Living Car Free - Speed Limit

I was on a late night ride yesterday, and I found myself speeding a lot. Mostly on the flats and down hills. Then on the MUP I was doing around 30 mph. I had good like so I could see, and I didn't feel like I was going too fast, but is there a speed limit on MUPs, down here in Madison, WI? Also found myself getting passed like I was stanting still (by cars) in a 25 mph zone when I going 37 mph. Do you slow down to the speed limit, or just push it faster. I think this new Car Free Living forum is great, I think a lot of us (car free) notes are speed a lot more because we can ride a lot faster then those slow roadies.

Thanks,

GEEK

i generally dont pay attention to speed limits. no matter how fast i get going cars will always go faster. i also run stop signs and red lights. i dont understand how you can cycle in the city and not

Well, first of all, you are extremely fast. I've never seen anyone going anywhere near that speed on any of the MUPs around here. I rarely ever get passed, and I'm usually not going any faster than 20mph, but I still feel like I'm pushing the limits of safety on some paths. (When it's crowded, I slow down) I don't think I could hit 37mph without a pretty significant hill or wind. So, usually, it's not an issue for me. 25mph is about the fastest I go normally, which is about the lowest speed limit in the city, so that works out nicely. I occasionally go a few mph over the speed limit, but that's about it.

Do you race?

You were doing 30 on a MUP trail and didn't feel like you were going too fast? You belong on a crit circuit, not a MUP trail.

I've seen some MUPs posted with 15mph limits. Kind a slow for any transportational or fitness riding, but fine for family recreational cycling mixed with walkers, which MUPs are really meant for. I'd stay below 20/25mph on non-posted-limit MUP depending on sight lines, usage patterns, etc.

I don't consider speed limits on roads, except for active school zones with posted 15mph limits, then I stay below 17mph and role model stopping for all peds at x-walks, stop signs, etc. But if it is a regular 20mph posted road, I have no issue with 30mph when I can do it.

Al

No I don't race, I don't have time, or know anything about that. I'm use to going that speed because I do a lot of highway miles, like MM. I do go late at night or early in the morring so thats way I can do those speeds safty. During the day I stick to the roads so I can go those speeds. Also my bike is really nice, it's a Marin Novato. I have added a disk brake on the back, a nice rack, Ortlieb Classic panniers, a Bianchi Flite seat, a NiteRider Digital Evolution, ect. Also I am use to pulling a Burley Nomad, that is nomaly overloaded. Then with all of that Times clippless, and then a pair of Nikes ACG (never knew that Nike had good shoes), bibs, and jersey. It help so be a marching band member, and have LOTS of hill, (sidenote: ***&*(*&^%^&^&* hills).

Also why I can put so much $ into the bike is a full ride to college! Ya more bike $!!!

BTW what is crit circuit?

Good Luck, and Thanks,

GEEK

30 mph with panniers and flat handlebars?!? You are a beast! You sure that's not kph?

crit is short for criterium (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_cn-z.html#criterium)

Yes it is mph, and I have the right tire size set into the computer. I am knew for racing my friends, but I use my bike and they use there car. I want to get drop bars but I don't have the money yet, but when I do I'm getting a front disk break, drop bars front rack, the front Ortlieb Classic panniers, Ortlieb front bag, thats about
$900 of parts and labor.

GEEK

Pardon my doubt, no offense intended. It's just that you are way faster than most people I've seen on the paths in the area.

You go 37mph on flat city streets?
Al

Yes, I have had my doubts too with that little computer, but I have used those police speed cheaker and also my friends cars, when I pull up on the side of them they tell me how fast we are going. If you guys know PB in Fitchburg most of that is really flat or a little downgrade, I can hit those speeds, but only if I take the lane. I don't like using the bike without the painners, I just go way too fast. Also I bike is very well maintanied, and has a lot of upgrades. I have over $3000 tied up into that bike, also just on this bike about 5000 miles. I had a EZ-3 USX, with all the stuff I added it was about 100 pounds, I had 4000 miles on that when the frame broke (2x). Then give me more mussels, also with being in the marching band. In the school year I do about 140 miles a week, in the summer I do about 210 miles a week. Biking is my life, it's fun, no car, and a lot of friends out of the city.

GEEK

I usually follow most laws, stop at red lights and stop signs, etc. But on the rare occasion that I can beat a speed limit on the streets, I generally don't worry too much about it. Speeding in a 15 mph zone wouldn't be much of an accomplisment, but I kind of hope one day I get a ticket for speeding in a 25 mph or 30 mph zone. I'd frame it.