| Team Coslinger History |
Early in 2000, Sean Costin and Thom Ollinger formed a team with the goal of setting a new
record in human powered vehicles land speed. Sean and Thom collaborated over the internet
with Thom's brother Charlie to design the Coslinger Special.
 After Charlie lofted the fairing shape in CAD - a shape tightly fit
to Sean's body for the lowest frontal area possible, Thom fabricated it from various
composite materials, with assistance from Richard Myers. It was then handed off to Sean
for installation of the drivetrain and video camera vision system. |
| In the meantime, Sean organized the "Worlds Fastest
Bicycle Competition", as a venue for racing the Coslinger Special. Coordinating with
Matt Weaver and others, a stretch of high desert highway outside Battle Mountain, Nevada
was designated, and with much effort by Sean, IHPVA officals, Battle Mountain and Nevada
officials, and others, the race was on for October 2000. The men competing at Battle
Mountain were Sam Whittingham in the Varna Mephisto, Matt Weaver in his Kyle Edge, and
Sean in the Coslinger Special. By the end of the week, Sam set a new world record at 72.4
mph, Matt exceeded the old Cheetah record (see Popular Science, Oct. `93) with 69.5mph.
Sean turned in a 62.8mph run, very respectable considering that the Cos was barely
finished and never trialed, and that organizing the event pre-empted Sean's training all
summer. |
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| In 2001, Sean again organized the Battle
Mountain event, which produced a dramatic week of speed increases. Sam Whittingham set a
new record of 80.5mph, motivated by Matt Weaver's 78mph. A BBC news crew filmed this
exciting event (a video is available). |
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In 2002, Sean returned to Battle Mountain as a competitor,
with a refined Coslinger Special. On hand were more high speed HPVs than have ever been
assembled in one place before, including teams from Germany, England, Canada, and the US.
Weather and fate conspired to make it a week of frustration for most, but in the end Sam
bumped the record to 81.0, and Matt's best run was 73.4. Sean's best run ended with a
timing equipment failure, but officials were still able to determine his speed at between
68.5 and 71mph, making Team Coslinger the third fastest on Earth. For now... |
Our Future
Our experiences with the Coslinger Special, and our
observations of our competitors, have taught us much, and we are applying lessons learned
to the design of the new machine. It will be a compilation of everything anyone knows
about going fast under human power. We are working with George Laird, of Predictive
Engineering, to use CFD analysis and give us the lowest drag coeffient in the sport.
Simulations that predicted 71mph for the Coslinger Special now put the new machine at
nearly 85mph. CNC machined molds will ensure the drag reduction is real. Every component
will be modeled in CAD, to ensure fit, form, and function. Precision machined wheels and
the best tires available will give us the fastest roll possible. Virtual axis suspension
will smooth the road without allowing the speed-robbing vibrations common to these
machines. It will be the first bike ever to feature all these technologies. |
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