Road Cycling - Speed

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Frank B
09-13-04, 09:53 PM
How fast does a nice road bike normally top out at? Something like a 27 speed. I currently don't have a speedometer on my new bike, but have possibly gotten speeds that are increadibly surprising to a little ol' mountain biker; and I am curious to see if they were actually possible or if traffic was just going slow and the police radar trailer thing pick up a car in the other lane.

Thanks
Frank

joejack951
09-13-04, 09:58 PM
Depends on how fast you can pedal and what gear you are in. If you have an estimate of your cadence (rpm of your legs) and know what gear you were in, you can estimate your actual speed. But, with computers so cheap ($20 will get you one with a few functions) why not just buy one and start logging your miles.

Personally, I've pedaled at over 30 mph (with a tailwind) and just hit a new high on a short downhill near my house of 46 mph.
MelloBoy
09-13-04, 10:09 PM
depends on your gearing too doesn't it? how big's the biggest chainring? 50, 52, 54 etc? and also your smallest cog?

melloboy

Frank B
09-13-04, 10:12 PM
This is my baby. Other then then 19'' frame, this is about all of the measurements I know.

http://www.giant-bicycle.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.006.asp?lYear=2004&bikesection=8836&range=147&model=10780

Does that answer anything?
froze
09-13-04, 11:22 PM
Depends on how high up you are when you throw it out of an airplane. I took an IQ test and the results were negative.
goatmeal
09-13-04, 11:26 PM
Really does it matter? You were going fast, unless anybody passed you, you were going fast enough...

Phil

I ride slow enough.
Frank B
09-14-04, 07:54 AM
I just realized what you meant by 50, 52, 54.

The front cog has 54, the back has 12.


It has proven very useful in the past to know my approximate speed, and the fastest I can go if needed. Traffic around here is not terribly fond of bikes. I had a computer, but it decided to fall off somwhere the first time I tested it.
53-11 alltheway
09-14-04, 08:21 AM
with your modest 52-12 gearing and assuming a cadence (rpm) of 100 you would be going approximately 34 mph.....not bad.

Gearing is where it is at. I'm gearing higher than you are and at my usual cadence of 110 I'm going a little over 40 mph on flat ground.
Frank B
09-14-04, 07:59 PM
Sweet! So it is very possible I was right about the speed I thought I was!

Thank you!

It's time for me to do a little dance. :D
Drayko
09-15-04, 09:46 PM
Just wondering, what would speed be on a 50-12 at 90-100 cadence?