42.5mph on a steep hill with new asphalt pavement. I don't care to repeat it as all I could think about was how little was between me and a long slide on the pavement.

The fastest yet is 33 MPH going down a short hill. I was on my fixed gear with a 48X17. On a flat road I've held 31 MPH for a few seconds, I haven't been able to get that kind of speed since.

48MPH on a long decent
25MPH on the flats (solo - no drafting)

I love that salsa. It's colored a bit like my Jamis, but prettier.

I'd also like to point out that the terrain makes a huge difference. I'm not talking about singletrack vs. road here, I'm talking about bumpy old pavement vs. new asphalt. On the former for flat, longer stretches I'm cruising probably at just around 18 or 19 mph on 28 cm tires. On asphalt the same day later in the ride I was holding 23 easily, and pushing it up to 30 for kicks now and then. Smoooooooth.

Thanks, very kind.

On a long descent, I've maxed out somewhere around 40 mph. In the places I usually ride these days, my top speed is probably more like 25mph. I usually don't try for high top speeds, just high average speeds.

This is just estimates (partly based on how many pedal strokes per second I think I'm doing calculated against the gearing/wheel size I use), because I've never been a bike-computer user.

Last summer I hit 44 mph on my old loaded touring bike. With a 48 x 13 top gear, I really couldn't push beyond that. This was down a steep hill, of course, descending into the Deer River valley in north western Massachusetts. A few weeks later, I reached 42 on a hill only a mile or two from the house I was living in at the time. On flat ground, I can sprint to about 31.5 mph. That might have changed - I haven't been riding a whole lot lately and I have a couple different bicycles now. Problem is, it can be hard to find flat ground in these parts!

How do you people hit 50+ on these bikes. I've hit 39-40 on 1.10x26 slicks with 44x11 gears on a very long downhill but couldn't pedal anymore. I remember a similar thread about how gast you ride on the flat and some of the speeds people came out with meant that they rode 20% faster than Lance has ever ridden. I think you all need to check your computers.

I hit 40 mph once on a downhill going into downtown. I had to wait to time the light. For a few blocks, I can cruise at 30 mph on a long, slight downhill, hitting 35 mph for short bursts.

On a flat w/ no wind: 30mph
On a descent: 40mph I think... I'm chicken.

... and Cigtech grossly miscalibrated his cyclocomputer.

Like was said before,steep hills long mountian desents,in north Florida we have some short steep hills,weighing over two hundred pounds helps, i got my fastest speeds riding in the mountians,where i have ridden, cars can not keep up,i do not know if i have the nerve to do some of those runs today

I have hit 50 on the way into work a couple of times.

It requires:

1. A hill with sufficient length and steepness. (This is really the important part!)
2. A bike with low rolling resistance and something you can get aerodynamic on.
3. Getting low and staying off the brakes. (It helps to have a clear path down with no blind corners!)
4. For extra speed, have high gearing (52x11 here) and pedal fast right before the steepest part of the hill. (But generally, the aero tuck beats pedaling.)
5. Favorable wind conditions will help, too.


Rider weight is also an asset. If you're not able to hit these speeds, your hills are too short or not steep enough. But it's not really a big deal to me - top speed on a downhill is no indicator of rider skill or fitness.

About 6 years ago I was riding with 2 of my brothers and a friend down river road in NJ just under the GWB. I clocked in 53.8mph on my MTB (we were all riding MTB). One of my brothers clocked in about 53.2, the other one didnt have a speedometer, but passed me while I was at my max... then failed to brake at the bottom of the hill where we pulled into a parking lot... tried to make a turn, scraped a curb with his front wheel, was ejected from the bike... rear wheel nearly hit the other brother in the face, but he was able to maneuver the bike to keep away from it.

I had to reattach the left crank and right pedal to get him back on the road. I was very surprised that there was not more damage to the bike, especially since he was borrowing his older brothers wheels that day

A couple years ago in Harriman St. park I went down a hill that had a steep grade for about 3mi with a shallower grade for another 3mi. I didnt have a speedometer on the bike at the time, but from the howl on my Campy Chorus 10sp rear hub (53x11)... I would guess that we were over 65mph. I was drafting an ex pro cyclist who estimated about 65mph on that descent. He also was riding a chorus group... man I love that sound. I have hit over 60mph on my city beater Trek 1200 on the same hill that I rode with my brothers on the MTB's. 700x23 vredestein tires. Not as good as the Michelin tires I have on my Trek 2500 Chrus bike. At the time I rode it, it still had a Look carbon frame which splintered on the right seat stay.

43 on my daily commute. There are no huge hills in Iowa, but this is a long hill with a few steep spots.

Top speed so far is 32.0 mph I live on the FL coast which is very flat so my high speed opportunities are limited.

Not so nice headwind this morning, but 34 mph today on my commute. Average is 1/2 of that.

250mph, uphill.

Coming down Buffalo Run (map on post #23) we would only pedal to build as much speed as possible at the top and then tuck for the remainder of the way down. Gravity is what was doing most of the work.

Probably the tire stretching due to centripetal forces from going that speed.


I think I've made it up to 50km/h on a slight incline, pedaling hard, and a bit of wind to my back.

37.8mph in 39/14. I think that's roughly 165 rpm, but I can't find whatever rpm/speed calculator I was using.

32 MPH on a Schwinn Super Stock 1 on a level tar road. That was when i was about sixteen though. i don't know if i'd be able to do that on a bike multi-geared bike today. i used a car, driving side by side, to test the speed.

55+mph on a descent before Bastrop park on day two of the MS150. Was pushing as hard as I could till I hit "highway" speeds, then just tucked and cruised.

Without a hill.....32mph. I can hit that regularly just about anytime I want.... but usually don't push for much more... not sure if I could.

75 km/h drafting a chip truck downhill last summer. Fun!

I need some freaking hills...

This past week I managed to surpass 31mph on the last little stretch of my commute home. Flat street, very little tail wind. I'm almost certain 34 would've been possible had the light stayed green... That was on my SS, 52x16.

Stupid Chicago and it's lack of elevation. I ride 17 miles to the office and gain 26 feet. blah

41.3 mph the computer says. I attribute finally breakign the 40mph barrier to dropbars, could not crack 40 on the mtn bike. I guess the new bike does go to 48/11 rather than 44/11, also.

I think I gain and lose 250' twice on my commute.