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The first recorded hour record was in 1876 when F.L. Dodds rode 26.508 km on a penny-farthing high-wheeler. In 1972, Eddy Merckx set a record of 49.431 km that stood for twelve years, and remains a benchmark for the sport. The UCI record is currently held by Chris Boardman.
Because of the importance of aerodynamics in this event, the hour record has seen some of the most innovative equipment, but this has led to intense debate in the cycling community over the extent to which records should reflect only the skill, strength and stamina of the cyclist, or whether changes in bicycle design should be allowed to contribute.
On July 7 1933, Francis Faure set a record of 45.055 km riding an aerodynamic recumbent, but the UCI set the record aside in 1934 and barred recumbents from bike racing.
This led to a division of the sport, and hence two classes of record. In one branch of the sport, any design of vehicle is allowed, provided that the power only comes from the rider; this is currently administered by the International Human Powered Vehicle Association. In the other, only upright bicycles are permitted; this branch is administered by the Union Cycliste Internationale.
The UCI specifications are not perfectly watertight and so permit innovation within their parameters. In January 1984, Francesco Moser set back-to-back hour records, the second being 51.151 km. This was the first widely noted use of disc wheel s in cycling, which provided a significant aerodynamic benefit. In 19931993 is a common year starting on Friday and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003 Events January January 1 Czechoslovakia divides. Establishment of independent Slovakia and Czech Republic. and 19941994 is a common year starting on Saturday, and was designated the International year of the Family''. Events January events January 1 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect January 6 Nancy Kerrigan is clubbed on the right leg by an, Graeme ObreeGraeme Obree was a Scots cyclist who became World Champion in 1993. He won the Hour record held for nine years by Francesco Moser, with a distance of 51. 6 kilometres. He re-took the record in 1994 from his long term cycling rival Chris Boardman, the Engl, a cyclist noteworthy for building his own bikes, in some cases using trash found by the side of the road, posted two records on bikes that put him in unusual body positions: the former in the "egg" position, with his hands tucked under his chest, and the latter in the "superman" position, with his arms straight out in front. Both of these positions were controversial, and while the records were allowed to stand, those positions were banned from future use.
With the increasing gap between the technology that was available and that which prevailed at the time of Eddy Merckx's revered record, the UCI punted on the question of legitimacy by establishing two records: the official UCI Hour Record (which restricts competitors to roughly the same conditions as Merckx) and the unofficial Best Human Effort. All records since 1972, including Chris Boardman's 1996 mark of 56.375 km were downgraded to "Best Human Effort." In 2000This page is about the year 2000. See 2000 AD for the UK comic book, Number 2000 for other uses. 2000 is a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar), and also the International Year for a Culture of Peace''. Events Y2K passes without the seri, Boardman made an attempt on the "UCI Hour Record" riding a more traditional bike, and posted 49.441 km, topping Merckx's record by the tiny margin of 10 m.
The IHPVA record led to the development of "fully faired" bicycles: recumbent bicycles, low to the ground, completely enclosed in a fibreglass shell that keeps air resistence to a minimum. As of 2004 the record holder is
Sam Whittingham, who cycled 84.215 km in July 2004.