I've hit 65mph on a mountain bike with zero pedaling, it was a very very steep hill, but not very long. i did it once and lived to tell the story, i will not do it again, at least on that road it was the most thrilling thing i ever done on a bike and yet the stupidest.


if anyone is considering going fast, just remember that the more speed you have, the harder it will be slow down! also, ride the hill a few times prior to going all out to check for safety hazards that may not appear the first ride or two...

"also, ride the hill a few times prior to going all out to check for safety hazards that may not appear the first ride or two... "

One of the steeper hills near my house has a stop sign at the bottom. No problem for me, as I went up it, not down, but the kind of thing to watch for.

49 mph going in to Trail Ohio this morning, friends on a tandem beat me to the sign doing 54.

Definately not safe with knobbies.

I can hit 40 mph on descents here despite the fact we have no hills

Fastest I ever went was 90 kmh / 55 mph on my old Nishiki road bike and then I ran out of hill... that was totally insane.

Hitting 40 on flat ground is far more impressive.

Some bikes are more steady then others. I have better luck with touring bikes. A straighter road with a long run-out is nice so you do not risk flipping over the handlebars when you hit the brakes. Fresh brakes pads are good too. I have smoked two sets of pads at altitude in Colorado. Winds whether natural or from passing vehicles are bad. At extreme speeds with faired recumbents aerodynamics can flip you sideways into a roll or lift you off of the ground.

good point to ride the downhill first before going ape **** on it on the second pass down.