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to the Archive indexI enclose this photo of a 1931 rocket-powered cyclemotor in the hope that it may inspire the Richard Nobles in Mark Daniels's Suffolk racing fraternity to progress beyond the restrictions of traditional internal combustion machines to what must surely be the cyclemotor for the new millennium. With such a steed, the Coast to Coast could be negotiated in minutes; while with suitable modification and moderate LPA, intergalactic cyclemotoring could easily bee achieved. It may, however, be necessary to shop around for an MoT station prepared to issue a certificate of spaceworthiness!
The intrepid cyclemotorist in the photo was only slightly injured when, at a speed of 90km/h, he was thrown from the track & his cycle exploded. Better order those asbestos trousers Mark!
[The "intrepid cyclemotorist" depicted was a German engineer named Richter and the test of his cycle, powered by 12 rockets, took place at the Avus race circuit. Although the predicted speed was 90km/h, I believe that the cycle only reached 30km/h when it became apparent to Richter that things were getting uncomfortably hot and he 'abandoned ship'. The entire episode was filmed and I would be interested to hear from anyone member who has a copy of the film. - ]
First published in Buzzing - April 2000
Twenty years after Richter's rocket-propelled bicycle, in 1951, this French-made 'Véloréacteur' received a fair bit of attention in the press.
It is pictured here along with its designer, Pierre Noubel (or Louvel?). There are no photographs of it in motion. However, the machine stll survives and is currently (June 2008) on display at the Musée de la moto et du vélo, Château du Bosc, RN100, 30390 Domazan, France.
