Sam Whittingham is the fastest cyclist on the planet, having pedaled his sleek recumbent bicycle to a stunning 82.3 mph to claim the world record for a human-powered vehicle. Whittingham, who runs [Naked Bicycle and Design](http://www.fortebikes.com/), set the record on (in?) the [Varna Diablo](http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/whpsc2001/varna_detail.htm) III, a sleek teardrop-shaped recumbent designed and built by [bike designer Georgi Georgiev](http://www.varnahandcycles.com/g09.htm). It features carbon fiber wheels and a carbon frame wrapped with Kevlar bodywork. Whittingham made his first run in the morning, going a little more than 80 mph. Then he took the unprecedented step of trying a second run that evening — competitors usually make one run per day in order to allow their bodies to recover from the exertion. Crew member Steve Nash pumped another 5 psi of air into the Varna Diablo’s tires to decrease rolling resistance and Whittingham reeled off the record-setting run.