Fast Freddy Markham’s storied career started in 1974 and in some respects is still going today! Beginning his racing career out of the very competitive district of Northern California, Markham proved he was a very capable racer in any cycling event. Markham went from a top national junior racer in 1974-75, to being selected for the U.S. National A track cycling team in 1976 and spending the next six years on the elite team. During that time Markham raced head to head against some of the best road and track racers in the world in the United States, UK, Europe and Africa and was quite successful.

After his stint on the National team Markham went on to a productive professional career. Markham was the proverbial “Jack of all trades” He was quite adapt at being competitive in many different types of bicycle races and events. From road races to match sprints, Markham could do them all. Some of Markham’s expertise comes from the fact that he has races so many different types of bicycles and pedal powered vehicles, including airplanes and boats. Markham’s specialty was track and criterium racing with always an emphasis on speed. . Markham re wrote the record books when it came to human powered speed. Setting twenty world records from top speed to hour records. Twice being listed into the Guinness Book of World Records with title of worlds fastest self propelled man. Markham’s more than 100 career victories on the road and hundreds on the track had made him a force to be reckoned with and now his experience can be found at RR Velo

Markham Firsts and other notable achievements

First to break 50 mph for 200 meters flat ground. Became world fastest self propelled human and was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records. May 6, 1979

First to bicycle to break 60 mph. Flat level ground 200 meters. October 15, 1985

First to break 65 mph and winner of “Du Pont Prize for human powered speed” May 11, 1986. Entered into Guinness Book of world records for second time as fastest self propelled human. Won $18,000 payoff

Winner of Nissan Challenge and Dempsey-MacCready Prize. Won $18,000 for setting world hour record. Posted speed of 53.43 miles in one hours from standing start

First person to legally operate a human powered vehicle on a U.S. Interstate freeway. Rode on I-5 from Stockton to Sacramento, Ca. Covered a distance of 42 miles at an average speed of 50 .5 mph. May 30, 1980

First U.S. racer to qualify and finish 50 K Points Race at UCI Amateur World Championships. Finished 15th, Aug. 17, 1978, Munich, Germany

Set 20 world records for human powered bicycle between May 6, 1979 and July 2, 2006

National Cycle League World Champion, 1990, 1994,1995. Ended series with the highest overall point total

UCI Masters World Champion, age 30-39, Criterium 1992
UCI Masters world Champion, age 30-39, Madison Team Race 1992

National Champion in ABA BMX Formula-1 Series
National Champion in NBL BMX Formula-1 Series

Other Markham Achievements:

12th place UCI World Championships Kilometer Time Trial, Aug. 1978, Munich Germany

Winner of 15 National Championship medals
Events: Kilometer Time Trial, Points Race, Madison, Match Sprints and 10 Mile.

Olympic Sports Festival winner three times. 1991, 1995

25 District Championships