Skip to main content

Need for greater speed: Mountain biker breaks his own record in the French Alps

There is something about going fast that invites innovation. On Friday, Frenchman Eric Barone surpassed his previous world record and reached 141.498 mph, which further cements Barone as the world’s fastest mountain biker.

To reach that speed, Barone traveled down a snowy ski slope in the French Alps. His previous world record of 138.75 mph was set on the same trail at the Vars ski resort in 2015.

Breaking a record doesn’t come easy. At those speeds, the smallest amount of instability can lead to serious injuries. In 2002, a crash during another attempt resulted in two torn shoulders, a broken femur, and six broken ribs. This time, however, even the obvious stability issues weren’t enough to keep Barone from his latest achievement.

(OFFICIAL) Eric Barone - 227,720 km/h (141.498 mph) - Mountain Bike World Speed Record - 2017

“A little more than 48 hours after my record, I wanted to thank you all,” Barone said in a recent Facebook post. “Thank you to my family and my friends who have always supported me in my various projects. Thank you to all my sponsors and partners who allowed me to give life to this project, and particularly to Transalliance, my main sponsor. Thanks to team Barone who shares with me these great moments of emotion and who brings me a lot. Thank you to the spectators who traveled to see my performance and thanks to you who, behind your computer or your smartphone follow my adventure on social networks. Thanks to the media who radiate my performance at the regional, national and international level. Thank you very much to all!”

Often referred to as the Red Baron, Barone also holds the world record for fastest speed achieved traveling downhill on a volcano with a prototype bicycle. He has been setting these bicycle speed records since the early 1990s. Earlier in his life, this daredevil also acted as a stunt double for both Sylvester Stallone and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Editors' Recommendations

Garrett Hulfish
Garrett is the kind of guy who tells you about all the tech you haven't heard of yet. He also knows too much about other…
Best grill deals: Summer savings on gas, charcoal, and pellet grills
People grilling outside.

Warm weather is here, and so is grilling season. Now is as good a time as any to set out in search of one of the best outdoor grills, and it’s never a bad time to keep an eye out for a discount on one as well. Whether you’re a grilling beginner ready for some burgers with the family or a seasoned pro looking to host summer gatherings around one of the best smart grills and smokers, we’ve tracked down all of the details you need to land a deal on a grill that’s right for your needs. Read onward for more details.
Everdure CUBE charcoal grill — $150, was $199

The Everdure CUBE charcoal grill is a unique little grill that can truly go almost anywhere with you. It’s lightweight and only 17-inches long, yet still can handle almost any grilling challenge a griller on the go could hope to throw at it. It has a built-in heat protection shield and chrome handles that remain cool while cooking, and the removable charcoal tray offers easy cleanup when you’re finished at the campground or on the beach. Wherever you intend to do some grilling this summer, the Everdure CUBE charcoal grill is a great option as a copilot.

Read more
Speed up your daily commute with these e-bike deals
ENGWE EP-2 Pro e-bike right side shot next to an unmowed field.

The best electric bikes have come a long way in recent years and we don't just mean in terms of the miles you travel. With technology changing quickly, there are also an increasing number of electric bike deals around and we've picked out some of the very best. Electric bikes are a great way of getting around more easily and without necessarily needing to use as much stamina as a regular bike. Below, you'll find fantastic e-bike bike deals from many different retailers. There'll be something for every need here. Let's take a look at them.
Jasion EB5 Electric Bike -- $430, was $750

With a 350w brushless motor, the Jasion EB5 Electric Bike can achieve a top speed of 20 MPH with a range of up to 25-40 miles per charge. It has four working modes with a PAS mode where the motor assists with a moderate amount of power as you pedal, along with a Pure Electric Mode, a Pedal Mode, and a Booster Mode where the bike assist on hills and anywhere else you might be struggling. 26-inch puncture-resistant tires provide excellent durability while there's a high-strength front fork suspension, Shimano 7-speed gears, dual lights, and an LCD display. The latter offers controls for adjustable backlight brightness with one of five levels, along with mode controls.

Read more
Jackery graduates from pioneer to sustainable master with latest launch
Jackery 2000 Plus used outdoors while camping

This content was produced in partnership with Jackery.
In 2012, at a critical time when sustainability efforts were ramping up everywhere, Jackery was born. The prevailing vision behind its creation was to provide accessible green energy to everyone. Years later, in 2016, Jackery launched the world's first outdoor-friendly portable power stations, and soon after, introduced the world's first portable solar panels. They would change many lives for the better but also transform an entire market that's now dedicated to green, sustainable energy solutions. Today, over 11 years later, Jackery is still going strong, and getting ready to launch one of its most advanced products to date, the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus.

Ideal for outdoor applications, portability, and emergency backup usage, the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus delivers some incredible features that honor Jackery's original mission -- "to make green energy accessible anytime and anywhere". More importantly, it offers safe and reliable power independence for all, thanks to a combined software and hardware defense system, which we'll explore in more detail below, and industry-leading fast-charge technology to get you working, playing, or back in the game as quickly as possible.
Learn More
 
Advanced technology for a better anywhere experience

Read more