Best speed

[Matthew C]

for those of us with speedos.

What's yours?

I've managed just over 41 on the road, about 33 on grassy downland and high 20s on lumpy stony tracks (no suspension).

[graham@reading]

25 on flat tarmac - gears run out of steam then though (as I mentioned in my "looking for a new bike" thread).

[minipower]

48mph at that downhill part after going up Ditchling. I was dawdling around at 44mph but looking at the serious racers low stance with their chests on the bars I decided to do the same. I felt 4mph more was quite an achievement.

[craploginname]

Best average in a 10 mile time trial was 27.8mph for a finishing time of 21:35

Fastest downhill was 56 mph on a mad hill between Kingsbridge and Plymouth when I was based there in the Navy many moons ago. Wouldn't so it now though as I'm sane

[Selmer]

58 on the descent between Lythe and Hinderwell, two tri-sopkes and tri bars, 19mm Conti's and a mild easterley. It was a hilly TT that I lost by 2 seconds. I held the course record for about 9minutes and 58 seconds

[craploginname]

Cool

I really did think I was the only lycra clad leg shaving pansy on here obsessed with knocking nano seconds off my PB

[ewenm]

52 slipstreaming a fire engine down from the moors above Lancaster. Very scary indeed, especially when he braked

[FrenchTVR]

58 on the descent into Brighton off of Ditchling Beacon and the same on the descent of the Col D'Aspin, just before the rear wheel went wobbly, caused me to need a fresh set of Lycra

[Parrot of Doom]

I had 45 on my road bike, but those are normal tyres, 36 spoked wheels.

Once I get my uber-speed-unpossible road bike, I think I'll easily beat that

[lord summerisle]

45.7mph on my old Kona Hahanna rigid steel frame with a loose flex stem

that was down a steep single track road somewhere in the dales, with 8ft banking on each side topped by a dry stone wall... that we'd never ridden before as we where trying out the MTB clubs new bike trailer one lad had built for his A level design tech project

45 was when i wimped out and pulled the lever.. 2 mates carried one - and didnt make the sharp left hander at the bottom - with one of them spread eagled against the banking tangled in his bike, and the other guys stood in the middle of the road killing himself a laughing... and his bike was further up the bank.... with his handlebars at a jaunty angle after the impact with the bank had snapped his steam and it was only still attached by the sticker on the side...

[Roman]

Stopped looking and tried to hang on after I saw 63mph in the Alps a few yrs ago.

At the start of the weeks riding I had a blow out coming down Les Deux Alpes - fortunately near the top so had only got upto about 40-45, managed to keep it upright but knackered my carbon wheels - makes you think...

My mate claims 67mph - on a long, straight, steep descent somewhere near Holme Moss.

I've always fancied trying a recumbent with huge gears - this place hires them for £54 per day inc tuition:

www.futurecycles.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=36

Maybe an idea for a PH day?

[Moose.]

Hmmm, last time I had a speedo on a bike was when I was about 15 years old. I'd just fitted it and was too busy looking at it to notice I'd drifted off to the side of the road slightly and smacked into the front of a parked Buick (lived in the Middle East at the time). Can't remember the speed but was fairly quick as I was attempting to see how fast I could get up to. The deceleration of hitting the front bumper threw me off the bike, landing on the roof of the car Amazingly the front wheel was fine, but the forks got bent backwards so the wheel was now behind the lower frame cross member

[Nick_F]

51.1mph on the descent from the Giant's Head on the IMUK route from Dorchester to Sherborne.

Most Saturday mornings...

[boRED S2upid]

Those are some impressive speeds guys. You wouldn't want to be coming off at those speeds OUCH.

[Nick_F]

boRED S2upid said:

Those are some impressive speeds guys. You wouldn't want to be coming off at those speeds OUCH.

Anything much over 40 and you're in deep do-do if something goes wrong. I take it onsiderably easier if there is anyone else anywhere in sight.

[White_van_Man]

I managed a GPS 38.8 offroad in the alps last summer

[lord summerisle]

Nick_F said:

boRED S2upid said:

Those are some impressive speeds guys. You wouldn't want to be coming off at those speeds OUCH.

Anything much over 40 and you're in deep do-do if something goes wrong. I take it onsiderably easier if there is anyone else anywhere in sight.

very much so,

was coming down a road descent in Rivington, Bolton slipstreaming in a group - when one of the guys in front had a front blow out at around 30 odd mph - this being in the time before V brakes let along discs - and him hitting the deck and boucing - while us behind trying to avoid him.

let us say it took several months for his skin to regrow. lycra doesnt offer much protection. Very lucky guy really, could have been much worse

[Matthew C]

Nick_F said:

boRED S2upid said:

Those are some impressive speeds guys. You wouldn't want to be coming off at those speeds OUCH.

Anything much over 40 and you're in deep do-do if something goes wrong. I take it onsiderably easier if there is anyone else anywhere in sight.

I've read that you can die from blood loss from coming off at 30 which is why I haven't tried to better myself yet. I want a long, straight road with a reasonable downward slope with no sideroads or buildings if I'm to attempt to better it. Having not found any such roads locally, I haven't tried.

[Locoblade]

A GPS recorded 38mph off road coming down Butser Hill just below Petersfield with a couple of mates passing me doing 40+

[Locoblade]

Matthew C said:

I've read that you can die from blood loss from coming off at 30...

You could die from blood loss coming off at 2mph if you hit the wrong part of the scenery though, there's so many variables involved you can't really assume you'll be OK if going less than X speed, but might die if you fall off over that speed.