well, then I have to hand it to you... I usually ride my dawes, which has a chro-moly frame, with 700x25c tires. I can get that going at a top speed of 23-24 mph and end up usually at an average of 15 mph overall. I tried taking the denali out yesterday because I would like to use it as a commuter and man did I feel the difference. For you to crank it up with an avg speed of 25 you must have some real power...

I just got a Garmin Edge 205 GPS. Here is what I call my test track run. It's 1 mile and has 8 turns. This is a screenshot of the software that comes with the 205. I can run the Denial up to 32.6 MPH, but not for very long. Just a mile or two. Then I'm Back down to around 24 to 27 mph for the rest of the ride.

24mph appears to be your max on this ride. How is that related to 24mph to 27mph? This isn't meant as an attack, I just can't connect your words to the image that is attached.

I don't see the 32.6 either.

ok you go on a 1 mile run with 8 turns and 15 mph wind. Then let us see what your speeds are.

You're taking my comment as an attack. It's not an attack. I am just trying to understand the difference between your words and your attached images. Even if my top speed was 10mph, that would have no bearing on my question. My speed is totally irrelevant to the question.

Buuuut...

Since you asked I can provide some: https://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/1055319

The wind was less, but there were more turns. (10 per mile, 8 per 0.8 mile lap) I was drafting for part of it, but I was also on the brakes a lot. It's not really a fair comparison, but it's the best I can do.

He did say that he ran the denial up to 32.6 mph. I see nothing wrong with that statement .

I think that he is trying to point out that the top speed on your graph very clearly states 24mph, with what looks like a average in the 20mph range. He is simply stating that your graph, and the speeds you stated in your post don't add up.

Maybe you attached the wrong graph?

Why would you? He said he could run the bike up to ~33mph, not that he did on that specific run.

He said he could do that for a mile or two.

Is this thread still about the denali or is now about the rider? While the OP seems very interested in displaying his cycling prowess on the tarmac like flats of Florida, my question is, who really cares? The OP's goal was to show that the bike could hold up to daily use. It did with his help. Now shut down this abomination of a thread and go post your top speed/max heart rate in the road forum . Who the heck wants to get to work as fast as they can**********

*raises hand* I'm guilty

My 2 mile commute is like my daily time trial...

It took a while for this to dawn on me. But one day it did. Now I ride a lot easier and enjoy it more than I did before.

Oh yeah, I also agree that this thread has served its original purpose.

Me. Not only do I want to get to work as fast as possible on any day, but in the long term, I also want to get my speed up as high as I can.

That is a great Freudian slip!

Why?(Not sarcastic) Are you using the commute as part of a racing/training program?

Yes. But I also enjoy optimizing things in general. Even if I wasn't racing, I'd probably prefer to ride that way. But I suppose that tendency is what drives me to race.

Personali I very much am still interested in this thread. I've only got 100 miles or so on my denali and had to replace the rear derailer due to a dog induced crash. I now have a cheap tourney rear derailer so I guess I'm not stock, but I want to see at what point the denali actualy fails. 147 dollar bike, 15 dollar replacement parts, this thing could last forever!

LOL, Did not take it as a attack. Just pointing out the number of turns and that I had a strong wind at the time of the test run. I had just got the 205 and was playing with it too much on the test ride. I do have a video of me comming home from a 12 mile run doing 30.2 mph. Of course it was before the GPS and before I mounted the drink holder, rack & bag, Aero bars and headlight with a 4 lbs battery. With all this on the bike it weighs about 35 pounds now. I was just tired this morning and needed to get to work so I posted a quick replay. After I got home and reread the post well it did come across a little strong. Sorry.

After adding all the commuter necessities my top speed has been around 29.5 MPH. Today with a head wind of 20 mph I could only hold a 22 mph speed in 4th gear for a shot time before a car would impede my path. I don't use the smaller two chainrings so I call the Denali a 7 speed bike. I have been thinking of removing the two smaller chaingrings, front deraileur and shifters to drop the extra weight.

Recursive-- Nice top speed and average. What bike did you make that run on?

I'm guilty as well. I try to bet my best time to and from work every day. And the Virtual Partner is trying to kill me I think.

Recursive-- What software do your use for the 305? I dont like the maps that come with the Garmin Edge. I have been looking for better software.

Now back to the original topic.

The brake hoods rubber gripes are all torn off the brake hoods. There are made of soft rubber and will not hold up to the daily use. I really don't care about that. Because I have the Shimano RSX 7x3 shifters being shipped right now. I have also scored a long cage Shimano RSX rear deraileur for the Denali.

I did find out that the cassette is a 7 speed freewheel cassette. Which can be replaced with a 8 or 9 speed freewheel. That would help the top speed of the Denali more so then changing out the crankset. With the Denali stock crankset and cassette the Max speed at 120 Cadence is 32.82 mph. If I put a Shimano RSX 52x42x30 crankset with a 11 tooth cassette on the Denali, then the top speed would be 45.26 mph at 120 Cadence. Plus the standard crankset is way heavier than the Shimano RSX crankset. So thinking that changing that output as well.

I use www.motionbased.com

It has a lot of useful features. When I signed up, they were talking about many new features they had about to come out, but it hasn't changed much. It's not bad though. They offer a free version, which is good for your last 10 rides, or a pay version which is unlimited.

I can see CigTech doing 30+ mph on his bike. I'm doing 20.1 average right now on the same bike being about a month into biking. So someone that consistently rides as much as he does and strives for speed should be able to do 30ish fairly "easy". Not saying it is easy. But in relativity to training. I do need to tighten my "break" levers though. I made on slip down about 1/2 inch earlier putting my entire weight with payload on it (Bike to Work Day).

Hell, I can hit 30s. Maintaining it for "a mile or two" is another story.