This strange looking bike with an enormous chain wheel was designed for speed, and speed it did achieve.
To reach such incredible speed using muscle power alone, Meiffrets bike had to undergo numerous modifications.
The standard chainwheel was replaced by an oversized wheel with 130 teeth.
This was connected to a 15-teeth rear sprocket, resulting in a high gear ratio.
The rims were made of wood to prevent overheating and tubular tires were used for optimal performance.
Meiffret himself narrowly escaped death in 1952 when motor-racing at Montlhery, France.
While pedaling at high speed, his bike collapsed beneath him, launching him into the air.
He struck the ground hard, tumbling for 300 feet and sliding another 20 before coming to a stop.
His body was badly scraped and bloodied.
Doctors found five separate fractures on his skull.
Miraculously, Meiffret survived.
I am a poor man, an orphan since the age of eleven, and I have suffered much.
Death holds no terror for me.
This record attempt is my way of expressing myself.
Jose Meiffret was born in 1913 in the village of Boulouris on the French Riviera.
As a young man, he initially tried long-distance racing but found lacking in skills.
Paillard quickly reclaimed the title, however, by pushing the record to 59.954 miles.
Around this time, Meiffret began pacing behind cars instead of motorcycles.
Cars provided more shielding from turbulence and were capable of greater speeds.
It took Meiffret just three attempts to surpass Letourneurs record, achieving a speed of 109.100 mph.
Jose Meiffret on his bike.
This achievement fueled his belief that he could break the elusive 200 km/h (124 mph) barrier.
A small feverish crowd gathered along the highway to watch Meiffrets heroic attempt.
Meiffret adjusted his helmet, mounted the bike, and tighten the toe straps.
Getting under way with a gear of 225 inches was something else again.
A motorcycle came alongside and started pushing him.
At 20 miles an hour, Meiffret was struggling to gain control.
His legs were barely moving.
At 40 miles, he was beginning to hit his stride.
At 50 miles, the Mercedes with its curious rear end was just behind.
His timing was perfect.
He had overcome his first great hazard.
He was now moving at 80 miles.
News of the heroic attempt had spread, and the road ahead was lined with spectators.
Everybody was expecting something dreadful to happen.
Herr Thiergarten in the car showed Meiffret how fast he was going by prearranged signals.
Meiffret in turn could speak to the driver through a microphone.
The speedometer showed 90.
The Mercedes performed flawlessly.
People could not believe their eyes.
“Allez, allez,” gasped Meiffret into the mike.
In the car, the speedometer crept past 100 mph, then 110 and 120.
Anguished, Zimber looked into his rear-view mirror.
How could Meiffret keep himself positioned?
At the flat, the speed had increased to 127.
Faster than an express train, faster than a plummeting skier, faster than a free fall in space.
Meiffret’s legs were spinning at 3.1 revolutions per second, and each second carried him 190 feet!
Meiffret eventually finished the ride clocking 127.342 miles an hour (204.937 km/h).
This was again bettered in 1985 by John Howard at 244 km/h (152 mph).
