You are reading a single comment by @Kernowdreamer and its replies. Click here to read the full conversation.
  • Filling a steel bike frames tubes with 250psi of helium creates enough lift to make the whole bike virtually weightless. In the 1970’s experiments were carried out with even higher pressures to help cancel out the weight of the rider. When 753 tubing was introduced pressures could be increased to reduce the weight of the rider to that of a 5 year old child. Road tests were carried out on Hardnott Pass after which the whole concept was abandoned when it was realised that next to no traction was possible from the tyres. Rumour has it that midway through the tests several riders were taken by a strong westerly breeze and found shivering and wet on the shore of Wastwater having only been saved from drowning by using their bikes as life rafts.

About