Denise Mueller-Korenek

Denise Mueller-Korenek is the fastest human being ever to travel on a bicycle, clocking 183.932 mph at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats in 2018—a speed faster than an Airbus A340’s takeoff velocity.

EARLY YEARS

Born around 1973, Denise Mueller grew up in a family that didn’t do “normal.” Her father, Myron Mueller, was an ultra-distance cyclist who celebrated his 70th birthday doing what daredevils do best—pushing limits on two wheels. Speed and endurance weren’t just hobbies in the Mueller household; they were the family business[1][2].

She graduated from San Dieguito High School in Encinitas, California, where she’d already started making a name for herself in competitive cycling[3]. By her senior year, she’d racked up 13 national titles—the kind of record that turns heads in any sport, let alone one dominated by men[4].

OTHER INTERESTS

Mueller-Korenek isn’t just about speed—though that’s clearly her thing. She’s completed over 50 half marathons across 29 states plus Washington, D.C., and tacked on nine full marathons across four continents, including Antarctica in 2013 and the Great Wall of China in 2017[5][6]. She’s also competed in Ironman Triathlon events and earned World Championship medals in mountain biking—both downhill and cross country—in Italy[7][8].

When she’s not chasing records, she runs the family business. As CEO of Rancho Santa Fe Security Systems and Rancho Santa Fe Protective Services in San Diego, she’s proven she can handle high-pressure situations whether they’re on the salt flats or in the boardroom[9][10].

Her personal life moves at record speed too. She met her husband on March 4, got engaged by April 1, and married by June 23—all in the same year[11].

EARLY SUCCESS

By 1991, Mueller-Korenek was one of the top junior riders in the country, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with George Hincapie, who would go on to become one of America’s most celebrated professional cyclists[12]. She accumulated 13 national championships and two World Championship podium finishes before stepping away from competitive cycling to focus on family and her career in the security industry[13][14].

For over 20 years, the bike took a backseat to being a mom and running a business. But in 2009, when her son decided he wanted to run 19 half-marathons, Mueller-Korenek reached out to her old coach, John Howard, and got back on the bike[15][16]. Turns out, some people don’t just come back—they come back faster.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 1991: Competed as one of the top junior cyclists in the United States alongside George Hincapie[12].
• Pre-2009: Won 13 national championship titles and earned two World Championship podium finishes in cycling[13][14].
• 2009: Resumed competitive cycling and running, competing in marathons and Ironman Triathlons[16].
• 2013: Completed a marathon in Antarctica[5].
• 2016: Set the women’s bicycle land speed record at 147.7 mph at Bonneville Salt Flats[17][18].
• 2017: Completed the Great Wall of China Marathon; also broke her shoulder[19][5].
• 2018: Shattered the overall motor-paced bicycle land speed record, previously held by Dutch cyclist Fred Rompelberg at 166.9 mph since 1995, by reaching 183.932 mph on September 16 at Bonneville Salt Flats—becoming the first and only woman to hold the overall record[20][21][22].

INSPIRATIONS

Her father, Myron Mueller, set the tone early—ultra-distance cycling was just what you did in their family[2]. But when it came to her return to elite-level competition, credit goes to her son. When he wanted to tackle 19 half-marathons, Mueller-Korenek didn’t just cheer from the sidelines. She reconnected with John Howard, the legendary cyclist and coach who’d trained her as a teenager, and started plotting her own comeback[15].

Howard, who held motor-paced speed records himself, became both coach and mentor again—this time helping her engineer an attempt at something no woman had ever done[23]. The partnership worked: Howard knew the science, and Mueller-Korenek had the guts.

REPUTATION

Mueller-Korenek is known as a people person and a self-described lover of individual events where you’re racing against yourself, not just the competition[24]. She’s an entrepreneur, a CEO, a mom, and someone who doesn’t seem to know how to do anything halfway. Whether it’s marathons on four continents or pedaling behind a drag-racing car driven by Shea Holbrook at nearly 184 mph, she’s all in[25][26].

Her 2018 record wasn’t just a headline—it was a feat that most “sound-minded mortals” can’t even conceive of attempting[27]. She rode a purpose-built KHS bicycle with 17-inch, high-speed-rated motorcycle wheels, drafting in the slipstream of a custom drag-racing vehicle on the Bonneville Salt Flats, a location synonymous with speed junkies and land speed records[28][29].

In a sport where women’s records are often treated as footnotes, Mueller-Korenek didn’t just set a women’s record—she broke the men’s record too, and she’s held it ever since[30].

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

No specific future goals for 2025 and beyond were documented in the available research.

REFERENCES

[1] Denise Mueller-Korenek – Wikipedia
[2] Denise Mueller-Korenek – Wikipedia (Early life and education)
[3] Denise Mueller-Korenek – Wikipedia (Education)
[4] How Denise Mueller-Korenek became the fastest bicyclist on earth – ESPN
[5] Denise Mueller-Korenek – Goal Setting, Overcoming Performance – Tough Girl Challenges
[6] Denise Mueller-Korenek – Tough Girl Challenges (Half marathons)
[7] Denise Mueller-Korenek – Tough Girl Challenges (Mountain biking)
[8] Denise Mueller-Korenek – Wikipedia (Ironman competitions)
[9] The Courage to Breakthrough Your Limits with Denise Mueller – Voices of Courage
[10] Pushing the limits – Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce
[11] Interview with Denise Mueller-Korenek on Power of Sliding – Primal Wear
[12] Denise Mueller-Korenek Is the World’s Fastest Cyclist – Outside Online
[13] Project Speed
[14] How Denise Mueller-Korenek became the fastest bicyclist on earth – ESPN (National titles)
[15] How Denise Mueller-Korenek became the fastest bicyclist on earth – ESPN (Son’s half-marathons)
[16] Denise Mueller-Korenek – Wikipedia (2009 return to cycling)
[17] Denise Mueller-Korenek – Wikipedia (2016 women’s record)
[18] Project Speed (147mph record)
[19] September 2018 – 2Wheel Chick (Shoulder injury)
[20] Denise Mueller-Korenek Is the World’s Fastest Cyclist – Outside Online (2018 record)
[21] Female cyclist breaks land speed record! – Colorado in Motion
[22] RSF CEO Denise Mueller-Korenek Breaks World Record!
[23] Learning from the best: Denise Mueller-Korenek – Dr Josephine Perry
[24] Learning from the best: Denise Mueller-Korenek – Dr Josephine Perry (Individual events)
[25] How Denise Mueller-Korenek became the fastest bicyclist on earth – ESPN (Shea Holbrook)
[26] Denise Mueller-Korenek is the Fastest Person on a Bike EVER – YouTube
[27] Denise Mueller-Korenek is the Fastest Person on a Bike EVER – YouTube (Sound-minded mortals)
[28] 184 MPH on a Bicycle! Woman Sets New Speed Record – GearJunkie
[29] Denise Mueller-Korenek Is the World’s Fastest Cyclist – Outside Online (Bonneville Salt Flats)
[30] Denise Mueller-Korenek – Wikipedia (First and only woman)