to make it around the corner without pedal strike. If it's a normal freewheeled machine, then with a reasonable track surface, he need not scrub that much speed to stay off the deck. The right bike can hold the corner much longer than most people's nerves allow. If he's smart, the cyclist will choose lane 8.

Accounting for the flat surface, and assuming that your cyclist is an average bike handler and reasonably fit person riding a typical road bike, I'd estimate a time around 46 seconds, and say that unless he totally screws it up, he should be faster than 50.

Here's a video of a standing start 500 m bicycle time trial. It's on a banked velodrome which helps with the cornering but the rider goes through 3 turns and clocks a shade under 35 seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkWqM9bvP-M

The person riding the bike is by no means a good biker. He will most likely be using some sort of a mountain bike.

It is sounding like it will be a staggered start, the bike in lane 7, and the runner in lane 4.

With similar athletes and reasonable cycling equipment there's no doubt the cyclist has a huge advantage.

I don't see cornering traction as a serious issue for the cyclist, but he's going to need the skills to pedal with the bike leaned over which might be uncomfortable without a little practice.

The bike will need to have sufficient pedal clearance such that he can pedal with the bike leaned over. A crit bike or a mountain bike should be fine, a beach cruiser might be a problem. He'll be able to put out significantly more power if he has clips or cages on the pedals. Obviously a heavier bike, pogo suspension, big fat knobbies and such are a disadvantage to the biker.

The race boils down to how much the biker and his equipment sucks.

THIS HAS BEEN TESTED!

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1999

Loren King (50.XX 400 hurdler) and myself had this same dispute. The question, however, was could he ride his MOUNTAIN BIKE 400 meters--faster than the world record (43.18). This is a legitimate challenge and was contested on a beautiful early spring day at McAndrew Stadium. There were many witnesses.

Loren was NOT allowed a running or rolling start (he started on the bike from a complete stand still) and could use the gears however he so decided. He could also use whatever lanes he wanted (i.e.--start in lane one and move out to lane 4 on the turns).

He was a very experienced biker.

46.50 was the result as timed by 2 indifferent witnesses.

Very credible time, but not faster than the world record. In the case at hand, however, he would defintely have beaten most collegiate 400 runners.

Hope this helps.