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—     AMPLIFIED BICYCLING     /\     A NEW SPORT     —

This website states initial guidelines for the development of
– an amplified bicycle
– riders attire

THE AMPLIFIED BICYCLE — MANIFESTO

This is an AMPLIFIED BICYCLE.

This is not an augmented bicycle.
This is not an electric bicycle.
This is not a vehicle.

This is AMPLIFIED BICYCLING.

The rider’s legs are the origin of speed.
Pedaling is visible, undeniable, and central.
Electric systems do not replace effort — they magnify it.

If the rider stops, speed fades.
If the rider suffers, it is visible.
If the rider wins, it is earned.

Technology is silent.
Effort is loud.
Strategy decides.

This is cycling — amplified!

AMPLIFIED TRACK BICYCLE

Experimental Prototype – v0.13

Open Development Specification for Teams

These design specifications are open for interpretation. They serve as a guideline. Please challenge the proposed guideline in order to develop a safe and working product.

1. Core Definition (Non‑Negotiable)

This prototype is an amplified bicycle.

Amplified means:

• Pedaling is the primary propulsion input
• Electric motors multiply rider effort
• Rider effort must be visible and believable
• The bicycle must look and behave like a bicycle

This is not an e‑bike, not a vehicle, not a motorcycle, however it can have features that are new to cycling in order to make it work and let it be safe, amplified bicycling.

2. Visual & Form Requirements

The bicycle must be instantly recognizable as a bicycle.

Mandatory visual elements

• Diamond frame layout (open or closed)
• Visible crankset and chain/belt
• Visible pedaling motion
• Rider legs must remain visible at all times
• Traditional saddle‑based riding (no recumbent layouts)

Prohibited

• Fully enclosed leg structures
• Enclosed drivetrains
• Motorcycle‑derived components
  
  

3. Geometry & Riding Position

Riding position

• Crossover of:
  • Road race bicycle
  • Beach racer
  • Light TT influence

Allowed positional characteristics

• More forward‑seated position than conventional road bikes
• Emphasis on pushing backward through the stroke rather than purely down or forward
• Rider torso low for aero, but legs remain clearly visible
• Position must visually communicate effort at speed

Handlebar

• Flared race bar (mandatory)
• Wide drops for high‑speed stability
• Compact integrated aero cockpit allowed
• Electronic shifters integrated in levers

TT bars are not allowed.

4. Frame, Structure & Energy Integration

Frame

• Carbon frame
• Diamond frame may be closed
• Closed sections may contain the main battery and electronics
• Rigid construction

Suspension

• No suspension allowed
• No front suspension
• No rear suspension

Rider protection (integrated)

• Portions of the frame may extend to deflect ground contact and absorb sliding energy
• Protective structures must:
  • Not fully enclose the legs
  • Preserve clear visibility of pedaling motion
  • Maintain a bicycle silhouette

5. Wheels, Tires & Brakes

Wheels

• Carbon bicycle wheels
• 29‑inch
• High‑strength rims designed for extreme speed
• Carbon spokes permitted

Tires

• 5–6 cm width; investigate optimal width.
• Slick or semi‑slick
• Need to function as suspension for the rigid-frame setup

Brakes

• (Hydraulic) Disc brakes (front and rear)
• High thermal capacity
• Energy‑harvesting braking systems permitted but not compulsory for the first setup

6. Drivetrain & Shifting

Gearing

• Multi‑gear drivetrain
• Gearbox is part of the interface for amplification
• Gear range must support human‑believable cadence at high speed
• Electronic shifting is mandatory

7. Pedal Input & Human Gating

Sensors (mandatory)

• Crank‑based torque sensing
• Cadence measurement
• Redundant pedal motion verification

Enforcement rules (normal amplified mode)

• Motor torque = 0 if pedal torque = 0
• Motor torque = 0 if cadence invalid
• No throttle

Pedaling remains:

• The visual narrative of propulsion
• The basis of amplification logic

8. Motor Architecture (Exploratory)

Allowed

• Dual motor
• Triple motor

Motor placement may include variations of:

• Front hub
• Mid‑drive
• Rear hub

Constraints

• Total amplified output capped in software
• Motors obey a single rider‑derived intent signal
• Distribution logic is open for experimentation

9. Power & Amplification Logic

Reference

• 45 km/h corresponds to 300 W rider reference
  actual wattage at speed needs to be set in tests!
• Initial amplified top speed (non‑boost): 150 km/h

!! This is a power truth reference, not a fixed speed limiter. Initial goal is to achieve +100km/h, second goal is to safely and steadily up speed to 150km/h.!!

Amplification zones

Initial indication:

• 0–20 km/h
  Soft amplification
  Controlled launch
• 20–35 km/h
  Main amplified riding zone
  Clear effort‑to‑speed relationship
• >35–45 km/h
  High‑speed zone
• >45 km/h
  Excess rider‑authorized power is stopped from increasing speed and diverted to energy storage

Acceleration must feel progressive and controllable. Eventually the setup of the amplification zones need to be configurable. Each race a different setup is allowed, based on track and rider performance capabilities in corners and on the straights.

10. Energy Banking & Boost System

Energy sources

• Excess rider‑authorized energy above 300 W will be stored for boost.
• Regenerative braking energy (if implemented)

Energy may be stored in:

• Batteries
• Supercapacitors
• Hybrid systems

Placement on the bike is specified, hence open for development. Mostly is the “triangle” between front and rear wheel.

Boost mode

• Activated by handlebar button
• Pedaling during boost is allowed but not mandatory
• Boost draws exclusively from stored energy
• Boost follows an exponential acceleration profile
• Maximum boost duration: 6 seconds
• Maximum attainable speed during boost: 170 km/h

Boost behavior depends on entry speed:

• Starting near 150 km/h → may approach 170 km/h rapidly and maintain it for remaining seconds.
• Starting at lower speeds → may not reach 170 km/h within 6 seconds

11. Control System & Safety

Mandatory

• Physical kill switch
• Redundant sensor validation
• Fail‑safe motor shutdown
• Thermal and current protection
• Speed‑based torque limiting

12. Telemetry, Data & Strategy

Collected data

• Rider power
• Cadence
• Speed
• Boost availability
• Energy storage level
• Acceleration profiles

Data availability

• All collected data is visible to all teams
• Real‑time and post‑race access

13. What This Prototype Is NOT

• Not a finished competition bike
• Not optimized solely for maximum speed
• Not locked to a single motor configuration

14. Closing Statement

This document defines the first amplified track bicycle.

As long as:

• The bike looks like a bicycle
• Legs visibly propel it
• Effort is legible
• Data is transparent

…teams are free to develop.

— Keep in mind,  the rigid frame design has no suspension, therefore tire compound and behaviour are paramount for handling and rider comfort —

Strength, agility, and strategy decide the race, not the biggest budget!

RIDERS ATTIRE

The next section states guidelines for the development of a riders attire:
– Suit
– Helmet with integrated visor
– Gloves
– Shoes/Boots
Safety is the leading design narrative. Riders comfort in terms of flexibility, heat and sweat distribution are second, but off course of vital importance in order to make this sport work..

RIDERS ATTIRE GUIDELINES

1. Kinematics & Biomechanical Freedom — The Mobility Rules

The suit must empower the athlete’s ability to act as the primary engine.

• Rule 1.1: Unrestricted High-Cadence Articulation
  The suit and all integrated armor can allow for a continuous, fluid pedaling cadence of 80 to 120+ RPM without generating excessive resistance against the rider’s biomechanics.
• Rule 1.2: Dimensional Frame Clearance
  Protective elements can maintain a strictly low profile. The rider’s legs cannot widen to the point of striking the bicycle’s top tube or altering their natural pedal stance (Q-factor).
• Rule 1.3: Ergonomic Posture Adaptation
  The suit can be optimized for the aggressive, forward-leaning posture of a road cyclist, preventing fabric bunching at the waist or restricted breathing.

2. High-Velocity Survivability — The Safety Rules

The suit must protect the rider from the physics of a 150 km/h motorcycle-level crash.

• Rule 2.1: Extreme Abrasion Resistance
  The outer boundary of the suit can be proven to survive a continuous, high-friction slide on asphalt initiated at 150 km/h.
• Rule 2.2: Dynamic Impact Attenuation
  The suit can feature impact-absorbing zones at all major skeletal protrusion points to dissipate blunt-force trauma.

⚠️ THE ARMOR VS. CADENCE CONTRADICTION (Rules 2.2 vs. 1.1)
Soft or hard armor possesses physical thickness and resistance. Forcing a joint to bend against a thick impact pad 100 times a minute for an hour will exhaust the rider and cause severe chafing. Teams must invent armor that “floats” during pedaling but locks instantly during an impact.

• Rule 2.3: Joint Stabilization & Torsion Defense
  The suit can incorporate an integrated structural system (like an exoskeleton) that protects the knees and ankles.

⚠️ THE EXOSKELETON VS. Q-FACTOR CONTRADICTION (Rules 2.3 vs. 1.2)
You cannot easily wrap structural, crash-rated bracing around a human knee without adding significant width. Adding width means the rider’s knees will smash into the bike frame, or they will be forced to pedal bow-legged, destroying their power output.

3. Aerodynamics & Thermodynamics — The Efficiency Rules

The suit must manage the dual extremes of high metabolic heat and massive wind drag.

• Rule 3.1: Cohesive Aerodynamic Profiling
  The entire system can integrate smoothly to minimize aerodynamic drag, smoothing turbulent air coming off the rider’s body.
• Rule 3.2: High-Speed Thermal Extraction
  The suit can incorporate an active or passive ventilation system to extract the 400+ watts of body heat the rider generates.

⚠️ THE COOLING VS. DRAG CONTRADICTION (Rules 3.2 vs. 3.1)
To cool the rider, you must open vents and scoop air in. But taking air into a suit acts like a parachute, destroying aerodynamic efficiency. Conversely, sealing the suit to make it perfectly aerodynamic turns the interior into an oven.

4. Extremity & Cranial Integration — The Contact Point Rules

Hands, feet, and head can feature highly specialized interfaces.

• Rule 4.1: Forward-Biased Cranial Protection
  The helmet can meet high-speed motorcycle impact standards (FIM/ECE) but can be exceptionally lightweight to prevent neck fatigue in a cycling posture.

⚠️ THE HOMOLOGATION VS. POSTURE CONTRADICTION (Rule 4.1)
Motorcycle helmets require thick, heavy foam and heavy visors to survive 150 km/h impacts. A 1.3 kg motorcycle helmet held horizontally by a cyclist’s neck muscles will cause debilitating pain within minutes. Teams must figure out how to provide motorcycle-level impact shielding at bicycle-helmet weights, or redesign how a helmet is supported.

• Rule 4.2: High-Velocity Optics
  The helmet can feature a shatter-proof, anti-fogging visor capable of deflecting road debris at 150 km/h.
• Rule 4.3: Low-Friction Tactile Gloves
  Gloves can provide fine bicycle control while featuring low-friction slide zones on the palms.
• Rule 4.4: Armored Power-Transfer Footwear
  Footwear can have an ultra-rigid clipless sole while extending to protect the ankle bones and integrating with the leg-brace.

5. Respiratory Dynamics & Thoracic Freedom — The Breathing Rules

The system must actively manage extreme high-speed airflow to support maximum cardiovascular exertion.

• Rule 5.1: Ram-Air Mitigation & Regulated Intake
  The helmet’s front intake can diffuse high-pressure 150 km/h air so the rider can easily exhale against the incoming wind while still getting massive volumes of oxygen.
• Rule 5.2: Active CO2 and Moisture Scavenging
  The helmet can utilize the external aerodynamics to create low-pressure zones that actively vacuum exhaled CO2 and moisture out of the helmet.
• Rule 5.3: Unrestricted Thoracic Expansion
  The armor and layers over the ribcage can possess dynamic elasticity so the rider doesn’t expend pedaling energy just to expand their lungs.

6. Microclimate & Moisture Transport — The Sweat Rules

The suit must actively manage the rider’s fluid loss, preventing both thermal overload and high-velocity wind chill.

• Rule 6.1: Directional Moisture Wicking
  The primary layer can pull sweat away from the skin to maintain a dry friction interface, preventing severe chafing.
• Rule 6.2: Controlled Evaporative Cooling
  The suit can use external airflow to evaporate sweat without letting high-speed wind blast directly onto damp inner layers.

⚠️ THE FLASH-FREEZE VS. BOIL THERMODYNAMIC PARADOX (Rules 6.2 vs. 3.2)
If a team vents the suit too much, the 150 km/h wind hitting the rider’s sweat-soaked base layer will cause such rapid evaporative cooling that the rider will go into hypothermia, even on a warm day. If they seal the suit to block the wind chill, the trapped sweat boils the rider alive in their own body heat.

• Rule 6.3: High-Cadence Friction Mitigation: High-movement areas can feature zero-friction textiles to prevent sweat and rapid pedaling from causing severe skin abrasion.