Going for 40 mph
06-11-06, 08:28 PM
#26
Lean, neat and eat meat!!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: crApple Valley, CA
Posts: 183
Bikes: Trek 800 Sport and an old Sears beach cruiser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Back when I was in 11th grade in '99, I hit 65mph on Mariposa Road, which runs parallel to the I-15 for some distance.
Most of the time, my flatland, no-wind, loaded best is 30-35mph.
I could also guess this speed was attributed to the freakishly high wind speeds we get out here.
I recall there being one of those infamous low-pressure systems over all of Southern California for a whole week!!
The wind must've been gusting up to 40-45mph.
Most of the time, my flatland, no-wind, loaded best is 30-35mph.
I could also guess this speed was attributed to the freakishly high wind speeds we get out here.
I recall there being one of those infamous low-pressure systems over all of Southern California for a whole week!!
The wind must've been gusting up to 40-45mph.
06-12-06, 03:29 PM
#27
This town needs an enema.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Huntington Beach, Ca.
Posts: 794
Bikes: Bridgestone 400
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
there is a really steep road coming off of Signal Hill in Long Beach (I think it is aptly named Hill Street). I have always wanted to take my bike down it but it is seriously steep and there is an intersection at the bottom.
06-12-06, 05:03 PM
#28
*****es love tarck
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Sandy, UT
Posts: 3,301
Bikes: so many
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If you think bombing big hills on a bike is fun/scary, try it on a skateboard. You'll find God on an 8% grade.
06-12-06, 07:04 PM
#29
Senior Member
Originally Posted by CigTech
I have made it to 48mph in Dallas. and got a ticket from a cop at the bottom of the hill. It was in a 35 mph area. They though it out at court because he said that a bike could not do thoese speed. 
If he only know, I would have had to pay $285.00 fine at that time.
If he only know, I would have had to pay $285.00 fine at that time.
I would have been a little insulted if a judge said that, but at the same time I wouldn't want a ticket. Best I've ever done was 44 on my mountain bike, but that was years ago and I'm not quite that brave now.
06-13-06, 11:29 AM
#30
Shut Up and Ride
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 578
Bikes: Cannondale t-700 [commuter], Cannondale MT-800 [Tandem so the Lil Misses can keep up], GT I drive Team [My tricked out Racer MTB]
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The house is on a big hill, and work is on a big hill. [Come to think of it everything in Colorado is on a freakin' hill, or actually a mountain.]
Anyways when I leave the house I get an easy 35mph every morning down that hill. The hill leaving work is more fun. If I wind out the new 52 ring then tuck and coast, 45mph is common with no headwind. It's a 4 lane curvy divided road... with a speed limit of 35. Passing cars at speed is fun, and maybe a bit [a lot] crazy. 49 is my max coming down one of the hills that I've been training on. It starts getting scary at that speed.
Anyways when I leave the house I get an easy 35mph every morning down that hill. The hill leaving work is more fun. If I wind out the new 52 ring then tuck and coast, 45mph is common with no headwind. It's a 4 lane curvy divided road... with a speed limit of 35. Passing cars at speed is fun, and maybe a bit [a lot] crazy. 49 is my max coming down one of the hills that I've been training on. It starts getting scary at that speed.
06-13-06, 11:17 PM
#31
Yet another vegan biker
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Trapped behind the corn curtain
Posts: 965
Bikes: Sakae Prism, Vintage Fuji bike(S), too many bikes, one from scratch bike.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I have a great Mississippi River bluff road to blast down, and often have hit in the mid 40's on my road bikes.
I've never had any troubles, the road is smooth and there is only a private drive intersecting the blacktop. Last week, however, I took my old Raleigh Grand Prix down the hill and developed a severe wobble. I can't tell how fast I was going because I didn't have a comp mounted and I was too busy trying to hang on, but I know I wasn't much over thirty when the instability struck.
I don't know what caused the wheel wobble. The wheel is true and the frame is straight. I do know that the fork seems a mite flexy.
Scary.
I've never had any troubles, the road is smooth and there is only a private drive intersecting the blacktop. Last week, however, I took my old Raleigh Grand Prix down the hill and developed a severe wobble. I can't tell how fast I was going because I didn't have a comp mounted and I was too busy trying to hang on, but I know I wasn't much over thirty when the instability struck.
I don't know what caused the wheel wobble. The wheel is true and the frame is straight. I do know that the fork seems a mite flexy.
Scary.
Last edited by silversmith; 06-14-06 at 12:57 AM.
06-14-06, 12:11 AM
#32
Crankenstein
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Spokane
Posts: 4,037
Bikes: Novara Randonee (TankerBelle)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Originally Posted by MyPC8MyBrain
The house is on a big hill, and work is on a big hill. [Come to think of it everything in Colorado is on a freakin' hill, or actually a mountain.]
Anyways when I leave the house I get an easy 35mph every morning down that hill. The hill leaving work is more fun. If I wind out the new 52 ring then tuck and coast, 45mph is common with no headwind. It's a 4 lane curvy divided road... with a speed limit of 35. Passing cars at speed is fun, and maybe a bit [a lot] crazy. 49 is my max coming down one of the hills that I've been training on. It starts getting scary at that speed.
Anyways when I leave the house I get an easy 35mph every morning down that hill. The hill leaving work is more fun. If I wind out the new 52 ring then tuck and coast, 45mph is common with no headwind. It's a 4 lane curvy divided road... with a speed limit of 35. Passing cars at speed is fun, and maybe a bit [a lot] crazy. 49 is my max coming down one of the hills that I've been training on. It starts getting scary at that speed.
I grew up in the mountains in Arizona.... I remember flying past cars on 40 mph stretches... even had the police flash their lights and sirens at me a couple times! Being a small town, everyone knew everybody... One of the cops swung by my house one time and complained at my parents! They just laughed and said "Yeah... he's gonna kill himself on that thing one of these days!"
__________________
"There is no greater wonder than the way the face and character of a woman fit so perfectly in a man's mind, and stay there, and he could never tell you why. It just seems it was the thing he most wanted." Robert Louis Stevenson
"There is no greater wonder than the way the face and character of a woman fit so perfectly in a man's mind, and stay there, and he could never tell you why. It just seems it was the thing he most wanted." Robert Louis Stevenson
06-14-06, 02:42 PM
#33
Geosynchronous Falconeer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 6,312
Bikes: 2006 Raleigh Rush Hour, Campy Habanero Team Ti, Soma Double Cross
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by brunop
what gear are you rockin' where ya can only go 24? i do that on the flats in traffic!
__________________
Bring the pain.
Bring the pain.
06-15-06, 03:20 AM
#34
Ride the Road
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 4,059
Bikes: Surly Cross-Check; hard tail MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
3 Posts
I put on the 52 front chain ring and tried the hill a couple more times. I "only" hit 37 and 38. It really must be the engine!
So last night, I switched back to the 48 because that's better for the trip home. It's a slight up hill most of he way home, so the 52 just was not practical.
Little bursts of high speed sure can make a commute fun, can't they?
So last night, I switched back to the 48 because that's better for the trip home. It's a slight up hill most of he way home, so the 52 just was not practical.
Little bursts of high speed sure can make a commute fun, can't they?
06-15-06, 07:24 AM
#35
Drumming Bicyclist
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 222
Bikes: Redline 925
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i hit 35mph the other day on my single speed Redline 925, but that was going down a hill and pedaling as fast as i could -- one might say "like a bat out of hades."
i max'd the bike out with the gearing it has... no way i could exceed 35mph unless the hill was way more steep with no stop sign at the bottom.
i max'd the bike out with the gearing it has... no way i could exceed 35mph unless the hill was way more steep with no stop sign at the bottom.
06-15-06, 08:23 PM
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Beaverton, Oregon
Posts: 608
Bikes: 2006 Gary Fisher Opie, 1980's Fuji Grand SE
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Daily Commute
There's this stretch of road on my fast way to work that I'm trying to hit 40 mph on. For those of you who know Columbus, it's the 3rd St. Bridge over I-670 going into downtown. It's technically 35 mph, but cars go much faster. It's generally too heavy with quick-lane-changing freeway-like traffic after 6:30 on weekdays (it feeds I-670 traffic into downtown). A few years ago, they took down the "No Bicycles" sign when they were doing construction and never bothered to put it back up.
The last part of the bridge is a big hill (by Columbus standards) into downtown. The pavement is perfect. The problem is that there's a light right at the bottom. The last couple of times I've gone through, I've pulled over and waited so that I knew the light would be green at the bottom.
Yesterday, I hit 38 mph. Today, I only made it to 36 mph, but I had to pull into lane that's second from the right to pass a line of cars waiting to turn right. Both days, I had one pannier on my Surly Cross Check.
I'm going in to work tomorrow. I'll put a trunk pack on instead of a pannier to see if I can eek out those last 2 mph.
I may have to work on a Saturday, but at least I'll get my commute in.
The last part of the bridge is a big hill (by Columbus standards) into downtown. The pavement is perfect. The problem is that there's a light right at the bottom. The last couple of times I've gone through, I've pulled over and waited so that I knew the light would be green at the bottom.
Yesterday, I hit 38 mph. Today, I only made it to 36 mph, but I had to pull into lane that's second from the right to pass a line of cars waiting to turn right. Both days, I had one pannier on my Surly Cross Check.
I'm going in to work tomorrow. I'll put a trunk pack on instead of a pannier to see if I can eek out those last 2 mph.
I may have to work on a Saturday, but at least I'll get my commute in.
06-16-06, 12:03 AM
#37
totally louche
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: A land that time forgot
Posts: 18,023
Bikes: the ever shifting stable loaded with comfortable road bikes and city and winter bikes
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
9 Posts
i think it IS down a hill. lets get some reading 101 in here, see if there's a hill mentioned somewhere in the original post. and waiting at the top of a hill to get the light signals to time right (love that touch, been there, done that)
06-16-06, 12:32 AM
#38
Lost in Los Angeles
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 363
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I didn't have computers on my bikes until recently and I don't hit over 34 very often but I was supposedly clocked at 42 in a 25 on my roadie on my commuteby some cops a month or so ago. Almost got a ticket for it but I think they realized how hard it would be to make it stick. With the MTB I usually ride to work I top at at about 25-28 on my commute which I need to work on. I think I may put a new wheelset and skinny tires on it in the next week or so and see if it's really worth it.
06-16-06, 02:09 AM
#39
Ride the Road
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 4,059
Bikes: Surly Cross-Check; hard tail MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
3 Posts
Originally Posted by Urban Shooter
This post broke my B.S. detector, the poor thing is still smoking after reading this story. 40mph going down a steep hill maybe.
Originally Posted by Bekologist
i think it IS down a hill. lets get some reading 101 in here, see if there's a hill mentioned somewhere in the original post. and waiting at the top of a hill to get the light signals to time right (love that touch, been there, done that)
On another note, when I had 700x28 tires, I couldn't hit 40 on even steeper hills. The 32's make the bike a lot more stable at higher speeds.
06-16-06, 08:10 AM
#40
totally louche
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: A land that time forgot
Posts: 18,023
Bikes: the ever shifting stable loaded with comfortable road bikes and city and winter bikes
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
9 Posts
I agree with Daily Commute - wider tires are definetly more stable at speed. I ride 37c slicks most of the time.
06-16-06, 08:18 AM
#41
Geosynchronous Falconeer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 6,312
Bikes: 2006 Raleigh Rush Hour, Campy Habanero Team Ti, Soma Double Cross
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Bekologist
I agree with Daily Commute - wider tires are definetly more stable at speed. I ride 37c slicks most of the time.
__________________
Bring the pain.
Bring the pain.
06-16-06, 08:22 AM
#42
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 6,956
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
I'll have to find a way to shoot video of a descent from the top of Mt. Spokane to the base, you guys would eat it up Twisty, with hairpins, peak grades of over 20%, average grade I believe is about 12%, and the road's posted for 20mph. In my younger more-reckless days, I would typically average 35mph from top to bottom, and that includes hairpins, so you can imagine... 
My old Schwinn Voyageur was great for that. Springy frame and fork, excellent braking power for dropping from 45 to 15 for the hairpins, bar-end shifters, and big sticky Michelin Hi-Lite Tour tires. Now if I could just its engine and ROM chip back, and install them on my Cannondale...
Twisty, with hairpins, peak grades of over 20%, average grade I believe is about 12%, and the road's posted for 20mph. In my younger more-reckless days, I would typically average 35mph from top to bottom, and that includes hairpins, so you can imagine... My old Schwinn Voyageur was great for that. Springy frame and fork, excellent braking power for dropping from 45 to 15 for the hairpins, bar-end shifters, and big sticky Michelin Hi-Lite Tour tires. Now if I could just its engine and ROM chip back, and install them on my Cannondale...
06-16-06, 08:44 AM
#43
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Down on East End Avenue.
Posts: 1,816
Bikes: Salsa Las Cruces, Burley R&R and a boat load of others.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I achieved 46 last year drafting a bus. Often I can go faster tucked then pedaling. In the case of the bus I had a 46 11 and really could not pedal that gear to that speed. My record is comming down Forbes Ave into Oakland where I got 50 with a 52 - 12 at around 150 rpm. The hill is about 5-6% grade that runs about 3/10s of a mile with a stop light at the bottom.
06-16-06, 09:22 AM
#44
totally louche
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: A land that time forgot
Posts: 18,023
Bikes: the ever shifting stable loaded with comfortable road bikes and city and winter bikes
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
9 Posts
...more rubber on the road means better grip, lets you counter rugositys better, and less deflection because of the greater volume too, plus blah blah.....wider tires are more stable.
06-16-06, 01:57 PM
#45
Enjoy
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Seattle metro
Posts: 6,165
Bikes: Trek 5200
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by bentstrider
Back when I was in 11th grade in '99, I hit 65mph on Mariposa Road, which runs parallel to the I-15 for some distance.
Most of the time, my flatland, no-wind, loaded best is 30-35mph.
I could also guess this speed was attributed to the freakishly high wind speeds we get out here.
I recall there being one of those infamous low-pressure systems over all of Southern California for a whole week!!
The wind must've been gusting up to 40-45mph.
Most of the time, my flatland, no-wind, loaded best is 30-35mph.
I could also guess this speed was attributed to the freakishly high wind speeds we get out here.
I recall there being one of those infamous low-pressure systems over all of Southern California for a whole week!!
The wind must've been gusting up to 40-45mph.
06-16-06, 05:23 PM
#46
Senior Member
Originally Posted by vrkelley
Wow! How about some details about how you did the 30-35mph on the flats. Special wheels? What gears work and what's your cadence.
06-16-06, 06:49 PM
#47
Ride the Road
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 4,059
Bikes: Surly Cross-Check; hard tail MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
3 Posts
Originally Posted by recursive
I don't mean to contradict you, but I ride on 23s, and I regularly hit low 40s (and occasionally high 40s) without noticing any instability. I do tend to stick to pretty clean roads when I do that though. Perhaps some assorted pebbles would change my mind.
06-19-06, 09:23 AM
#48
Arizona Dessert
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: AZ
Posts: 15,029
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix, Lemond Poprad. Retired: Jamis Sputnik, Centurion LeMans Fixed, Diamond Back ascent ex
Mentioned: 76 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5345 Post(s)
Liked 2,169 Times
in
1,288 Posts
Hit 35.8mph on the fixed gear (159rpm) on a downhill. Not doing that (downhill) again, almost lost leg control. Much more comfortable to go for fixed speed on flats or gradual uphill.
Al
Al
06-19-06, 09:49 AM
#50
SERENITY NOW!!!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: In the 212
Posts: 8,738
Bikes: Haro Vector, IRO Rob Roy, Bianchi Veloce
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
All my speed records happen when my computer has died. Really sucks to not know how fast I'm going down long hills.
__________________
HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR
We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR
We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!