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sprint speeds?

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Old 12-28-07 | 05:56 AM
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sprint speeds?

whats the average or good sprinting speed? on a flat terrain
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Old 12-28-07 | 06:05 AM
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9.28414076 × 10^-11 AU/s
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Old 12-28-07 | 06:43 AM
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What category? After how long / hard of a ride / race? Is there a lead out? Is there a head wind, tail wind, or cross wind?
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Old 12-28-07 | 06:52 AM
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On a flat course with pretty much no wind, I can hit 34.
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Old 12-28-07 | 07:24 AM
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It depends on so many things. Coming off a wheel from 32mph or so, I can get up to 38mph. Solo, during my strongest sprint since I've had the PowerTap, in a 7mph crosswind, starting from 20mph, my 5-second power was 1491W (which is fairly good, 18.4W/kg), and my max speed was only 33.5 mph.

Elevation makes a big difference too. When I lived in Colorado, I could sprint to 40mph solo.

So, the real answer is that a good sprint speed is just faster than the guys you're sprinting against.
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Old 12-28-07 | 08:31 AM
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depends.
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Old 12-28-07 | 08:54 AM
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Whatever speed you can get to right now. Remember that number, train, then test again in similar circumstances. If it is lower than previously, shoot yourself; if faster, brag about it to someone who loves you.

That is what I do, and I'm still around.
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Old 12-28-07 | 09:21 AM
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Originally Posted by waterrockets
During my strongest sprint since I've had the PowerTap...
How's the sick Powertap?
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Old 12-28-07 | 09:36 AM
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Originally Posted by waterrockets
Elevation makes a big difference too. When I lived in Colorado, I could sprint to 40mph solo.
Being near sea level is my new excuse for everything.
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Old 12-28-07 | 09:38 AM
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Originally Posted by waterrockets
So, the real answer is that a good sprint speed is just faster than the guys you're sprinting against.
end of thread
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Old 12-28-07 | 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted by kukusz
How's the sick Powertap?
Assuming you're talking about my hint that it had stopped transmitting? I had loaned my 2nd harness to a friend so we could swap wheels on a ride sometime. So, I swapped wheels and everything worked on his harness. I got it home, and it all started working on my original harness, with no problems. Go figure.

I got my 2nd harness back in case it goes wonky again.

If you were joking that I killed it in the sprints... my PT just chuckles and says "is that all you got?" Pi$$es me off..
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Old 12-28-07 | 11:57 AM
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.5 MPH faster than 2nd place.
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Old 12-28-07 | 03:01 PM
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Originally Posted by waterrockets
Assuming you're talking about my hint that it had stopped transmitting?
Yeah, I was. Glad to hear it's alive and kicking. I look forward to the race season when all these new Powertaps will provide great WKO files.
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Old 12-28-07 | 03:21 PM
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I'm taking mine out to the ATC ride tomorrow, hoping some of the local elites are out there to tear my legs off. Can't wait to see the power file

Still need to get WKO+, but budget responsibility rules at this point.
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Old 12-28-07 | 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by mihlbach
Being near sea level is my new excuse for everything.
I read an article last year that gave a list of reasons why we cycle slower in winter...one of the tidbits offered was that cold air is denser, and therfore can account for up to a 20% decrease in speed. Ever since reading that, whenever my wife & I are riding and we feel like we're not at the top of our game, one of us invariably yells out "damn air density!"
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Old 12-28-07 | 04:31 PM
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I was reading an article about a race recap that Robbie McEwen won, and he said that he hit 46.6 (75 kph) in the sprint. I'd imagine that was flat out, since it was at the end of a race. If you can get to 47 mph, go be a pro sprinter.

edit: found the article: https://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/9392.0.html
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Old 12-28-07 | 04:46 PM
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Originally Posted by AEO
9.28414076 × 10^-11 AU/s
uphill? that's kinda slow in most flatland cases.
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Old 12-28-07 | 04:55 PM
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Originally Posted by waterrockets
So, the real answer is that a good sprint speed is just faster than the guys you're sprinting against.
Not namin any names, but there used to be a masters rider at Major Taylor "The Doctor" who was a meistro at this, would never beat you by more than a wheel (but rarely loose).

I would say mid 30's by yourself on flat ground is pretty good for mere mortals. Im on the comeback so not gonna tell you what I've gotten up to this fall
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Old 12-28-07 | 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Cypress
.5 MPH faster than 2nd place.
Best answer here. Whatever it takes.
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Old 12-28-07 | 06:58 PM
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You don't even have to have a higher top speed -- just a snappier acceleration at the beginning can hold off a powerhouse if you get some real estate on the jump.
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Old 12-28-07 | 07:03 PM
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about 43 mph
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Old 12-28-07 | 08:32 PM
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At a road race earlier this year I had a finish line sprint speed of 14mph. I beat the 4 guys I was with doing so.

Saying "depends" is an understatement.
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Old 12-28-07 | 09:27 PM
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Originally Posted by CastIron
At a road race earlier this year I had a finish line sprint speed of 14mph. I beat the 4 guys I was with doing so.

Saying "depends" is an understatement.
I know the feeling. Still, visions of a 9:32pm finish of a M85+ race comes to mind.
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Old 12-28-07 | 09:29 PM
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A good sprinter can do over 70 km/h in the final 200 meters.
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Old 12-28-07 | 09:37 PM
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Originally Posted by waterrockets
I know the feeling. Still, visions of a 9:32pm finish of a M85+ race comes to mind.
The finish was uphill with a nasty headwind coming over the crest. The course didn't look like much, but seemed to waste folks quite handily.
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