Rob Jarman is probably slightly unhinged. Jarman is a professional film stuntman but before he started falling off things and setting himself on fire for a living he was a top mountain biker. Soooo, it makes sense that Rob tends to do rather silly things on bicycles. For instance, last year he became the first man to ride a mountain bike across a slackline and in 2006 he thought riding his mountain bike down a bobsleigh run would be fun! Now Rob has decided to see just how quickly he can go on a small-wheeled folder - and we decided to help him.
Rob is test rider for ATB Sales who distribute Mezzo, Wilier, Marin and Whyte bikes in the UK and the company has helped set him up with a 'special' Mezzo D9. Actually it's pretty much standard other than the dirty great 80-tooth chainring...and it still folds! Rob plans to take the bike to big hill, pedal like mad and ride as fast as possible – 70mph has been mentioned. To help his prep, a couple of weeks ago we took Rob to a secret location and put him through his paces.
In a move that you definitely, definitely musn't try at home we towed Rob – remember he is a trained stuntman and we were on an empty airfield – behind our camera car. (A bit like Dave Le Grys in 1986.) Once up to a rather reasonable speed, Rob let go and pedalled like mad. And how quick did he go? Well, that'd be telling but we will be bringing you the full story in an upcoming issue of Cycling Plus!
