Top Speed
#4
Thread Killer

Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 13,140
Likes: 2,163
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
I cracked the 60mph mark dropping down to Monroe dam outside of Bloomington, IN:
https://www.strava.com/activities/14...S&v=1401653753
https://www.strava.com/activities/14...S&v=1401653753
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 4
From: North East Tennessee
Bikes: Basso Luguna, Fuji Nevada
It was a big increase from my normal top speed on a ride I do rather often. I regularly would log low 40's in that section but that day it was over 10 MPH than my next fastest speed and I'm not a fast rider. That was on my old aluminum bike which had a longer wheel base and more relaxed head tube angle. The Basso is short and steep, I rarely if ever break 40 MPH on it.
#8
Senior Member


Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,201
Likes: 289
From: Vancouver, BC
I cracked the 60mph mark dropping down to Monroe dam outside of Bloomington, IN:
https://www.strava.com/activities/14...S&v=1401653753
https://www.strava.com/activities/14...S&v=1401653753
#10
Thread Killer

Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 13,140
Likes: 2,163
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
I think I know what you're saying, but I'm pretty sure it's accurate because while the Strava file was recorded using GPS from my phone, my Garmin E500 with wheel speed sensor also recorded 59.8mph, so it was verified (more or less; it felt like 60.4mph!). I was away at training camp, and I didn't have a computer to upload from the Garmin, but I wanted the Strava report right away, which is why I was running both.
#11
The Infractionator
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,201
Likes: 3
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: Classic road bikes: 1986 Cannondale, 1978 Trek
165, but that was in a car. On a bike, probably about 50 mph. Was on a looooong, steep downgrade, back when I was younger and less risk-concerned. I was riding my brakes at first, but though that it was better to not overheat them, and since I could see the end of the hill, I just rode it out. got a bit of shimmy, too, so I rode it by standing slightly on the pedals, and NOT gripping the frame with my knees. For about 5 seconds, I was afraid I was going to lose it, but the vibration dissipated. At the bottom of the hill, my face probably still white as a corpse, a guy who had been behind me (but slowly passed me) who had a speedometer of unknown accuracy said that he'd hit 55, and I can only assume that I was doing closer to 50-52.
FWIW, I never did that again.
FWIW, I never did that again.
#12
Thread Killer

Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 13,140
Likes: 2,163
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
If you're uploading data from a cyclometer, whether you're using GPS or a wheel speed sensor matters, with wheel sensors being more reliable, but then you have to have the correct settings (i.e. wheel circumference) to have accurate reporting.
#13
Senior Member




Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10,328
Likes: 9,895
From: Utah
Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,
55 mph heading down Snowbasin Mt one day on this. Typically get in the high 40s, low 50s according to wind conditions and such. This day was perfect but I got held up by traffic.
Oh and this speed was on my Giordana Antares. A 1989 steel framed beast sporting an old Dura Ace 6 speed groupset.
Oh and this speed was on my Giordana Antares. A 1989 steel framed beast sporting an old Dura Ace 6 speed groupset.
__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,073
Likes: 2,015
From: San Diego, California
Bikes: Velo Orange Piolet
It depends on the precision of your device's GPS. Plus measuring average speed over longer distances gives more accurate measurement than measuring over short distances.
#15
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,094
Likes: 2
From: Bozeman
Bikes: 199? Landshark Roadshark, 198? Mondonico Diamond, 1987 Panasonic DX-5000, 1987 Bianchi Limited, Univega... Chrome..., 1989 Schwinn Woodlands, Motobecane USA Record, Raleigh Tokul 2
I think mine is around 55 mph. (Bike computer + garmin GPS + garmin speed and cadence sensor. (Uses magnet on wheel) But then again we don't really have a lot of large steep hills to ride down around here. That and the gearing on my main bike tops out (comfortably) about 40 @ 120 RPM so it's hard for me to push it further than that. With that said, I have sustained 40 for a few miles downhill with a nice tailwind before. Great ride.
#16
Senior Member


Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,201
Likes: 289
From: Vancouver, BC
I think I know what you're saying, but I'm pretty sure it's accurate because while the Strava file was recorded using GPS from my phone, my Garmin E500 with wheel speed sensor also recorded 59.8mph, so it was verified (more or less; it felt like 60.4mph!). I was away at training camp, and I didn't have a computer to upload from the Garmin, but I wanted the Strava report right away, which is why I was running both.
#18
Super Moderator

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 21,980
Likes: 1,157
From: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales
56, which was a bit scary because the road had some blind curves, and I was glad no cars were coming up.
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Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
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Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
Last edited by Homebrew01; 05-14-17 at 03:56 PM.
#20
Thread Killer

Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 13,140
Likes: 2,163
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
If you look at the speed data and elevation profile, you'll see speed increasing up until 2:36.04, then flatlining at 32mph for about 5 secs (until 2:36.09), despite elevation clearly indicating a steep decline.
Clearly the glitch was a dropout leading up to the top speed, which by the way was recorded consistently for 3 seconds as being near the 60mph peak.
#21
Thread Killer

Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 13,140
Likes: 2,163
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
#22
Senior Member

Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,956
Likes: 509
From: Elevation 666m Edmonton Canada
Bikes: 2013 Custom SA5w / Rohloff Tourster
My SA 5w has done my 5 all time best 44.63 to 45.79 mph, and also my 5 longest up to 126 miles. Hill is less than 1/3 mile and just around 10%. On a wired real speedometer. GPS ??? Pffft The few times I tried, Map-my-ride has been consistently off 8 miles on 80 mile courses, useless.
#24
Cries on hills
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,088
Likes: 0
From: Central NH
Bikes: 2007 Trek Pilot 1.2, 1969 Raleigh Sprite 5
I think 45mph is my max, off the bike speedometer. It's a bit breezy, takes a good hill, and pedaling faster than normal (52x12, quick look says >130rpm). Sure feels good to do once in a while though.





