What's your top speed?
06-08-12 | 12:03 AM
#1
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Member
Joined: May 2012
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From: New York City
Bikes: Iro Mark V
What's your top speed?
So I was out riding today on the Greenway in NYC and came across a hill that caught me by surprise which catapulted me down at 30.X MPH (Not sure if this is fast but for me this blew my pants off). On flats I max out at 22ish with a 46x17. What are your top speeds? And any tips to go faster?
06-08-12 | 12:17 AM
#3
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,470
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From: Buffalo New York
larger front chainring, smaller low cog, pedal faster. my top is 45.3 in 53,12. search this topic and you will find numerous threads asking for top speeds. I think the max was over 60.
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2010 Kestrel RT900SL, 800k carbon, chorus/record, speedplay, zonda
2000 litespeed Unicoi Ti, XTR,XT, Campy crank, time atac, carbon forks
2010 Kestrel RT900SL, 800k carbon, chorus/record, speedplay, zonda
2000 litespeed Unicoi Ti, XTR,XT, Campy crank, time atac, carbon forks
06-08-12 | 12:30 AM
#6
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From: New York City
Bikes: Iro Mark V
06-08-12 | 03:53 AM
#8
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Joined: May 2007
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From: Flagler Palm Coast, FL
Bikes: 1986 Fuji Allegro 12 Spd; 2015 Bianchi Kuma 27.2 24 Spd; 1997 Fuji MX-200 21 Spd; 2010 Vilano SS/FG 46/16
Flying down a hill is a blast, what makes it not fun is wondering if someone is going to pull out in front of you. I went down a hill once on a skateboard as a youth and the wind in your hair & face was a blast. The first time was a successful run, the 2nd run I hit a rock and wiped out. That 2nd run wasn't fun and it was then that I learned my lesson the hard way and realized I had cheated fate on the 1st successful run down that hill. It would only be a matter of time before the odds caught up to me and the wipe out or a car pulling out of an apartment complex parking lot at the bottom of the hill was going to get me. Stupid me, no body pads or helmet too, so I was hamburger ground up from the asphalt. Could've been a lot worse too. After that I respected that hill to the point of avoiding it. Controlled brake decents were the rule from that day forward.
As for the top speed, up and downhills shouldn't count, so my flat land rides with 46 x 16 and it would be unofficially, somewhere around and between 22-24 mph. Basically I was able to do that by counting the number of blocks I rode and timing it on my wristwatch. Although, I did encounter a speed trailer, the device that warns motorists of how fast they are going a couple of times. The 1st, downside of a bridge and with a brake controlled decentthat was 30 mph. The other time, that device was on a flat stretch of road and I was able to get to 22 mph as it indicated. I felt I still had more at 22 mph, but not much more and who knows how much more that would've been to the 22 mph ?
Edit: Qualifying the portion of the post regarding going 22-24 mph, that was also maintaining a pace that was about 40% of the way thru the front end of a 15 mile one way ride. That speed and pace was what I tried to attempt to maintain and still ride another 8+ miles and stay at close to that pace, whether it was above or below those speeds, traffic conditions permitting and not being wiped out physically at the end of the 15 miles. Still had the entire day to be a tourist and do more localized riding and walking at that destination, then ride home. I probably exceeded that 22-24 mph at times, but there were also stretches that I wasn't able to do more than 10 mph just the same.
As for the top speed, up and downhills shouldn't count, so my flat land rides with 46 x 16 and it would be unofficially, somewhere around and between 22-24 mph. Basically I was able to do that by counting the number of blocks I rode and timing it on my wristwatch. Although, I did encounter a speed trailer, the device that warns motorists of how fast they are going a couple of times. The 1st, downside of a bridge and with a brake controlled decentthat was 30 mph. The other time, that device was on a flat stretch of road and I was able to get to 22 mph as it indicated. I felt I still had more at 22 mph, but not much more and who knows how much more that would've been to the 22 mph ?
Edit: Qualifying the portion of the post regarding going 22-24 mph, that was also maintaining a pace that was about 40% of the way thru the front end of a 15 mile one way ride. That speed and pace was what I tried to attempt to maintain and still ride another 8+ miles and stay at close to that pace, whether it was above or below those speeds, traffic conditions permitting and not being wiped out physically at the end of the 15 miles. Still had the entire day to be a tourist and do more localized riding and walking at that destination, then ride home. I probably exceeded that 22-24 mph at times, but there were also stretches that I wasn't able to do more than 10 mph just the same.
Last edited by fuji86; 06-08-12 at 11:33 PM.
06-08-12 | 09:53 AM
#16
Fixie Infamous
Joined: Dec 2011
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06-08-12 | 10:35 AM
#20
sɹɐʇsɟoןןnɟsʇıbɟɯo
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,986
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From: seattle, too many links
Bikes: fixed gear recumbent trike
strava said i hit about 1200mph around the velodrome the other day
06-08-12 | 11:58 AM
#23
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
27.5 MPH @ 69 GI. I still get a little nervous on downhills. 
