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Video: jet-powered Raleigh shopper
We've seen some interesting and scary bikes of late. There's the French rocket bike, for example. And the Los Angeles tall bike too. But we're not we've ever seen anything as pant-smearingly terrifying as this for a good long while.
Colin Furze has some form when it comes to mad building projects. He's built himself a wall of death out of old pallets and plywood, for example, and has plenty of other dangerous projects under his belt. This project is based around two things: a pulse jet, which is a simple but frightening method of propulsion in this instance powered by a propane cylinder; and a Raleigh Shopper, which is a simple but entirely unsuitable bicycle. Put them together and you have a chariot capable of shooting massive jets of flame, and also reaching 50mph or more.
50mph isn't world record pace, but neither is it a speed we'd like to pilot a Raleigh Shopper at on even the very finest tarmac, let alone a bumpy disused airfield (although later on that looks suspiciously like an open road... wonder what tax band a pulse jet bicycle would fall into?) but Colin's not a big one for safety equipment. Although he does like a tie.
Enjoy!
Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.
Latest Comments
- mark1a 2 hours 29 min ago
I understand what you're saying, but I think when you get north of £10k, for the average amateur road.cc reader who maybe in the market for a so...
- brooksby 5 hours 37 min ago
They haven't been seen for ages- did they get banned?
- eburtthebike 5 hours 43 min ago
They prefer their alternative facts to real ones. They believe something, therefore it must be true.
- Spangly Shiny 6 hours 55 min ago
Sorry, no idea what you are on about.
- ktache 6 hours 58 min ago
For double that you can' get a Pedro's vise whip Ii. Or half, the reportedly excellent decathlon thingy. And Sigma has the Silca for only £150.
- KDee 7 hours 4 min ago
I'm no detective, but the "NOAHFAST" decal vertically stickered on the headtube is a little bit of a clue.
- Spangly Shiny 7 hours 24 min ago
I remember my driving test examiner, straight after congratulating me for having passed the test said, "Don't be a twat and have that as your best...
- Bigfoz 9 hours 32 min ago
Did they think it was a drive thru?
- Rendel Harris 9 hours 42 min ago
As a teacher's husband, I'm allowed to watch up to 50km out (unless it's a big mountain stage when I can only watch up to the start of the first HC...
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16 comments
His maniacal glee is what's compelling. Oh and that it's a 50mph jet powered shopper. Good work you lunatic.
wot a nutter, great stuff!
This has been done 10 years ago by a guy in NZ.
http://www.interestingprojects.com/
..and he got persecuted by their tax dept, he says because of this:
http://www.interestingprojects.com/cruisemissile/
Hats Off Chap.
Top Work.
Can't help thinking boris missed a trick here
Love the Doodlebug noises - ride through the East End and watch the pensioners dive for cover
Yes, we did that one a couple of weeks ago spaceyjase, in fact we were goint to ref it in this story nice anglo/gallic contrast in terms of bikes and erm, safety equipment.
http://road.cc/content/news/84301-video-263kmh-rocket-bike
Mind you the French fella is on a rocket, not sure what that would do to a Raleigh Shopper… Hang on, yes I am
...in fact, did this one ever get posted?
Rocket Power!
First Digital EPO, now this?
The maniacal laughing is, well, maniacal. I suppose the whole thing is.
No helmet. And I bet he went through a red light. Bloody cyclists.
If ever there was a guy who NEEDS to guest on Top Gear, it's him - what a character!
Outstanding!
Still looks safer than 4th Cat circuit racing.
What a guy
. YouTube channel duly followed for inspiration/envy.