How fast have you gone?

[JohnBoy]

Hi
Down Trees Rd just west of Burleigh Heads I've got up to 98kph. Have never cracked the ton but would like to on a good Rd.
Can't believe the pros doing 120kph in the alps as the roads are not that steep are they?
Got to say I've never been there so I really wouldn't know but 120kph, I don't think so!

 

[180mmCrank]

I have always found 80-85 kph quite fast enough to give me something to think about approaching a corner!

We could get really contentious and ask who are the best descenders?

Having raced a bit in Italy I know they certainly pride themselves on being rather fearless and graceful when going down hill – and they always took the **** out of us ‘roast beefs’!

I have heard people talk about Cunego as one of the best at going down hill. What do others think?

 

[VeloGirl]

Recent: Paolo "Il Falco" Salvodelli.

Less Recent: Pantani (a fearless descender).

I believe Sean Yates holds one of the fastest descents at around 112 kph!

 

[BroDeal]

This is what Jobst Brandt has written on the subject:

"Those who have descended at 60mph and thereabouts know that most of
the reports are BS. 75mph is about exactly twice as fast as 60mph
from power considerations and requires at least a 20% grade where
60mph requires 13%. Show me a 20% grade road that is straight and
smooth with a runout where one can slow down from 75mph on a bicycle."

 

[53x11 in DC]

84kph descending Mt. Vernon hill in Mt. Vernon, NH, USA. 82kph in the West Point Omnium Bear Mountain Road Race.

I did see 9-10kph on the first few k's of AdH.

Favorite "top speed" was spinning out a 53-12 on some legendary Chicago suburb Wednesday night ride in '92. Tried to shift, and for the first time in my life (growing up in rolling New Hampshire, and never experiencing speed on the flats), I didn't have another cog to go to. I still got dropped in the final sprint. Definitely exceeded 54-55kph.

Met VdV at a Garmin Q&A in DC last year and he says he used to do the same Chicago ride as a junior (well after I was there).

 

[53x11 in DC]

This is what Jobst Brandt has written on the subject:

"Those who have descended at 60mph and thereabouts know that most of
the reports are BS. 75mph is about exactly twice as fast as 60mph
from power considerations and requires at least a 20% grade where
60mph requires 13%. Show me a 20% grade road that is straight and
smooth with a runout where one can slow down from 75mph on a bicycle."

then there's this...

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/09/bike-hits-1307-.html

 

[lookkg386]

then there's this...

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/09/bike-hits-1307-.html

A mountain bike no less, how embarassing for us roadies!!

 

[Notso Swift]

I have been in the "ERR" on the computer a couple of times (more than 99), but I was young, dumb and full of ...

Those were the days when I was running 52 x12 on a 7sp Suntour Supurb Pro, which was leading edge. Rims we 27 inch box section Wiennerman with 36 spoke High flange hubs... Aero, NOT!

I stopped for ten years, since I came back I have seen 96, but that is with 53x11 on 38mm deep rims, I think I could have gone well over 100 on the hill but I braked about 500 mt too early for the corners, wife, chile, these things happen!

Generally speaking the best decenders are not the best climbers, funny that, they are more desperate to catch up!

 

[The Falcon]

i find anything about 70kmh really focuses the mind.....above 80 and im pretty much done....i've seen a mid corner blowout on a descent and its something i'll always have in the back of my mind!

 

[Billopoulos]

I have seen around 83 km/h going down a mountain near my home, it was really scary actually!

Not many roads in Greece you can have great speed without the fear of going into a ditch or be hit by a car...

 

[mr. tibbs]

A mountain bike no less, how embarassing for us roadies!!

Lol

My top was 56 mph (that's 90 km/h).

Now that I've claculated that out, it's pretty frightening!!

I was pretty terrified both times I got that high, too: once coming down Milcreek Canyon in Salt lake City, Utah, and the other coming down Big Cottonwood Canyon (also in tha SLC).

I live in Austin, Texas now, so I don't have many opportunities to go that fast (which I think is a good thing--I did not enjoy it, and only did it to keep up with my *** friend ).

 

[Big Ring]

lots of steep descents in the Pyrenees. Col de tourmalet you can easily make 100k.
Sean Kelly was clocked in the Alps at 137kmph.

 

[Halvor]

Road: 86kph - Descending Col du Galibier or Bonette. Don't remember.
MTB: 78kph in a race in Norway.

 

[lostintime]

Lol

My top was 56 mph (that's 90 km/h).

Now that I've claculated that out, it's pretty frightening!!

I was pretty terrified both times I got that high, too: once coming down Milcreek Canyon in Salt lake City, Utah, and the other coming down Big Cottonwood Canyon (also in tha SLC).

About 57mph ..... from when I lived in SLC also. Big Cottonwood was awesome for high speeds, there's some long steep spots followed by I-hope-my-brakes-work-well-or-I'm-dead corners. No helmet, no eyewear. This was before wearing helmets and eyewear were prevalent. I felt safest in the mountains though, no crashes or even near hits by cars or animals. Far different story in the valley though..... I was hit three times in a year!

I don't live there now either and I do miss it(minus the cars). The big payoff for all the labor of climbing up any of the many canyons in the SLC area was always the descent. I can still get up to 50mph or so as I live on the Ohio river with some very steep descents..... but they are all short in length.

 

[nightfend]

When I was younger in my early 20's, I'd hit 60+ mph on this really long and straight 6% descent. Thinking back to it now, I was stupid to go that fast as glass and debris could have blown my tire out and it's pretty much a fatal wreck at that speed.

Now a days, the 40mph range is fast enough for me. I try not to exceed that.

 

[lauaxeta]

Some impressive times there, folks!!

Just got back into cycling after a long time away from it.....36mph is my fastest yet, but I'm working on it.....

 

[orngcrsh]

93kph/58mph down Woodfords Grade in the Sierra mountains near Lake Tahoe in California. At that speed the little cracks in the road look freaking wide as the grand canyon

 

[JohnOnTheRoad]

Too fast for me!

Heading south from Sedona, AZ there is a long straight descent on a 4 lane highway with a wide shoulder. I hit an indicated 52MPH (85 KPH) there and when I looked at my skinny 700 X 21 front tire I slowed down. That was fast enough for me...

On my MTB, in Texas I was on a very steep gravel road when I noticed I was doing 30MPH. It was a little squirrelly, but I was afraid to use any brakes so I let it roll. My high speed logged on the computer was 45 MPH. Never thought I would go that fast on an MTB, never want to again.

Where I lived in North Carolina there was a half mile strip that averaged 19% grade. After the first time I went down it on my road bike I never went down it again except on my MTB with disk brakes. If you've ever gone down a 20% + grade, you know what acceleration is... and how scary it is especially if you have a cliff on one side.

The short of it all is I am amazed by the pros being in a tuck at 90+ KPH on roads in the Alps. Better hope they get paid well....

 

[Campyman]

Max Velocity

I once posted 58 MPH (93 KPH) with a lead out down Harp Hill in Western Maryland. This is a 20%+ grade hill out in the countryside. I cannot imagine how aero you'd have to be to go over 100KPH.

My GPS once said my max speed was 135 mph, but I don't think that counts. I imagine it had a nice impact on my avg speed for that ride!

I seem to recall some formula like the resistance increases at a rate of the velocity squared, which explains why I could never crack 60mph.

On the same hill I discovered the concept of harmonic oscillation, now that was a scary moment. Thankfully I had heard of this condition and knew what to do (put my knee on the top tube to change the frequency of my bike). We have just exhausted the remnants of my college physics lessons!

P.S. My uphill speed on Harp Hill was a single digit!

 

[180mmCrank]

Lance's New Ride

I think all previous bets might be off for the fastest on two wheels...

I recently received this sneak peak from TREK's top secret development and testing center - apparently leaving nothing to chance Lance has a new ride - look out Alberto!

 

[Campyman]

Rocket Sled

I am pretty sure I would swap out the pedals on that thing.

One can achieve the same effect with the right pre-ride meal....

 

[danjo007]

i reach 89kph in a tri.. wearing nothing but a singlet, and bathers - and wont do that again now im older and less brave.
i kept looking at the front wheel imagining what would it be like if the front tire blew.