Back when I rode uprights and I was 15 years younger, 18 mph average was a fast ride; in fact, only once did I ever make an 18 mph average for a century. Now if I'm going that speed, I'm loafing. I can easily cruise at 22-23 mph, and if I need to accelerate to 25-27 mph, I can do so smoothly and quickly, even on slight positive grades. I've done centuries at up to 23 mph overall, and that's solo. The group that used to be too fast for me to hang with now uses me as their 'attack dog.'

Now for the disclaimer. I ride fast bents. The model of highracer I ride has held several indoor Hour records. My NoCom is billed as one of the fastest production bikes of any kind ever built. I don't go fast because I have a huge engine, I go fast because the bikes I ride do most of the work for me. Most bents are NOT fast and it's wrong to characterize all bents as fast just because some of them are.