Commuting - Arrrrg.... i got gunned

No not shot :)

No not drunk :(

Radar gunned. I was riding down a rural road, and i see a figgure step out onto the road in the distance. Then i make out the lime green vest and the fact that he's pointing something at me and i put it all together. I checked the Take-A-Look and there was no traffic behind me. So i tried to put on a show, i stood and sprinted for it. When i passed him he called out "38"... 38?! i had it up to 44kph but i guess he gunned me before i hit that. Kinda funny he gunned me at all, he must've been bored, i left early and the rush wouldn't start for another 1/2 hour. I wonder how many tickets they'll be giving out, that rural road has housing developments just off it and the limit is 60kph. Normally a road like that would be 80kph. Question for any the coppers out there though, is it really necessary to point those things like its a glock? Really? m'eh i shouldn't snipe, it was good to see them out there.

there's a cop that sits on my //long// route. clockin' people in a 45mph (70kph ish) zone. i hate that part of the ride. it's short, but people around here drive like nascar (redline to red light). every time i'm in that stretch of road, someone is pulled over, or being clocked, and i'm happy for it.

i've seen him clockin' me... and i'm sure he's had a laugh, but i always get a rush (i'll show 'em - PUSH). LOL

it's great he yelled your speed to you. 'would be fun if you two made it a daily event. :)

38, 40, 50k! ... 35 - you're slacking! LOL

for a second there i thought you said 38 mph. I was like WHOA BUDDY. YOU CAN FLY!!!:lol: then i realized that it was kph.

crazy metric system. what's that, like 10mph...:D Jk

38 kph= ~24 mph. still not too shabby!

for a second there i thought you said 38 mph. I was like WHOA BUDDY. YOU CAN FLY!!!:lol: then i realized that it was kph.

crazy metric system.

No no, you're quite right the first time, he was going 38 mph. You see in this part of Canada we have an interesting phenomenon where you actually get propelled towards certain directions, it starts at about Red Deer and focuses itself at Commonwealth stadium. If you're heading from anywhere in the greater Edmonton area, the sucking effect it noticeable.

Man, I've never even seen 38mph. Closest I've gotten is 33 on a slight downhill while pedaling hard.

Pedal faster, ya slacker!!!

there was a sign out on the road near my house that measured your speed and posted it. I was feeling pretty good about hitting 30 mph.

They just put some of those standalone radar signs in near my home. Unfortunately one is on the corner for my turn and the other is just after a turn that I only see on the way out. They also are only active during school hours so I just see the second one after turning on that street and compare it to my speedo (generally 18mph at that one and holding on to not crash, darn bad roads). One of these days I'll turn around in the morning and get a speed run on the second one which is on a flat decent road.

Pedal faster, ya slacker!!!

+1 Your representin'! :D

I have been radar gunned too. 18mph on a loaded MTB

I wish I had a ticket for speeding on my bike. I would frame it on my wall!:)

I would get snippy with the cop and get arrested so I can get a
copy of the mug shot, it would look like this:ride:

On my usual commute home along a fairly fast two lane highway, there's a spot where it slows down to a posted 35mph at a stop sign. Just beyond that is where a guy with a gun usually lurks, trying to get people speeding as they try to beat the light. One time I passed him, I asked "Am I legal?" he grinned, chuckled and said, "So far." I wish it was at the bottom of a decent hill, but unfortunately it's at the top of a long, gradual rise. No way I'll ever get a ticketed there. However, one of the routes home is down a big hill where we've hit 37 on the tandem, so there's hope that we'll get bagged at +2mph and I'll have something to frame someday...

I got up to 55 - 60 mph a long time ago. I was cycling down the big mountain in Yellowstone when I got bilateral carpal tunnel, and couldn't squeeze the brakes. Each time I took my hands off a brake to shake it out and get the strength back, I ended up 5 mph faster than before. The terain was something like an 15+ mile run of 7+ percent grade, if I remember correctly. I was passing cars on curves on a mountain bike with road slicks and 50 lbs of camping and touring gear. YOu should have seen the looks on the drivers faces. When I figured out what was wrong early on, I thought of bailing off the bike at 25 mph, but was too afraid. At 55 mph, I sure did wish I had jumped off at 25 mph. It was the year after the big fires, and all I could think about was all those logging trucks that would periodically block the roads to clear the burnt trees. I was praying a logging truck or a buffalo wasn't going to be in the road around the next bend.

On the plus side, I made it to Teton national park hours ahead of schedule.

I did 25MPH in a 20MPH zone past a cop who was running radar. He smiled and nodded at me.

I love this particular road because it's a slight downhill and 20MPH so I just take the lane and ride with traffic. Traffic usually slows me down. Darn cars, always blocking traffic! :p

Man, I've never even seen 38mph. Closest I've gotten is 33 on a slight downhill while pedaling hard.

I've seen 38mph and a cop clocked me at it, pulled his gun down and looked at me with an open mouth.

Man, I've never even seen 38mph. Closest I've gotten is 33 on a slight downhill while pedaling hard.

It's in km. You really need to ride more.

Sometimes in the morning I will ride through school zones (depending on route) where the limit is 15 mph. I'll kick it up to 17-18 just to see how many cars just HAVE to pass me.

No no, you're quite right the first time, he was going 38 mph. You see in this part of Canada we have an interesting phenomenon where you actually get propelled towards certain directions, it starts at about Red Deer and focuses itself at Commonwealth stadium. If you're heading from anywhere in the greater Edmonton area, the sucking effect it noticeable.

Go Stamps!

I got up to 55 - 60 mph a long time ago. I was cycling down the big mountain in Yellowstone when I got bilateral carpal tunnel, and couldn't squeeze the brakes. Each time I took my hands off a brake to shake it out and get the strength back, I ended up 5 mph faster than before. The terain was something like an 15+ mile run of 7+ percent grade, if I remember correctly. I was passing cars on curves on a mountain bike with road slicks and 50 lbs of camping and touring gear. YOu should have seen the looks on the drivers faces. When I figured out what was wrong early on, I thought of bailing off the bike at 25 mph, but was too afraid. At 55 mph, I sure did wish I had jumped off at 25 mph. It was the year after the big fires, and all I could think about was all those logging trucks that would periodically block the roads to clear the burnt trees. I was praying a logging truck or a buffalo wasn't going to be in the road around the next bend.

On the plus side, I made it to Teton national park hours ahead of schedule.

Wow. Just....wow. Great story.

It's 15 MPH in my subdivision and my neighbor will sit on his porch and yell "slown down mister"
when I ride by on my bike as a joke.

Man, I've never even seen 38mph. Closest I've gotten is 33 on a slight downhill while pedaling hard.

Oh, neat! Another bragging thread!

I have this nice canyon on my commute that I just barely broke the speed limit (45 mph, about 72 kph). Just once. Normally it's a struggle to break 40 mph. I have a hybrid, so the top gearing isn't all that high, and my clothing isn't all that aerodynamic, so it can be touch. I'll normally hit about 30ish if I just coast, and high 30's when I start pushing. I'm guessing the wind conditions were just right.

A speeding ticket would be fun, but I still have a car and would hate for my insurance to go up, especially given that I don't drive it all that much.

They just put some of those standalone radar signs in near my home. Unfortunately one is on the corner for my turn and the other is just after a turn that I only see on the way out. They also are only active during school hours so I just see the second one after turning on that street and compare it to my speedo (generally 18mph at that one and holding on to not crash, darn bad roads). One of these days I'll turn around in the morning and get a speed run on the second one which is on a flat decent road.

There's one of those standalones on my route, too. On a slight uphill, so it usually reads 14mph when I trigger it. If a car is coming past, it's pretty typical to see 37 to 40mph on the readout (it's a 35mph zone). One morning a cop was chasing somebody who was just flying down the road. I moved all the way as far right as I could when I saw the sign flick from my 14mph to 78!

I've never been "gunned"... at least not that I know of. Most of the speed traps I see are where the speed limit is 55mph, so I have no reason to worry.

I have exceeded the speed limit on three occasions, but there were no police around.

I won't talk about top speed for two reasons:
1) Somebody else has gone faster
2) I don't want to brag about how fast I can go downhill :)

Hot Potatoe, that is a story worth telling your great grandkids!
Thanks for posting it.:)

Man, I've never even seen 38mph. Closest I've gotten is 33 on a slight downhill while pedaling hard.

Neither had I...until moving to CO. Now I have done 40 minute descents w/o pedaling, but dragging the brakes just to keep the speed down so I can negotiate the tight curves. I've broken 50 on numerous occasions, but usually all the curves prevent exceeding 45.

I have been warned about a particular mountain road (which I have not ridden) that descends into a residential street where cops often ticket cars *and* bikes that don't brake enough to get under the speed limit before crossing the city limits.

there is a long straight downhill near my house which I can see 35 mph on just by laying on my aerobars. 40 is doable with a bit of effort. The posted limit is 25. On this 3/4 mile or so downhill, I have never been passed by a cage and plan to keep it that way. I have tailgated more than a few cars down it though. Kinda freaks them out a little.

I suspect I will someday be bagged by the cops on that road. I sort of look forward to it.

Hot Potatoe, that is a story worth telling your great grandkids!
Thanks for posting it.:)

My non biking friends get a kick out of it, but only those that have ridden fast on bikes, or on fully loaded touring rigs truly understand. Both panic and a peaceful sensation at the same time. I couldn't believe it was happening and I was afraid, but also realized there was nothing I could do about it but hang on and go. I thought about how much a crash was going to hurt, but also reveled in the exhilirating sense of speed. These days I get nervous if I go past 25 mph.

Neither had I...until moving to CO. Now I have done 40 minute descents w/o pedaling, but dragging the brakes just to keep the speed down so I can negotiate the tight curves. I've broken 50 on numerous occasions, but usually all the curves prevent exceeding 45.

I have been warned about a particular mountain road (which I have not ridden) that descends into a residential street where cops often ticket cars *and* bikes that don't brake enough to get under the speed limit before crossing the city limits.

Hmmm.... Sounds familiar, I have been pulled over on a bike more than once, it's kinda interesting. What hill are you talking about?

I got pulled over in West Lafayette, Indiana for 50 in a 35 on a road bike. The officer wouldn't even give me a written warning, he said I'd just post it on the internet somewhere....:innocent:

The fastest I have ever gone is 55 mph, during RAGBRAI in 1998. This was when I was still riding my road bike. On my recumbent I have only ever hit 46 to 48 mph as a max. speed. My goal is 50 mph.

I have been radar gunned so to speak. Once that I know of by a police officer. Another time was one of those set ups that had the big unmanned trailer units that has a built in radar gun. These have a giant number board that changes the numbers based on what your speed is. The purpose of these is to show you how fast you're going with the hope you'll slow down if going to fast. They use thes mainly in school zones. Some of these are mobile trailer units, some are permenantly installed.

When ever one of these clock me I speed up just to see how fast I can go before I pass it.

Heh - Yep, a new bragging thread. 44 on an old road bike for me, slight downhill and pushing, and 40 on my current Trek Liquid, downhill, with true knobby tires. That was about it for gearing, and I was pushing as hard as I could. Knobby tires were singing so high that I think dogs could hear them. :D I should go back to that hill and try it with slicks. I'd definitely be gear-limited at that point.

240 MPH. Diving speed of the Peregrine Falcon. Fastest animal in the U.S.
Just a little perspective.

I have never gone over 17 MPH. and that was coasting on a huge downhill. My bike is a 90's steel MTB, but still I don't know I'd even feel comfortable going as fast as you folks do!

I went really fast once.

Hmmm.... Sounds familiar, I have been pulled over on a bike more than once, it's kinda interesting. What hill are you talking about?

I was warned of one particular road coming from estes park into glen haven. I believe it is devil's gulch road. One nice climb coming from glen haven to estes. Awesome cinnamon rolls in glen haven.
I climbed it from glen haven and turned around for the cinnamon rolls. Rode my brakes the way down.

I got up to 55 - 60 mph a long time ago. I was cycling down the big mountain in Yellowstone when I got bilateral carpal tunnel, and couldn't squeeze the brakes. Each time I took my hands off a brake to shake it out and get the strength back, I ended up 5 mph faster than before. The terain was something like an 15+ mile run of 7+ percent grade, if I remember correctly. I was passing cars on curves on a mountain bike with road slicks and 50 lbs of camping and touring gear. YOu should have seen the looks on the drivers faces. When I figured out what was wrong early on, I thought of bailing off the bike at 25 mph, but was too afraid. At 55 mph, I sure did wish I had jumped off at 25 mph. It was the year after the big fires, and all I could think about was all those logging trucks that would periodically block the roads to clear the burnt trees. I was praying a logging truck or a buffalo wasn't going to be in the road around the next bend.

On the plus side, I made it to Teton national park hours ahead of schedule.

Ha, that is an awesome story.

I got up to 55 - 60 mph a long time ago. I was cycling down the big mountain in Yellowstone when I got bilateral carpal tunnel, and couldn't squeeze the brakes. Each time I took my hands off a brake to shake it out and get the strength back, I ended up 5 mph faster than before. The terain was something like an 15+ mile run of 7+ percent grade, if I remember correctly. I was passing cars on curves on a mountain bike with road slicks and 50 lbs of camping and touring gear. YOu should have seen the looks on the drivers faces. When I figured out what was wrong early on, I thought of bailing off the bike at 25 mph, but was too afraid. At 55 mph, I sure did wish I had jumped off at 25 mph. It was the year after the big fires, and all I could think about was all those logging trucks that would periodically block the roads to clear the burnt trees. I was praying a logging truck or a buffalo wasn't going to be in the road around the next bend.

On the plus side, I made it to Teton national park hours ahead of schedule.

Need to add "drag chute" to the normal touring gear.

Need to add "drag chute" to the normal touring gear.

Kid trailer?

Kid trailer?

Not on a downhill. It adds speed--I've learned the hard way. :eek:

Not on a downhill. It adds speed--I've learned the hard way. :eek:

Yup and doubles your stopping distance.

Not on a downhill. It adds speed--I've learned the hard way. :eek:

Guess you can tell I've never pulled a trailer. :) I've heard of them referred to as parachutes before though.

I was so happy when my town pretty much permanently installed the little speed limit radar trailer near my house.
Making that thing blink because I tick over the 30mph speed limit on a brief sprint is my favorite part of going to the store some times :D

<SNIP>
Question for any the coppers out there though, is it really necessary to point those things like its a glock? Really? m'eh i shouldn't snipe, it was good to see them out there.

If the cop is using laser for tagging, then YES they have to point it carefully at you. Laser should be more accurate and it has a very narrow beam and therefore should not get the wrong target.

The other day the local police force had put out one of these road side speed indicator lights. Ofcourse that nicely blocked the 4ft wide shoulder I ride in. As I got closer the speed was jumping all over the place. The stationary radar was having problems lockin in on me and was getting seriously messed up each time a car went by the other way.

The fastest I've ever gone was about 39 MPH. This was going down the Niagara Escarpmentin Lewiston NY. It wasn't a very long descent, but it was a fast and somewhat scarry ride down. This was during my Century ride in September and was at around the 30 mile mark. On the way back we had to go UP the same road at around the 72 mile mark. Thankfully the next major rest area was at the 75 mile mark. That was a STEEP climb.

Happy riding,
André

My fastest descent ever was here in Indiana... It's not flat everywhere. :)

Being a clyde myself, high speeds on downhills are pretty easy.

I hit a very long, very straight downhill, at a 10% grade once. Over 2 miles without a bend or an intersection in sight.

I don't have a speedometer, so I did a terminal velocity calculation later (terminal speed = (giM/kaA)1/2) which gave me a figure of 60MPH (which sounds a little high), but then again, I used to hit 35-40 every day on a downhill on my commute (paced by car), and this felt way, way faster. It felt like a rocket ship. Funnest moment of my life. Made pedaling up the hill worth it.

No not shot :)

No not drunk :(

Radar gunned. I was riding down a rural road, and i see a figgure step out onto the road in the distance. Then i make out the lime green vest and the fact that he's pointing something at me and i put it all together. I checked the Take-A-Look and there was no traffic behind me. So i tried to put on a show, i stood and sprinted for it. When i passed him he called out "38"... 38?! i had it up to 44kph but i guess he gunned me before i hit that. Kinda funny he gunned me at all, he must've been bored, i left early and the rush wouldn't start for another 1/2 hour. I wonder how many tickets they'll be giving out, that rural road has housing developments just off it and the limit is 60kph. Normally a road like that would be 80kph. Question for any the coppers out there though, is it really necessary to point those things like its a glock? Really? m'eh i shouldn't snipe, it was good to see them out there.
What kind of bike do you ride? I have never gotten mine to register on radar. once A cop paced me on a down hill and told me i was speeding, but he could not clock me with his radar, I have ridden past those little "your current speed is" things, but never registered on them.

Guess you can tell I've never pulled a trailer. :) I've heard of them referred to as parachutes before though.

I haven't either, but I bet they feel like a parachute on the flat going into a head wind!

Man, I've never even seen 38mph. Closest I've gotten is 33 on a slight downhill while pedaling hard.

This makes me feel a tad better.
I just got a computer on my bike and (of course) I end up racing it every ride to and from work.
I've yet to get anything above 30mph (yet!) and was kind of bummed about it.
So much so that I started looking at other bikes. I was thinking my Trek 7200's drivetrain just wouldn't go any faster.

This makes me feel a tad better.
I just got a computer on my bike and (of course) I end up racing it every ride to and from work.
I've yet to get anything above 30mph (yet!) and was kind of bummed about it.
So much so that I started looking at other bikes. I was thinking my Trek 7200's drivetrain just wouldn't go any faster.

Pedal harder, go down large hills, aero tuck as much as possible and MTFU. A 48x11 should easily get you past 30 on a downhill as I can manage that on a MTB with a 44x12, on my road bike with a 50x11 and slicks I routinely break 40 and get past 50 once I'm out in the countryside.