Nearly 40mph

ScottHybridP5 · June 2007

Hi guys,

Nearly hit 40mph today!

I am relatively new to road riding and I didnt realise how hard it would be. I was on a decline though not a cliff edge and trying to get over 40 was really tough. I ride a standard Scott Hybrid sportster with 24 speed.

Is it just a matter of building up leg strength to get a faster speed?

What a rush though!

Cheers,

Ray

"Clip in and get going"

My Bike http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z277/rwph/

father_jack · June 2007

I've managed 35, on the flat...no assistance from a decline though. Without a headwind I managed to keep it up for a couple of miles (last time only managed half a mile)


Giant OCR-1 2005 | 2 x Cateye HL EL-500 | Cateye HL-EL400 | 2x Cateye TL-1000 | Lizard Skin chainstay protector | Cateye micro wireless computer | Laseredge Bikelights | Electron 5W+10W

Aidocp · June 2007

I got up to 39.7 or 8 peppering the brakes comming down the Wicklow mountains. I wish now that I'd been lighter on the brakes[:(]

If I had a baby elephant, who would take it for walks?

peejay78 · June 2007

it's hard.

i only ever get above forty on descents. on the way down towards hebden bridge i think i hit 51mph. i very nearly filled my pants.

winter: http://tinyurl.com/2xkbbs
summer: http://tinyurl.com/2hsagv

DavidTQ · June 2007

I would have thought 40 was easier on some skinny tyres with some nice tall road bike gears? The road bike I tried out certainly felt as if it would be easier to get up to a higher speed than my current hybrid. I wont go over 30 on my hybrid far too much like hard work with its 48x14 top gear [:D]

fluff. · June 2007

It's about how aero you are at those speeds, you're going to spin out any normal gears anyway. Seems to be a brick wall about 50mph unless you use a recumbent/ draft something or someone.

----
The summer bike | The fixie | The sensible one (TBA)

Mark Alexander · June 2007

53, with the brakes on[:p]

my elephant has more memory than my PC

Unknown · June 2007

Did 39.6 today. Was incredibly tempted to push it over 40, but was very aware of the corner looming ahead of me...

Tony666 · June 2007

I get a rush just topping 30, especially if that means riding at the same speed as some of the traffic.

father_jack · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Tony666

I get a rush just topping 30, especially if that means riding at the same speed as some of the traffic.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I overtook a Metro! [:D]


Giant OCR-1 2005 | 2 x Cateye HL EL-500 | Cateye HL-EL400 | 2x Cateye TL-1000 | Lizard Skin chainstay protector | Cateye micro wireless computer | Laseredge Bikelights | Electron 5W+10W

sidgirl · June 2007

Love doing the 65km on a downhill stretch. It's the only thing that makes the uphill worth it

Would that I could think of something good to put here...

ScottHybridP5 · June 2007

I will definitely try and get over the 40 mark! Not sure of the gearing on my hybrid, though it wont be easy. I'm not very aerodynamic either. I take it proper road bikes are easier to hit higher speeds due to the gearing and weight.

Cant imagine doing nearly 50 though! it gets really bumpy at over 30 even with front suspension.

Keeping up with rolling traffic is strange on a bike, though you do get some strange looks from drivers!

I will see if I can find a huge hill and see how fast I can go then tell you about my spill as well. (hopefully not)

Cheers,

Ray

"Clip in and get going"

My Bike http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z277/rwph/

palinurus · June 2007

I saw 85 km/h (53 mph-ish) while descending on my Airnimal somewhere in Wales (I use mph now, since that's what everyone else uses). I was perfectly comfortable until I happend to look at the computer. 85 seemed scarily fast, perhaps 53 would've seemed more reasonable (I generally mentally overestimate how long a kilometer is relative to a mile).

Unassisted by hills I don't think I've gone over, or can go over, 35, and that rarely (perhaps during that last push for the line on a TT). Or when I'm seeing if I can trip the speed camera on the way home from work (I've largely given up with this because (a) I think it's impossible, and (b) the camera's there for a reason).

mr_x_plosion · June 2007

I have a Scott Hypbrid too, mine is a SUB 20, 24 speed too. Only done 50 miles on it so far and the best I managed so far is 35.5mph, I'll have to find a bigger hill as that 35mph was closing in on an island fast.

Nick

Unknown · June 2007

I got a max of 53 mph coming down the Bealach Na Ba road going towards the Kishhorn side on a mountain bike! I've come down the same road a couple of times on a road bike but bottle it around 40mph - not the smoothest road about. The fastest road bike speed I've managed was 55mph down the hill (with a following wind) to La Santa in Lanzarote,on skis I was clocked by a speed gun at about 65 mph but the scariest is doing 40 mph on my kite buggy with my backside about 1 inch off the ground and no brakes!!

B1ondini · June 2007

I decided to commute in on my old Dawes 14 speed last night (7 miles, 12 hour night shift) towing my Yak-a-like trailer full of my weeks supply of clothing and stuff, traffic through town was a bit slow so I managed to overtake several cars with just short of 30mph on my speedo. Cant help thinking what the drivers thought to me and the trailer - complete with flapping green flag, passing them on the flat!

____________________________________________

Enhancing Muscles, not Destroying the Environment!
____________________________________________

graeme_s-2 · June 2007

I've done over 40mph on my hybrid. Only managed it down hill while getting into a bit of a tuck. I found that if I held the bars either side of the stem, tucked my elbows in, got my head down just over the bars and pedalled like crazy I could beat 40mph. This does mean that your hands are well off the brakes and you can't steer as well with your hands so close together, so if you do try it be careful!

hammerite · June 2007

Around Bedforshire where I live we haven't got many decent hills, but I've managed 42mph a couple of times. I think that would be pretty much flat out on those gradients as I can't seem to get faster regardless of how hard I push.

I would be pretty scared pushing it harder on steeper hills as they tend to be in areas where the roads are windy, wouldn't like to come off at that speed!

pauluscp · June 2007

40mph on a hybred is pretty good going. Because of the riding position is a bit on the upright side the wind resistance would be quite substatial. On my road bike I managed 45mph going down Blackgang Chine on the Isle of Wight randonee. The fastest I have ever done is 53mph coming down off of Mont Ventoux a couple of years back.

So many roads, so little time!!!

dgibby · June 2007

I hit 40.7mph last week on my tourer fully loaded with panniers on Dartmoor! Great gradient with wind behind me and me peddling in top gear. Enjoyed it but afterwards thought "What if......"

sebcp · June 2007

54.7mph a few weeks ago coming down Buttertubs Hill just North of Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales. 25% gradient, 30% at the top. It didn't feel fast. I do 48mph every week coming off the Upper Chevin near Otley and that feels much faster.

If it's any consolation we had to ride back up it later at about 5pmph into a strong wind. For every up, there's a down.

2191flint · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Tony666

I get a rush just topping 30, especially if that means riding at the same speed as some of the traffic.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

LOL !! It's great isn't it!? you can see them looking in their rear view mirror, and just imagine they must be thinking 'bl**dy hell, that bloke is cycling as fast as I'm driving' Good Eh?![:D][:D]

A turkey is just for Christmas, not for life.

Me and my bike- http://aolpictures.aol.co.uk/galleries/flintosaur9/

Eat My Dust · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by 2191flint

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Tony666

I get a rush just topping 30, especially if that means riding at the same speed as some of the traffic.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

LOL !! It's great isn't it!? you can see them looking in their rear view mirror, and just imagine they must be thinking 'bl**dy hell, that bloke is cycling as fast as I'm driving' Good Eh?![:D][:D]

A turkey is just for Christmas, not for life.

Me and my bike- http://aolpictures.aol.co.uk/galleries/flintosaur9/
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

If only!! I had an idiot last night, and another this morning tailgating me within a couple of feet doing 35mph+ in a 30 limit. I think they were weeed off that I was in the primary postion.

SNAPS

DLB · June 2007

my highest speed is greater on my hyrid than my road bike, i've no idea why though.

*** Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're probably right ***

Unknown · June 2007

Come to Cheddar[:D]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8JIOJ6dSFY

Weeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh[:p]

_______________________________________________________
"Finding a witty yet original signature is quite difficult isn't it?"

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Greenbank · June 2007

49.7 kph.

But that is ~145rpm.

--
If I had a baby elephant signature, I'd use that.

Gary D · June 2007

Maggot,

What a fantastic piece of footage - well done!! [:D][:D]

What speed did you reach and how long does it take to cycle UP the hill?

Gary.

Must try harder....

Aidocp · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by DLB

my highest speed is greater on my hyrid than my road bike, i've no idea why though.

*** Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're probably right ***
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
My top speed, just below 40 [xx(] was on a hybrid too (an Old Black Diamond Atlanta) but I've only just bought the road bike[;)]

If I had a baby elephant, who would take it for walks?

Aidocp · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Maggot

Come to Cheddar[:D]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8JIOJ6dSFY

Weeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh[:p]

_______________________________________________________
"Finding a witty yet original signature is quite difficult isn't it?"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26011722@N00/

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You've got guts, I chicken out when I cant see round the bend [:I]

If I had a baby elephant, who would take it for walks?

Bigtallfatbloke · June 2007

Todays ride was ok..I've only done one longer ride by a few kilometres.

57 km = 35.4181 miles round trip

54 km = 33.5540 miles per hour top speed

Took me 3 hours

no idea what the average speed was because I only forked out for the most basic computer (scrooge see)

I have a daws galaxy touring bike and weigh iro 20 stone, so I'm carrying some luggage with me! I'm hoping to build up my stamina and go further each ride. I couldn't care less about the speed although it was fun at 54km an hour...believe be I could make a serious dent in any car at that speed lol!

...when my new panniers arrive I will start gradually increasing the load I carry in preparation for my trip.

I will assume that i will cover half my unloaded distance with a full load. So att his rate I'm not going far, but it is still early days and so far I am just pleased to be actually out there doing it.

SteveR_100Milers · June 2007

Cheddar Gorge...aaaaggh painful memories. I collided with the warning signpost "Cyclists Beware" or something like that towards the bottom on a right hander. Oh the irony as I picked the bits of my teeth off the road.

LOL !! It's great isn't it!? you can see them looking in their rear view mirror, and just imagine they must be thinking 'bl**dy hell, that bloke is cycling as fast as I'm driving' Good Eh?![quote/]

Even better is drafting a motorbike or moped then jumping them and outsprinting them until out of sight then quickly pulling over pretending to fiddle with your tyres whilst trying the keep your heart inside your chest cavity...

Time! Time! It's always too long and there's never enough!

Nearly 40mph

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