Originally Posted by godspiral
Using 24-30 as a range suggesting that the bottom and top speed are close to interchangeable raises a credibility flag on your post, but I'm wondering if you are just referring to downhill speed by your spinning recommendation. I've found that I can average higher speeds by going to a harder gear. I don't have modern high gears, but even 55/11 takes 100rpm to hit 30mph, so by necessity spinning is involved. Are you saying that at high speed, its easier for most people (after training) to hit a speed above 24mph by going 120rpm instead of 90rpm?
Actually, 55-11 will give you just over 39mph at 100rpm. 55-14 will give you about 30 at 100rpm.
I've ridden with guys like this before. I made the mistake of grabbing the front group at the starting line. They were obviously a tight group - they did their best to get rid of me. After 12.5 miles of averaging 28mph, my legs just stopped spinning on a hill. I caught a slower group for the rest of the ride, after stopping to hold myself and cry by the side of the road.