Who wants to do 50mph?

Pigtail

This morning I fitted new rear brake pads and indexed my gears.

Then I went out and did just over 40 miles including climbing the Suie hill. Coming back down the other side I hit just over 45mph, which is my fastest yet. As you come down there is a sharp left-hand bend, and as I was about to brake down for the corner I had a moment of doubt about my own abilities as a mechanic, but it all worked out ok.

James

Gazzaputt

porker33 wrote:

I have had a few 47 and one 51mph this year, obviously both down hilll!

Last year pedalling down Westerham hill, I managed 52mph, I kept pedalling to get past 50mph.......at that point I noticed the left turn I wanted to take,,,an important lesson on how ineffective road cycle brakes are, I over shot the left turn by maybe 30 feet....which was ok on this occasion, but would have been a disaster of someone had pulled out...maybe I have done the 50+mph thing on the roads now?

That speed down Westerham Hill is asking for trouble. My club won't even go up let alone down as it's so dangerous.

porker33

Gazzaputt wrote:

porker33 wrote:

I have had a few 47 and one 51mph this year, obviously both down hilll!

Last year pedalling down Westerham hill, I managed 52mph, I kept pedalling to get past 50mph.......at that point I noticed the left turn I wanted to take,,,an important lesson on how ineffective road cycle brakes are, I over shot the left turn by maybe 30 feet....which was ok on this occasion, but would have been a disaster of someone had pulled out...maybe I have done the 50+mph thing on the roads now?

That speed down Westerham Hill is asking for trouble. My club won't even go up let alone down as it's so dangerous.

Totally agree on the danger, I haven't been down at such speed since,,totally ridiculous and once was enough...I tend to climb Brasted, Hogs or Sundridge on the way up...they are challenging enough without the traffic or more importantly the lack of exhaust fumes!

schweiz

Hit 91 km/h yesterday...first time in the 90's

It's a road I know well with a good surface and the fastest section is in the middle rather than at the end befor the left hander. I'd have reservations about going so quick on a UK road!

xcmad

Well obviously these speeds arent safe, but from memory my personal max is 43mph, UK road.

Guy at work told me he clocked 171mph on the M40 last week on his motorbike. Jesus.

UndercoverElephant

Damn, I have a new purpose now...

Fastest I've been was 47.3 mph during the Tour of East Lothian this February, downhill. Fastest on the flat was on my commute last month when I hit 41 mph - I think there may have been a tailwind. 8)

thecrofter

that's it I'll need to look out the 11t I've got somewhere, see if it will fit where I currently have a 12t

notsoblue

The fastest I've ever been on a bike was 48mph going down a ridiculous hill in the far north east of Scotland on the last day of LEJOG. That was on a Hybrid with fully loaded panniers, lots of fun. Which then turned to terror as I saw the hairpin turn at the bottom, and realised how much distance I needed to slow myself down. Just about made it, but the thought of the consequences of losing control stayed with me for a while!

I haven't managed to beat that on my road bike yet, need longer down hills, and perhaps a 11t...

IanTrcp

In theory, but the likes of Paolo Bettini and Fabian Cancellara will descend a lot faster than us and they prob. weigh less. Also, as mentioned earlier, a tandem will descend spectacularly quickly and a touring one fully loaded with panniers even more so.

They use their brakes less.

amun1000

You usually find the right kind of road to attain these speeds in the countryside where animals are free to wander. My first worry is...

Is that sheep gonna stop or just keep walking across the road

saladdays

45mph on a MTB down Constitution Hill, Ipswich.

49mph on a racer entering Brighton on the London to Brigton.

I really want to hit 50mph!

antooony

I've hit 50mph on numerous occasions. Last time was saturday legging it down from Mow Cop in Staffs.

Yet to hit the magic 60 though, 59.7 so far....so near yet no cigar

CumbrianMan

My best is 52mph, descending down a beautiful smooth road into Costa Teguise, past the golf course in Lanzarote.
Was peddling a 50/12, and boy were my legs spinning like a daft sod.

Got myself a 11/28 cassette for the Alps, so next time I go to Lanzarote, gonna put that on with my 53/39 chainset and see what I can get down that hill !! I'm sure 55 to 60mph is possible !!! :twisted:

JD_76

Managed 44mph last night on a the descent down the horseshoe pass into Llangollen.

Might have been able to go a bit faster but am always weary of the sheep and there were a few in the verge of the road.

jackfeeder

Managed 46.2mph down Cefn Bryn on Gower last year - slightly dodgy road that tho, quite a few bumps in it - last sat got 46mph on the roads over the top of the Betws MTN (Ammanford) towards Felindre way.
Both wind behind mind.

cougie

56 is my max - down a steepish dual carriageway - aided by a good tailwind too. I dont think my gears would have been any bigger than 52*12 but its more about being aero to get to that kind of speed than twiddling the gears.

Didnt feel dangerous in the slightest.

The descent down the Horseshoe is nice - but yes Sheep have no road sense. The cattle grids make a nice noise at that speed too.

balthazar

CumbrianMan wrote:

My best is 52mph, descending down a beautiful smooth road into Costa Teguise, past the golf course in Lanzarote.
Was peddling a 50/12, and boy were my legs spinning like a daft sod.

If you'd stopped pedalling, and tucked, you'd have gained a mph or two (assuming you wanted to..!). We can't generate enough power at that speed to counter the aerodynamic loss.

JamesB

49.2 mph coming down Peak Hill into Sidmouth---early morning when quiet; 83 kph down Marie Blanque on very smooth roads. Often 45-48 mph on local A and B roads which are quiet

When at school years ago remember following a Mini downhill sitting on bumper so close could read speedo, said about 55 mph, good job they dodn`t touch the brakes though!

CumbrianMan

balthazar wrote:

CumbrianMan wrote:

My best is 52mph, descending down a beautiful smooth road into Costa Teguise, past the golf course in Lanzarote.
Was peddling a 50/12, and boy were my legs spinning like a daft sod.

If you'd stopped pedalling, and tucked, you'd have gained a mph or two (assuming you wanted to..!). We can't generate enough power at that speed to counter the aerodynamic loss.

Yeah, that's what I had to do in the end. Got my speed up as best as poss till I was spinning fast, and then had to get aero to get more speed. Knees tucked in, arms tucked in, head down so low I had to watch I didn't smack my teeth on my computer !! Great fun though ! Maybe I need some more weight !!

briantrumpet

JamesB wrote:

49.2 mph coming down Peak Hill into Sidmouth---early morning when quiet;

Ha- you obviously enjoyed the return from the climb! I'm going down that hill every day this week (in a car), and have thought that I would be on the brakes the whole time if I were on the bike.

Rather you than me, though - I don't really enjoy steep descents. I'm happier pedalling on a slight incline down at 35mph than freewheeling down a steeper slope at 35 mph, although I've done a couple of 40mph-ers, and been happy with those (clear straight roads, good surfaces, no obvious potential hazards), most of the time my brain goes into a "what if" risk assessment mode, and backs off.

So, at the moment, my answer to the OP's question is "Not me".

chunkycyclist

Only noticed the thread today - definitely need to try harder as I only managed 41mph on A30 downhill from Blackbushe Airport on my single speed (48x15).

maddog 2

I've hit 60 twice but I did my first 50+ of the year last weekend, off Kirkstone pass down The Struggle - 55.7mph

I have Garmin evidence should anyone doubt me...

thecrofter

Title -
Sport Cycling, sport
Start Time May 7, 2011 10:36 AM
Distance 44.36 miles
Duration 3h:14m:36s
Avg Speed 13.7 mph
Max Speed 51.4 mph
Calories 2456 kcal
Altitude 175 ft / 2253 ft
Elevation 3646 ft ↑ / 3588 ft ↓

beverick

I used to chase 50mph until I saw what happened to a colleague who came off his motor bike at 40.

48.6 is, and will remain, the record.

Bob

fungus_the_muffin_man

After watching the Giro I'd like to think I'd realise my vulnerability and slow down when going downhill.

Unfortunately once the adrenaline is flowing I'll probs throw caution to the wind as I always do.

God I'm stupid!

mallorcajeff

62.3 on my garmin here in mallorca dropping off the mountain in soller in view of yesterdays events though I think i will reign it in in future.

rake

that guy was probably bowing the tyres over on a bend when he came off, i cant see how its related to straight line speed, i doubt he fell off on the straight. It seems pretty obvious you will hurt yourself coming off down hill without someone dieing. thats why i dont superglue old tyres.

stevec205gti

rake wrote:

that guy was probably bowing the tyres over on a bend when he came off, i cant see how its related to straight line speed, i doubt he fell off on the straight. It seems pretty obvious you will hurt yourself coming off down hill without someone dieing. thats why i dont superglue old tyres.

Reports are he was looking behind when his left arm/pedal/handlebar clipped a wall and spat him across the road

fungus_the_muffin_man

rake wrote:

that guy was probably bowing the tyres over on a bend when he came off, i cant see how its related to straight line speed, i doubt he fell off on the straight. It seems pretty obvious you will hurt yourself coming off down hill without someone dieing. thats why i dont superglue old tyres.

My point is that at 50mph plus on a road bike if your unlucky and hit a pot hole, something pulls out on you your gonna be looking at a whole world of pain ( if your lucky)

As reports have said it seems he was on a straight, looked back strayed next to the wall and caught it with his pedal.

He was a pro with awesome handling skills the majority of us are amateurs who probably ride far faster and outside our skill levels than we think we do.

nickwill

56.2 mph on the road from Flash to Leek on the old Polka Dot or perhaps Rourkie's ride I can't quite remember which. A straight hill which rises up after you've hit the bottom of the decent. I was overtaken by a couple on a tandem. The chap on the front said he hit 61mph. The girl on the back said she shut her eyes!