banerjek

This is not necessarily the fastest you've ever gone. Which speed is the closest to the top speed you actually like riding at? For example, if you like riding at 44mph but you get cold sweats at 50, pick 40mph

damocles1

40-45 is a regular occurence. I've been over 50 more than a few times and licked 60 once on a descent out of the mountains. Things start to get twitchy above 50 or so for me...

MrCrassic 

I've hit 41 before on a downhill, but would like to go 50 someday.

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Cdy291

It really depends on the situation. I have been down descents that were as straight as an arrow and did 50mph. But with a bad cross wind that could be dangerous. But then on a switch back type descent 40mph could be bad.

banerjek

40-45 is also a regular occurrence for me. I've done 50 and will do it again if conditions are right, but I actually prefer to go a bit slower. I don't really have any interest in hitting 60 unless it could be on a smooth road with no big vehicles on a practically windless day that's has nothing trickier than sweeping curves. I do not live anywhere near such a place.

umd

I regularly go into the mid 40s and think nothing of it. I get a little nervous into the mid 50s. I'd like to hit 63 (100kph) someday just to say I did it, but doubt I would be comfortable at that speed.

McTufferton

I picked 50. I've hit 48 as a max and wanted more, but my bike is aluminum and things got pretty wobbly at that speed.

uke

15mph. In town, I'm rarely more than 1/4 mile from a stop sign. Doesn't make much sense to go at full tilt, stop, full tilt, stop. Wastes energy in cars, wastes energy on bikes.

CastIron

299,792,458 m/s. But not on a wretched Litespeed.

making

I have hit 30 several times, no problem. Dont wanna go much faster.

ShadowGray

ditto... I usually stay around 15 in the city or 20 if roads are clear. On flats I stay around 16-20, it's comfy. Don't know where my max comfortable speed is though.

Beaker

There's one descent in the east bay where I can normally break 50mph, but I'd feel uncomfortable doing that many other places -- it's a smooth road, with great visibility, a long straight section and not much traffic. I checked 40mph, since lower speeds are easier on a wider variety of roads and I'm less on the ragged edge.

mattm

my top speed thus far was 87 km/h (54 mph), solo with no drafting (down mountain, of course). to me 54 felt the same as 40 or 50 - fast!

i'm shooting for 100km/h at some point. need to up the rpms tho.

KevinF

+1. I routinely hit 40 on descents, and I'll normally let it run up to 45mph or so before the first "errrrrr, this is getting fast" doubts start creeping in. I've hit 50+ a couple times under the right conditions without any concern though; the only reason I didn't hit 60 on those was because I ran out of downhill. But I've had descents at 20mph where I've been scared out of my mind due to road conditions, hairpin turns, blasting winds, etc.

Descents seem to be one of two kinds for me... They're either "I don't ever want this to end" or "Dear God, this can't end soon enough". My "personal speed limit" varies wildly depending on which of those situations I find myself in.

Little Darwin

On a nice smooth road, with good visibility and no obstacles. I can enjoy 30ish, so I picked it.

In most situations, in my area, 20ish is my more typical max for feeling good and non-nervous.

Myfirsttrek

I have done 50 twice, Both times were a huge adrenalin rush. I feel a lot more comfortable and stable at 40ish

umd

Unfortunately a lot of the best climbs around me have some of the crappiest roads, so there is no going really fast because its just too jarring, and you have to navigate around massive holes in the road, gattleguards, and other obstructions. There is one mountain descent in particular that, even though it is nearly 10% for 3.5 miles, the best I can do is about 20-25mph, averaging just under 20. There is another road that they repave more frequently as it is closer to town and is more traveled, despite a good number of winding corners, I can average about 30-33mph with peak speeds in the mid 40s. The road where I regularly hit over 50 is a 10% straight shot for a mile, with perfect pavement.

Here is an example of a typical crappy mountain road that I travel on regularly. Not the same one as mentioned above... if anything that one is worse than this in places...


And this is a stretch of road with better pavement that I regularly do mid-40s on. It's not as steep as other places on the road but it is a relatively long straight so you have time to build up speed before you have to brake for the (sharp) corner...

sojourn

40's a THRILL, pushing 50 all I can think of is "what if I spill"!

simplyred

So far, I haven't hit a speed that I haven't been uncomfortable with. [top speed reached: 37 mph]

It's always unnerving for me when I hit a high speed for the first time - but as I do it more, the more comfortable I get... that being said - my top speed isn't exactly speed.

munkyv22

The hills and mountains near Antellope Valley, CA. 62Mph. More!

Psimet2001 

Crossing 50 usually makes me contemplate my mortality, but I still love it.

I voted 60. My mid-50's descents have been fun, but way too short in duration for me. My vote would change drastically depending on my familiarity with the road.

urbanknight

I'm comfortable up to about 40-45 depending on the road.I'm still hoping to break 50 (49.5 was the highest I've caught on my computer to date) but I'm not sure if it will ever be as comfortable as 40.

merlinextraligh

Above 50 gets you thinking. The only time I've been over 60mph however was with a pack in a race, and I didn't think twice about it. Not racing I think I would have backed off.

palookabutt

The highest speed where I start to hit the brakes on a straight downhill is about 45mph, so I rounded up to 50 before I saw the poll rules. Can't change it now.

Around here, you never know when you're going to see wildlife -- deer, elk, maybe even moose or in rare cases, a black bear. I don't like to think what would happen if one of these creatures moseyed onto the road while I'm bombing down a hill. So, 45 is for a straight downhill with lots of visibility; slower speeds if there are trees, tall brush or curvy roads.

sharkey00

I voted 40. I can ride sweeping descents at 37-45 and still have some safety room for obstacles and things like potholes and gravel. Also, I really like sweeping descents with some good turns in them. Anything above that and my sight distance gets too short for the kind of roads I ride on. On a windless straight 4 mi long +10% grade I would go 60 but I don't forsee ever finding that road.