Originally Posted by jbhowat

On perfectly flat ground, with a good-paced 30 mile or so warm up ride (I've tried going faster with a shorter warmup, and it doesn't help...) I have hit 37.2. Most of the time its about 35point someting. At the end of a hard race (which for me is no where near 100miles) on flat ground I can barely hit 35.

I'm 6'2" though, so I'm naturally going to be a better sprinter than someone of similar abilities that is shorter (big guys can simply produce more power). You get it back though when I'm in the red instantly on big climbs trying to keep up with a climber who's looking totally calm.

Don't try to compare yourself to Lance's TT times. The fact is, and a lot of people do not realize this: sprinting is all about timing, position and ACCELERATION. Top speed is important, but is WAY down the list. Most guys I know can ALMOST hit their max sprinting speed on a normal road bike in a full tuck going all out. Some can even go faster. I know I can personally get to about 33 or 34 and hold it for much longer than I could hold a 35mph sprint. MUCH longer. I can tuck and ride at 30-31 for quite a while. I'm sure on a TT bike I could wind up and surpass my 35 mph sprint. The thing is though - in a race without that explosive accel. you are going to be dragging someone behind you (or at least its very likely unless you are insanely fast on breakaways). Dragging someone along and you doing all the work doesn't win races very easily. Great for a leadout man though, although hopefully next year our team will get organized enough that everyone will have a specialty and a target mission. That way I'll get a leadout man sometimes, and other times I'll be leading out someone else...