In this area there a plenty of descents long and straight enough to get to 50+mph. My top speed wasn't sustained for more than a few seconds. I'm not crazy, I like to descend at about 35-40 mph tops but sometimes you just have to let it run or burn up your brakes. Pedaling is kind of useless at that speed, better to get out of the wind. I can get pretty low and kind of aero so I usually pass people on the downhills. The uphills though are another matter.