Eric Barone (sportsman)
Encyclopedia
Eric BaroneEric Barone (born 4 November 1960 in Oyonnax
, France
) is a French sportsman who holds the world speed record on a bicycle, both on snow and gravel. On snow, his record is 222 kilometres per hour (137.9 mph) achieved in Les Arcs
, while on gravel it is 172 kilometres per hour (106.9 mph), achieved at the Cerro Negro volcano
, in Nicaragua
. His French nickname is “Baron Rouge”, which means Red Baron.
of actors Sylvester Stallone
, Jean Claude Van Damme and Adrian Paul
, at 34 he started trying to achieve speed records on a bicycle. Barone achieved the record on snow in 1994, beating the previous record by Christian Taillefer. He broke the record again in 1999 and on 21 April 2000, when he reached 222 kilometres per hour (137.9 mph) at Les Arcs ski resort
, France
, using an aerodynamic prototype bicycle, helmet and clothing.
In 1999 he reached 118 kilometres per hour (73.3 mph) on gravel in Hawaii
. After that, his goal was to show he could be faster on gravel. He discovered the Cerro Negro
volcano in Nicaragua
. Its clean slopes and soft volcanic ash were ideal.
In November 2001, he descended that volcano at 130 kilometres per hour (80.8 mph), beating his previous record achieved in Hawaii. Barone believed he could do more, and decided to try again some time later. On 12 May 2002, he reached 163 kilometres per hour (101.3 mph) on his first attempt, on a serial production bicycle. A few minutes later, he descended again, on a prototype bicycle. He rode 400 metres (1,312.3 ft), and just after the computers had registered 172 kilometres per hour (106.9 mph), the carbon fiber
bicycle crashed. The helmet saved his life, but he had several broken ribs and other injuries. Barone said he would never descend again at the Cerro Negro
, but announced he was willing to beat again the record on snow in the future. The record using a serial production bicycle on gravel was beaten in 2011, when Markus Stöckl
reached 164.95 kilometres per hour (102.5 mph) on a volcano in Nicaragua. The prototype bicycle record, on gravel, still belongs to Barone.
During his career, Barone has descended the slopes of Mount Fuji
in Japan
, Mauna Kea
and Kilauea
in Hawaii
, Etna and Stromboli
in Sicily
, the Nevado de Toluca
in Mexico
, and 20 volcanoes in Nicaragua
. After his records, Barone has worked attracting tourists who want to discover the Volcano route and other sites in Nicaragua
.
Oyonnax
Oyonnax is a commune in the Ain department in the Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France.It is the second largest commune in the department. Its residents are known as Oyonnaxiens.-Population:-Miscellaneous:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) is a French sportsman who holds the world speed record on a bicycle, both on snow and gravel. On snow, his record is 222 kilometres per hour (137.9 mph) achieved in Les Arcs
Les Arcs
Les Arcs is a ski resort located in Savoie, France, in the Tarentaise Valley town of Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Initially created by Robert Blanc and Roger Godino...
, while on gravel it is 172 kilometres per hour (106.9 mph), achieved at the Cerro Negro volcano
Cerro Negro
Cerro Negro is a volcano in the Cordillera de los Maribios mountain range in Nicaragua, about 10 km from the village of Malpaisillo. It is a very new volcano, the youngest in Central America, having first appeared in April 1850...
, in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. His French nickname is “Baron Rouge”, which means Red Baron.
Biography
After some initial jobs, including acting as stunt doubleStunt double
A stunt double is a type of body double, specifically a skilled replacement used for dangerous film or video sequences, in movies and television , and for other sophisticated stunts...
of actors Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
, Jean Claude Van Damme and Adrian Paul
Adrian Paul
Adrian Paul Hewett , better known as Adrian Paul, is an actor best known for his role on the television series Highlander: The Series as Duncan MacLeod. In 1997, he founded The Peace Fund charitable organization.-Early life:...
, at 34 he started trying to achieve speed records on a bicycle. Barone achieved the record on snow in 1994, beating the previous record by Christian Taillefer. He broke the record again in 1999 and on 21 April 2000, when he reached 222 kilometres per hour (137.9 mph) at Les Arcs ski resort
Les Arcs
Les Arcs is a ski resort located in Savoie, France, in the Tarentaise Valley town of Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Initially created by Robert Blanc and Roger Godino...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, using an aerodynamic prototype bicycle, helmet and clothing.
In 1999 he reached 118 kilometres per hour (73.3 mph) on gravel in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. After that, his goal was to show he could be faster on gravel. He discovered the Cerro Negro
Cerro Negro
Cerro Negro is a volcano in the Cordillera de los Maribios mountain range in Nicaragua, about 10 km from the village of Malpaisillo. It is a very new volcano, the youngest in Central America, having first appeared in April 1850...
volcano in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. Its clean slopes and soft volcanic ash were ideal.
In November 2001, he descended that volcano at 130 kilometres per hour (80.8 mph), beating his previous record achieved in Hawaii. Barone believed he could do more, and decided to try again some time later. On 12 May 2002, he reached 163 kilometres per hour (101.3 mph) on his first attempt, on a serial production bicycle. A few minutes later, he descended again, on a prototype bicycle. He rode 400 metres (1,312.3 ft), and just after the computers had registered 172 kilometres per hour (106.9 mph), the carbon fiber
Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber, alternatively graphite fiber, carbon graphite or CF, is a material consisting of fibers about 5–10 μm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber...
bicycle crashed. The helmet saved his life, but he had several broken ribs and other injuries. Barone said he would never descend again at the Cerro Negro
Cerro Negro
Cerro Negro is a volcano in the Cordillera de los Maribios mountain range in Nicaragua, about 10 km from the village of Malpaisillo. It is a very new volcano, the youngest in Central America, having first appeared in April 1850...
, but announced he was willing to beat again the record on snow in the future. The record using a serial production bicycle on gravel was beaten in 2011, when Markus Stöckl
Markus Stöckl
Markus 'Max' Stöckl is an Austrian racing cyclist from Oberndorf in Tirol, mainly occupied with mountainbike racing, who is known for establishing the world speed record descending on a serial production mountainbike, both on snow, when he reached 210 km/h in 2007, and on gravel, when he reached...
reached 164.95 kilometres per hour (102.5 mph) on a volcano in Nicaragua. The prototype bicycle record, on gravel, still belongs to Barone.
During his career, Barone has descended the slopes of Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji
is the highest mountain in Japan at . An active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea is a volcano on the island of Hawaii. Standing above sea level, its peak is the highest point in the state of Hawaii. However, much of the mountain is under water; when measured from its oceanic base, Mauna Kea is over tall—significantly taller than Mount Everest...
and Kilauea
Kilauea
Kīlauea is a volcano in the Hawaiian Islands, and one of five shield volcanoes that together form the island of Hawaii. Kīlauea means "spewing" or "much spreading" in the Hawaiian language, referring to its frequent outpouring of lava. The Puu Ōō cone has been continuously erupting in the eastern...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, Etna and Stromboli
Stromboli
Stromboli is a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the north coast of Sicily, containing one of the three active volcanoes in Italy. It is one of the eight Aeolian Islands, a volcanic arc north of Sicily. This name is a corruption of the Ancient Greek name Strongulē which was given to it...
in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, the Nevado de Toluca
Nevado de Toluca
Nevado de Toluca is a large stratovolcano in central Mexico, located about west of Mexico City near the city of Toluca. It is generally cited as the fourth highest of Mexico's peaks, after Pico de Orizaba, Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, although by some measurements, Sierra Negra is slightly...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and 20 volcanoes in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. After his records, Barone has worked attracting tourists who want to discover the Volcano route and other sites in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
.