Commuting - Highest Speed, Fastest Commute time

This morning I was running LATE for work. I *hate* that. I left my house at 6:38am to be at work at 7:00am. Normally I leave at 6:25 or 6:30. I usually take 26-28 minutes for my 5.5 mile commute. I'm that that fast.

This morning was a different story. I noticed my speed pick up after a few minutes on the road. Soon I was doing 17-18mph instead of my usual half asleep 13-14mph. I was less than half way through my commute and I had 12 minutes to be to work. I stepped it up a notch and on the long and relatively flat part of my commute, I found myself doing 22mph. That was a short burst however but I kept 20mph for about 1.5 miles and then down to 17-18mph for the rest of my commute.

I made it to work in 22 minutes which is on par with my fastest time back when my bike was geared (it is fixed now).

I also hit my highest fixed gear speed ever while going down the underpass by the freeway. I managed to get to 30mph, which at my gearing is 130rpm cadence.

So, what personal records have you set lately?

Two weeks ago, I swapped out the 35c knobbies on my Kona Jake to 32c pavement tires, and switched from platform to clipless. My 6.5mile (each way) commute has gotten noticeably quicker, maybe by 2-3 minutes, and much smoother/quieter.
Used to be about 28-30 minutes on the way in and a few minutes quicker going home, and now it's more like 25-28 going in, and 22-25 home.

I don't stopwatch it, but generally look at my watch as I clip and and as I coast to a stop, and I've been surprised at the times lately, even on days when I felt tired and/or had a lot of lights.

Last night, I was just beat- all I wanted to do was lie down on the grass and sleep, but my legs kept churning and I didn't feel the need to shift into an easier gear or anything- probably partly attributable to the advantages of cliplss and partly due to the fact that I'm getting stronger lately as I'm riding much more than in March when we had a fair amt of snow/ice. But I still got home in my normal time range.

If I work in the Platte Valley which is steeply downhill from my house, it takes me 20 minutes down (5 miles and I try not to push when I get to the river so that I'm not quite so soggy when I get there) and it takes me 23 minutes back (up a monster 35 mph downhill).

For my other commute to Golden it takes me around 50 minutes by road bike (11 miles) or about an hour by mountain bike (I play around in the dirt on the way in:D ). Home is about 10 minutes less.

With a great tailwind, I was able to take a shorter route (9.5 miles) last week that took me 23 minutes to get home. I think I heard a sonic boom on that one;) :D

When I lived and commuted near Canadaigua, NY I was able on occasion to make my 18 mile commute in just under an hour. I had a long descent to start, but the balance was rolling (sometimes steep) hills along the lake.

Going home always took about 10 mintues longer - from the climb back to the house and from being stressed and tired from work.

Now I commute from the bedroom to the office in the room next door. :(

Two weeks ago, I swapped out the 35c knobbies on my Kona Jake to 32c pavement tires...


Looking forward to doing this on my Surly FG... as soon as the snow stops!

I hit 31.5mph yesterday on the way in, which was fun. Until I had to go home, and that hurt. This is no fun going up with no warmup:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/421581224_d262d3f16f.jpg

There's a section of road that I HAVE to keep my speed down due to a near crash into the back of a garbage truck that runs in the mornings. Its not even that steep, but nice and long with lots of twisties. Well I commuted to my local YMCA on Sunday (no garbage trucks) was feeling a little frisky and hit and held 39.5mph. .:eek:

My fastest on the section is over 40mph from last year, but I will never do it again in the mornings.

So, what personal records have you set lately?

Clocked 38mph on the fixed the other day. I think that's about 170 rpm (48x17).

Not trying to set any records, I'm just glad I don't have to ride the brake anymore. I loved the bike since I got it, but used to really dread the downhills.

Clocked 38mph on the fixed the other day. I think that's about 170 rpm (48x17).

Not trying to set any records, I'm just glad I don't have to ride the brake anymore. I loved the bike since I got it, but used to really dread the downhills.

I bet you looked absolutely rediculous... I wonder what people in cars were thinking? :D

My highest speed is 34.5 mph. I was coming down L Street which was the finishing straight of Stage 2 of the TOC this year. So of course I had to ramp it up and throw my hands in the air.

Yesterday was a hammerfest for me, too. I usually average 11.5-12.5 MPH. There are two life-sucking climbs on my commute that usually bring me down to 38t-20t or even 38t-23t spinning at about 7-8 MPH. There are a few downhills on my commute as well, but the destination is higher than home.

I hammered it up the hills up until I felt my old nemesis, Bonk, sneaking up on me. Then I backed off a bit. This resulted in an average speed of about 10 MPH up the slopes. Seeing my average speed at 14.8 for the trip, I went ahead and hammered it some more on the slightly uphill last leg of my journey, seeing if I could budge it up to 15 MPH before the bus stop. I quickly got it to 14.9, but I failed to break past that despite pushing 18 MPH uphill (but not a climb)

14.9 MPH is my fastest average speed on my commute, ever.

Coming down off of the viaduct (the second big climb in my morning commute) right after climbing up it, I once hit 36 MPH. That's the fastest I've gotten on my way TO work.

On the return trip, I hit 38.2 a few days ago, but coming down the first big climb.

My lard speed record is 42.6 MPH but that was on a recreational ride and was assisted by a 15 MPH tailwind.

12 mile commute. 3 stop lights, 5 stop signs.
Overall average speed, 14.2
Best ever, 16.3
Highest top speed, 35.something

This is on a Bianchi hybrid.

None

I had a lot of energy yesterday morning for some reason. Did the 13 mile commute in 40 minutes. Normally it takes around 50 minutes. There is a nice but brief hill just coming down to my office building and I maxed out at just over 42MPH going down it.

Nearly 15mph average for my total commute (which includes a 3/4 mile long, varying 7-10% grade just before I get to work.) The nice thing is that I can really get cookin' coming down it on the way home.

http://images.tribe.net/tribe/upload/photo/e83/f52/e83f52a4-709d-4050-aa6f-39d472644a09

My personal record: 18 mph average on an urban commute with lots of lights, traffic etc. (and no breaking the law... except for occasional speeding :)).

Well, not to be too bragging, but when I lived in Hawaii, my daily commute over the Pali Mountains was 'exciting'.

Max speed ever on the Kailu bound sid ewas 46 MPH on my Leader mountain bike. Bit of a tailwind there and lots of gravity.

Most days it was around 40 -> 42 MPH. Pedaling like a cartoon character.

Tim

This thread reminds me of that thread where the guy couldn't break--what was it--something like 30mph on his downhill and everyone was posting their speeds.

Anyway, my current max speed record:

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/5348/img0083tt4.jpg

The first day I got the computer I made 40 mph. I ride a hybrid, flatbar, top gear 48x13. There's a good downhill on the way home, which I immediately have to climb out of. For what it's worth my average is about 14ish.

I just did my best average speed on my 11 mile commute last friday. 16.9mph! I've consistently averaged 13.5-14.5 before. I guess there is no better motivation than money. My kids had to be picked up from a class program and every minute over the limit, 6pm, is a $2 charge.:eek: Made it with 6 minutes to spare.:D My fastest speed on my commuter is not that fast though. Only 29mph :( .

On the other hand I once clocked 38mph on my mountain bike going downhill a firetrail at Black Diamond mines. Dirt, rocks, bumps, and ruts. I thought I was gonna die.

My Average speed is around 20 mph. I make it to work in 10 mins or less. IF I go the short way of 3.5 miles. I take the lone way most mornings, that gives me a 20 mile ride. Now it takes me 58 mins to cover the 20 miles.

When I started doing my commute, the first time I averaged 13.5 MPH over 22 miles. RT average was slightly faster, since (for some reason) faster going home. It went up over time, and I even broke 17 MPH once on the trip home. Just last week, though, I felt great both ways, and averaged 17.1 going in, and 17.7 going home - total was a 17.5 average. Wonder if I can break 18?

I don't rush my 5 mile commute in the morning since I'm overweight and easily sweat, and I can usually avoid needing to shower if I'm careful. In fact, in summer, I deliberately slow it down. Still it only takes 20-25 minutes, because it's downhill. My best time is 17 minutes (17.6 mph). Of course this is an inner urban route with lots of stop signs and lights.
I work harder on the ride home, which includes 60 m of elevation. My best time is 23.5 min (12.8 mph). So not very fast by some of your standards.

16:55 / 5.5 miles through the city. (Tailwinds help)

Highest speed: Probably low 30s.

Wow, we are a varied bunch! I keep lusting after a faster bike but I realize that the speed is all about the engine. My bike fits quite well and while I keep fiddling with the configuration (such as building a 3 speed wheel soon) it will never change significantly. The change has to be in *me*. That is a humbling thought. I just have to keep working at maintaining those high rpm's for more than just a couple of minutes if I want to maintain my speed around 20-22mph. That's a tough thing to do for me for some reason. Lance I am not. That guy can do 120rpm all day!

Highest speed on my commute has been around 30/31mph on a brief downhill on Spadina towards Queens Quay. Usually don't hit over 25mph though. Current commute means no more than 21/22mph unless I really really gun it (which I haven't yet).

Fastest average I think has me at about 16mph, but right now even with my short commute I don't get much more than 13, usually around 12 - pretty badly out of shape/out of conditioning particularly my cardio - the wind going across the lake sucks the breath right out of me most times.

Fastest recorded speed I had until my battery dislodged was 36.6mph, wasn't part of a commute and was down a fairly steep incline which I hammered it down - I'm convinced I can hit 40mph given the chance, even on my el cheapo bike :)

I had a couple 17 mph runs last week (over a full 60 min), not bad for ~50# loaded bike (see that weight thread). More typically I expect ~15mph commute, 18-20mph unloaded lunchtime joyride.

Highest instantaneous speed ~39.5 mph on one particular hill. Cannot seem to crack 40 no matter what I do.

My maximum speed commuting is 50.0 mph.

Not actually on the route attached, but going down the same ridge.


Descending fast is not necessarily difficult.

Average round-trip is about 15 mph.

My max speed while commuting was close to 40mph. Would've surpassed 40 if the light didn't turn red. Max ever was 48mph. I don't want to do that again... the wobbles were pretty bad. One time my computer glitched and said I hit over 100mph.

New fastest average speed this morning 18.4 MPH on my 8.5 mile ride.
Current max speed on my commute is 33 mph. I ride a panasonic road bike. Just had to post because when I got to work I was almost a mph over my nexct highest speed.

not sure of the speed, and too lazy to do the math, but my 5.5 mile commute usually takes me 25-35 minutes. I did it in 18 one time, hit all the lights and was on the triathlon bike instead of the commuter.

41.3mph max on Wednesday! Fastest for the year.

My commute is by no means fast, though. My newest route home is 19.8 miles with 2050' of climbing, with a max 23% section (only about 150 yards, but that's enough!) I use my commute as my training for upcoming hill rides, so my commuting average speed isn't too high: Under 13mph for the ride home, usually.

Last week we had a day of temperatures in the 50s, so I rode my race bike (Cannondale CAAD8) in to work. Hit 42.0 mph on the final stretch just before work, which is slightly downhill and with a tailwind.

Highest avg speed for my 10.5 mile, ultra flat commute is 22.1 mph. That was on done on my old panasonic dx2000. I was pushing it hard the whole way.

This time of year, with studs and snow and all it's more appropriate to talk about our longest commutes! I had a 48 minute one not too long ago--into a breeze and with 3" of snow. Only went 6.8 miles. Sloooow I tell you. Yet I worked as hard as any commute I've had!

So, what personal records have you set lately?

Nothing lately, but one night I was commuting to school and had my bike ripped off right out from under me.

The next night, riding on my backup bike I managed to cut 10 minutes off my time riding the same route. Not bad for a 10 mile commute. I went from 50 minutes to 40 minutes. The power of paranoia!

commute = 6.43 miles each way
average speed = 15.75 mph
time = 24:30
max speed = 38 mph

This was on my new road bike (cannondale synapse.) I usually commute on a touring bike. the new road bike broke my time record by 1:32. I think I can even improve on this. Someday I hope to break 24 minutes. Somedays it's like riding time trials.

on my 16 mile commute i did it in exactly one hour (of rolling time, mind you).

that's including hills, stop lights, etc, etc - my best so far. (yes, it's so hilly out here that a 16 mph avg is pretty decent, at least for me)

other than that i've hit 54 mph downhill, although that was for fun, not on a commute.

I have an 18 mile each way commute and ride only twice per week. My normal time is about an hour and a half. My quickest time is an hour and 21 minutes but I had a stiff tail wind most of the way. I normally do not go for speed as I don't have the hp to stay at top speed for that distance.

Mark

Fastest time was 40mph. it was fun! It wasn't a steep downhill, but enough for me to spin up in the big ring, so I got 40 not just by gravity alone.

My commute WAS 15.5 miles, and I did that one in 50 minutes, which was the fastest I did it. It typically took me an hour on my singlespeed.

Now it's 18 miles (give or take, it's a guess as I haven't moved the CPU to the SS yet) and it takes me about one hour and ten minutes on the SS.

The most i've ever hit was 45km/hr on a mountain bike going downhill. I imagine if I had a roadbike, i'd get much faster speeds.

BUT

has anyone ever gone this fast????

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/specialized-movies-presents-outlaw-in-lycra/543129732

I hit 45 with a 51-16 ratio. I was spinning beyond belief. On this particular night I was ridding with the wind at my back and about 10 miles became 15 minutes. I got home and I was laughing to myself when I looked at the time and noticed it was 1:20 something and I left with intentions to take a leisure stroll home.

I average about 20 miles an hour on most rides. I always try to push myself to uncomfortableness.