Fifty Plus (50+) - How fast can you ride, and how slow?

On a more humorous note, how slow can you cycle? (I might hold the record ;-P)

Also how fast have you ridden a bike, gravity assist is OK!

For slow, I guess the accurate answer would be "the limit approaching zero", but only for a duration also approaching zero, as I stop. :-)

But seriously, I took a bike handling skills clinic that focused a lot on slow riding. Slow and no-hands being the tough combo. Not sure how slow I was going in and out of the cones they set up.

I've only been up to 40ish, but am looking forward to some faster downhills later this year.

Fast: 36 downhill. Slow: 2 mph on level ground. (Just tested it today to convince myself that slowing down in my new clipless pedals was not lethal).

Fastest - 56 mph (road bike) going down a steep grade in Mammoth... I probably would have gotten close to 60 but I got scared and started braking.

I know for absolute certainty I can climb that same steep hill going 2.3 mph for 6 miles. It was painfuly slow and I was amazed the bike stayed upright. I did get to see alot of scenary - it interesting what you see when you ride at the speed of a walk! I have probably gone even slower on my mountain bike but I don't have an speedometer on that bike.

Fastest about 45 MPH on a long steep downhill.

Slowest sustained about 0.50 MPH or so with the lower limit being patience. On a trike. On two wheels I can handle slow walking speeds just so you don't also expect gum chewing.

Damn, U all R good...

Fastest (recently): 28.6 mph on flat ground. Slowest - I've a two second "track stand" on a road bike (handy trick at stop signs).

My 8-y-o nephew comfortably walks at about 1.5mph; I can roll next to him.

When I was 15, on a 10-speed Schwinn, I hit 56mph leaving Brown County State Park.

Fast enough to hurt myself, slow enough to remain upright.

I've had several of my bikes up over 53 mph. If I'm planning on doing a hilly tour, I've been known to put my 30/44/58 crankset on, so I can pedal to 50. Slow? I think I can stay balanced down to about 2.4 or 2.5 mph. Probably even slower on my upright, but then I hardly ever ride it.

I have gone a little over 50 mph coming down a straight section of a mountain descent. I can move at a dead crawl of about 2mph on my MTB and have held a track stand for several seconds waiting for a light to change.

I have two goals in life. One is to get a speeding ticket on my bike. The other is to be able to do a trackstand clipped in without embarrassing myself.

I did get a speeding ticket, 35mph paced by the cop, on a ten speed when i was 17. This was on a flat street. 45 or so coming down in the hills. Slowest, 4/5 mph going up in the mountains.

Well, the fastest I ever went was 66 mph in somewhere between Banff and Jasper. But it was only 33 mph per person since it was on a loaded touring tandem. That old Phil Wood disk brake was never the same after that trip. I guess the slowest is either 0 (track stand) or slightly negative (bike polo on a fixed gear). Sadly, these days I spend much more time closer to my lowest speed than my fastest speed. Lots closer.

On a flat run with no head wind I can hold about 28 - 29 mph for about 1.25 miles. My average speed for a year's worth of cycling works out to just a bit over 16.5 mph. Downhill, I've routinely hit the 60 mph mark. In terms of how slow, I have a 17%+ grade I must go up before entering my neighborhood. On days when I'm toast, I've crawled up that hill at 2 mph. I can also hold a track stand long enough for a traffic light to change.

My fastest down hill, set 2 yrs ago, is just over 53 mph. It's not likely that I'll be able to cross off "matching my age" on my bucket list as every year it gets higher and we don't have those kind of hills in Ohio. So what is the gold standard for speed/age? 100, 110, 120?, My PR is 109 = 56 yrs/53mph

Last summer I did do a set of 6 x 1 mile intervals on a flat road, with no wind, a rolling start and averaged between 2:06 and 2:11 per mile or just over 28 mph. One of this years' training goals is to be under 2' on the reps. That will hurt.:cry:

Kicking over the computer sensor as you clip in, just as the fast group ride begins, helps in riding for a long while @ 0 mph.:D

50+ mph, down hill, draftng a Porsche 911. When my friend caught up, he looked at me and said "Your f***ing nuts' and kept going. Slow enough so the computer doesn't register a speed.

My fastest down hill, set 2 yrs ago, is just over 53 mph. It's not likely that I'll be able to cross off "matching my age" on my bucket list as every year it gets higher and we don't have those kind of hills in Ohio. So what is the gold standard for speed/age? 100, 110, 120?, My PR is 109 = 56 yrs/53mph

Last summer I did do a set of 6 x 1 mile intervals on a flat road, with no wind, a rolling start and averaged between 2:06 and 2:11 per mile or just over 28 mph. One of this years' training goals is to be under 2' on the reps. That will hurt.:cry:

Kicking over the computer sensor as you clip in, just as the fast group ride begins, helps in riding for a long while @ 0 mph.:D

AJ: Is your time based on a standing start? The times I quoted are based on getting up to speed and then measuring the distance/speed. (It's a whole lot easier to get good looking times doing it this way!) ;)

Since there is no age limit (62) or racers should not post...

Starting gate at 2010 Masters Track Worlds Anadia, Portugal = zero

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/2010%20Masters%20Track%20Worlds/IMG_0338.jpg

Motor Pacing Pre-Worlds = 36 mph, 90 gear inches

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Motor%20Pace%20Pre%20Worlds/IMG_0038.jpg

Well, if trackstands count, my min speed = 0, max = 52 (but not on the same bike). For top speed, it helps to live on the east slope of the Cascades, with passes as high as 6400' in pedaling distance. Oh, and riding a semi-lowracer recumbent helps too. ;-)

SP
Bend, OR

AJ: Is your time based on a standing start? The times I quoted are based on getting up to speed and then measuring the distance/speed. (It's a whole lot easier to get good looking times doing it this way!) ;)

It is with a rolling start which helps with the overall time. I'm doing repeat intervals and not nailing it at 100% because in 6 minutes I'll be doing the next one, then next one...

Slowest - 0mph...track stand on the velodrome and waiting for traffic light to change. Fastest - (road) 53mph...downhill straightaway towards Scissors Crossing........(track) 38mph motorpacing...51x15

Slowest - 0mph...track stand on the velodrome and waiting for traffic light to change. Fastest - (road) 53mph...downhill straightaway towards Scissors Crossing........(track) 38mph motorpacing...51x15

Roughly 145 rpm. Not bad! I've been laser-timed at 39 mph through a 200-foot timing trap, rolling start with a half mile run-up. Highest instantaneous speed during the run was a hair over 40 mph, as I was exiting the trap.

38 mph, with gravity. 4mph on the slow end.

Downhill doesn't count for top speed in my book. On the flats, I've hit about 32mph in a group ride.

Slowest - do track stands count?

Close to 45mph - downhill, of course. I used to be able to trackstand at lights, but the best I can do on a 'bent is a very brief standstill, then off again. I'm good down to about 3-4 mph uphill on a good day.

downhill max, about 2 summers ago, fresh pavement, 54mph downhill.
slowest - not sure but not able to do a track stand.

Fastest on a flat, no wind assist, 32 was my very best. Can hit 30 consistently.

Fastest on downhill is 50 MPH. Did that two different times. Still get chills thinking about it.

Slowest was on a fully loaded Surly LHT a few weeks ago. I know I got under 2 MPH on a short hill with 18% grade. Would have been faster walking, and easier.

Back in the early 90's, at the US Masters National Track Championships in Colorado Springs, I was in a match sprint with Butch Stinton. I was on his wheel for the last 200 meters, unable to come around. My computer had maxed at 66 kmh (41 mph).
Downhill, freewheeling, on a carbon fiber Trek with Spinergy wheels: just under 95 kmh (59 mph) down a steep hill near Vancouver, BC. On a tandem, about 85 kmh for several minutes down New Bluett Pass in the Washington Cascades.
Downhill on a fixed gear: 67.07 kmh (41.6 mph) in 42x16 down a hill in Victoria, BC last year.

Slow: track stand (but for how long?). A fixed gear gives you an unfair advantage in a track stand!

L.

Roughly 145 rpm. Not bad! I've been laser-timed at 39 mph through a 200-foot timing trap, rolling start with a half mile run-up. Highest instantaneous speed during the run was a hair over 40 mph, as I was exiting the trap.
Thanks. I've seen two of my elite track friends behind a motor on the SD Velodrome holding 45mph for 3 laps!

About 29mph flat ground, 48ish for downhill. Slowest, I don't know, less than 1 I suppose, waiting for someone to catch up. Not that I'm all that fast, he just takes wrong turns a lot. :lol:

Downhill doesn't count for top speed in my book. On the flats, I've hit about 32mph in a group ride.

Slowest - do track stands count?

Try it downhill offroad and with no control over the steering or Brakes (Stoker on a Tandem.)

Although I class myself as a Roadie now and have been for 4 years-Downhill speed is dependant on You and the bike. I have no worry about the speed I go downhill but the bike does play a part in the top speed you can manage. Took a while to get the TCR to be able to feel "Safe" above 35mph downhill and until I did that bike was hairy.

But back to that Tandem. Uphill minimum speed is below what my Garmin can register. That is below 3mph up a rutted track at around 15% and balance on a "T" at that speed is difficult. Mind you the downhill speed and on the flat can be be exceptional. Max speed achieved downhill offroad is 53.8mph and apart from the stomach losing feeling in the dips- the bike felt completely safe (Thanks Stuart)

However one ride on the road with slicks and we went for it on the flat. 45mph was registered before I cried enough as I felt that if I kept up the 150 cadence for much longer my legs would come undone.

Mind you the downhill speed and on the flat can be be exceptional.

Heh! Reminds me of a 'few' years ago. It was a couple years before I got into recumbents. I was riding a last-day century on a tour. Hooked in behind a tandem who was just cooking; they were doing 24-26 on the flats and I tucked in and was hanging on for all I was worth. We hit the top of a small rise, and I stuck my head up to see where we were. Mistake! I caught a little wind with my big head, and that tandem dropped me like a stone in a pond. A good tandem team can go incredibly fast.

I hit 29MPH on a flat section once.Not for any sustained distance,Just hit the 29 gasping for breath hoping I hadn't died.I hit 43MPH on a downhill last fall on my Trek 330 with my new selfbuilt Mavic wheels.I'm riding less than a year and mostly watch everyone pass me on the road.56 years old now.

Me, 56 on tandem, 46 on a single, 36 on an MTB in the dirt and 0 in a track stand

Wife 56 on the tandem, 35 on her single and............. 16 to zero in less than a second.:eek:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3591/3666209402_504f4330b6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35885048@N06/3666209402/)
ouchie (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35885048@N06/3666209402/) by mrbeanz1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/35885048@N06/), on Flickr

On my Stratus I have been up to 42, and down to 3 with full contol. I can go slower, but with a lot of wobbling and steering.

First ride on the new bike yesterday, fastest 34 on slight uphill grade, slowest, unsure but passed two teens on a steep hill. I started to race downhill but backed off because of the number of pot holes. Next time I should look at least how fast I was going before I chicken out.

Easily keep 22-24 average. Had to ride fast yesterday, it as only 2c/35f with a cold wind blowing off the lake.

Slow is easy, I can just crawl along, now Fast, well, it's according to how much downslope I get off one of area's major hills, 50+ no problem, except for "watering eyes"! :) Ya know, I don't ever seem to "look" at the speedo, when I'm on the "flat" for some reason, have to check it out next ride.

on the flats about 48 behind a cement mixer. That was a huge draft behind those 6ft tires. Downhill I've been more conservative only reaching low 50's. Tried to go backwards on my fixed gear, but I don't have the balance for it. I'll have to work on that. It would be a great stunt stopped at a light with a training group.

our bike club-- years ago-- had a 'race'. A 'timed' 100 yards. Everyone had to keep the bike moving--track stands =elimination. The trick was to keep the wheels moving-- you could move the pedals back and forth, but the wheels had to keep moving. We had a 'judge' on every bike to assure the movement. I really don't remember the 'winning' time, but it was SLOW... Kind of fun-- and a lot easier with really low gears (i.e. mountain bikes).

train safe-

55 downhill [Lake Placid road race]

35 and maybe a bit more sprinting.

28+ long pulls on the flat

10-15 sec. track stand at stop signs.

Average speed is only relevant to the terrain you're riding. If I could ride east on I 80 in Nebraska I have one bad a$$ mph avg.!!! Not so much if I lived in Vansant VA.

Fast enough on a long downhill east of Yellowstone NP to pass 2 cars that I assume (no speedometer) were doing about 55 mph. And about 50 once drafting behind a car. Both were years ago -- I'm more conservative now that I'm older (or maybe I'm older because I became more conservative). Top speed last year was 47.9 mph on a short downhill out here on the plains.

Updating since my last post, I have improved a bit since spring time when I first started riding.
My average is up from 24kmh to 28
Top speed 69kmh/43mph and was too shaky to go faster on a rough downhill, did not want to pass the car either sitting back from one of our fellow riders in front doing the same I suppose.

22 mph on level ground with neutral conditions of wind and grade. 2 mph slow. 36 mph downhill the most so far. Would not hesitate to do 40 but probably no more at my age.

Found out I can ride 3-4mph for hours in Garret County Maryland :(

Downhill doesn't count for top speed in my book. On the flats, I've hit about 32mph in a group ride.

Slowest - do track stands count?

It does on a downhill bike and my best for that was 48. Surface was gravel and I didn't like the thought of a fall. A riding friend 20 years my junior went flying by me at that speed.

I wuss out at about 38 mph downhill. I have a theory that those of us who started much later in life (like me at age 58) with "serious" bicycling just don't - with rare excecption - have the innate confidence in themselves, their bike and God to feel comfortable at higher speeds. Now a bunch of you will post and prove me wrong, but that is my theory and I am sticking to it.

Slow - likely just above zero - never have mastered a track stand, but pretty close to it.

I have a theory that those of us who started much later in life (like me at age 58) with "serious" bicycling just don't - with rare excecption - have the innate confidence in themselves, their bike and God to feel comfortable at higher speeds. Now a bunch of you will post and prove me wrong, but that is my theory and I am sticking to it.


I agree with your theory, I'm 64 and get nervous at 30 mph on a bicycle. And I've ridden motorcycles for 40 years.

My top speed to date is 52.5mph...though now that I know where I can hit that (descending Gate Hill Road in Harriman State Park) I may go back & try to top it.
Slowest is somewhere around 2mph, which I seem to do on an almost weekly basis when I get stuck behind pedestrians coming off the George Washington Bridge.

On a more humorous note, how slow can you cycle? (I might hold the record ;-P)

Also how fast have you ridden a bike, gravity assist is OK!


Fastest ever - 45mph (as a teenager on a road bike down a big hill), 38mph on my current bike (also down a big hill)

Slowest ever, after the first time I took both wheels and the chain off my bike to clean it I wanted to make sure everything was still OK once I reassembled it, so took it on a few local roads and tried everything from the granny gear to the top gear. I got the speed down to a recorded 0.7mph before I became unstable.