Gravity biking

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Gravity biking is a sport involving riding specially adapted bicycles down steep hills at high speeds. [1] It is popular in the United States, Thailand, Brazil, Italy, Australia and Colombia. [2]

At an official event in 2017, Cedric Touchette (CAN) reached a speed of 126.31 km/h (78.48 mph), which was considered a world record. [3] [4]

Unofficial racing on open roads is risky, and since 2018 is banned in the town of La Ceja in Antioquia, Colombia after a series of deaths and serious injuries. [5] In February 2023, infobae reported that 35 gravity bikers had died in Antioquia [6] and in September 2024, 20 death were reported for the last few months. [7] The bikers often wear little or no protective gear or helmets during descent although they can reach speeds of up to 120km/h. [8]

The "International Gravity Sports Association" used to organize gravity bike competitions from 2002 to 2019, but no longer holds sanctioned Gravity Bike races. [9] [10]

References

  1. ↑ Daniels, Joe Parkin (2019-10-02). "'We live for gravity biking': deadly sport is way of life in Medellín". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  2. ↑ "Risking death for thrills in Colombia". BBC News. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  3. ↑ "WR Gravity Bike". World Gravity Speed Association. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  4. ↑ "Fastest speed achieved on a gravity bike" . Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  5. ↑ Harindranath, Arjun (2018-04-25). "Antioquian town bans gravity bike; La Ceja council to begin confiscating modified bicycles". The Bogotá Post. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  6. ↑ Alzate, Por Jorge Leonardo (2023-12-20). "Cicllista practicante de "gravity bike" ocasionó un choque que dejó dos personas gravemente heridas". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  7. ↑ Caracol, Noticias (2023-09-29). "Dos jóvenes murieron haciendo gravity bike: sufrieron grave accidente". Noticias Caracol (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  8. ↑ Kolumbien: Gravity Biker – Rasen zum Überleben
  9. ↑ Gravitybike HQ. Retrieved 2025-10-15
  10. ↑ IGSA World Champions. Retrieved 2025-10-15


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