Bicycling by Hand A WebQuest for World’s Fastest Bicycle Introduction How fast can you travel on a bicycle? In 2009, a cyclist reached 133 km/h on a streamliner recumbent bicycle powered by foot pedals. But what if you didn’t have the use of your feet? Could you still power a bicycle or tricycle? What method would you use? Task Suppose that you have a friend that would like to build a hand-powered cycle to compete in a cycling competition, and has asked you for a design. Your task is to design a hand- powered bicycle or tricycle for use in a speed competition that is similar to the World Human Powered Speed Challenge. Process Use the resources listed in the Resources section to begin your research. The Web sites listed are good starting points, but further Internet research will be necessary. Record your answers to the following questions. 1. What is a bicycle fairing and why would it be helpful on a hand- powered vehicle? 2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of building a tricycle versus a bicycle? 3. What is the crank on a bicycle and what two factors are used to determine the optimal crank length for a particular rider? How would this be different for hand-powered vehicles? Design a Bicycle Design a hand-powered bicycle or tricycle (often called a handcycle). Create a drawing of your cycle and label the wheels, frame, seat, gears, steering mechanism, and crank mechanism. Also include measurements and additional close-up drawings of components such as the gear and crank mechanism. Make your drawing detailed enough that a person building a cycle could use the drawing to build the cycle. What attributes of your cycle increase its speed? Resources World Human Powered Speed Challenge International Human Powered Vehicle Association How Bicycles Work Disabled Sports USA − Handcycling Evaluation Read this rubric to see how you will be scored on this activity. Criteria Points 0 5 10 15 It was evident Answers to The process The process that resources process was followed was not were used to questions but answers followed answer were to questions Process and process complete and showed no questions questions but supported by evidence that were not answers were evidence resources answered. incomplete or from were used. incorrect. resources. The cycle was designed, all of the parts The cycle was were labeled, The cycle was designed, all close-up designed but The cycle of the parts drawings Handcycle a major was not were labeled were Design component designed. but some included, and was not details were speed- completed. missing. increasing attributes were identified. Total Score .