Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

What’s your top end sprint speed?

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

What’s your top end sprint speed?

Old 08-22-19, 12:38 PM
  #26  
caloso
Senior Member
 
caloso's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times in 1,417 Posts
Originally Posted by Homebrew01
On a flat road with no wind, most bikes have a big enough gear already.
I was never in top gear in criterium race sprints.
Truth. I've lost a sprint because I was in too big of a gear coming out of the final corner and got bogged down.
caloso is offline  
Likes For caloso:
Old 08-22-19, 01:01 PM
  #27  
Korina
Happy banana slug
 
Korina's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,752

Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930

Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1524 Post(s)
Liked 1,513 Times in 906 Posts
I once hit 17 mph for about two miles. I was chasing another cyclist who was just a little bit faster than me. I was like a slow, portly greyhound with a toy rabbit. If' I'd have caught her, I would have thanked her for the workout.

Does that count?
Korina is offline  
Likes For Korina:
Old 08-22-19, 05:59 PM
  #28  
bruce19
Senior Member
 
bruce19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,456

Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1722 Post(s)
Liked 1,272 Times in 734 Posts
Originally Posted by Lowerkeys
On flat surface with no wind assist? I have gotten to 34 mph but working on improving it
What gearing and cadence?
bruce19 is offline  
Likes For bruce19:
Old 08-22-19, 07:12 PM
  #29  
devianb
Senior Member
 
devianb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 868

Bikes: 2008 Dawes Haymaker 20XX Leader LD515 TotoCycling Road Bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 28 Times in 18 Posts
37mph with wind, and 34mph without wind for about 3 seconds.
devianb is offline  
Old 08-22-19, 07:46 PM
  #30  
SHBR
C*pt*i* Obvious
 
SHBR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 1,337
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 596 Post(s)
Liked 53 Times in 44 Posts
No wind, don't think that exists anywhere outdoors.

45-50kph is typical for me if I want to catch a light or another rider etc.

Single speed, 46X16.
SHBR is offline  
Old 08-22-19, 10:23 PM
  #31  
Sidewalk
I ride all the bikes
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Loma Linda, CA
Posts: 13

Bikes: Super6 Evo, Enduro, F-Si, and a few others.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
I don't know what my flat ground max without wind is. Kinda curious now. I did 0-30 the other night when I was doing some sprints intervals and caught a red light. I know with my 50x11 I spin out at 40 mph at 115 rpm with a tail wind (segment only a hand full of locals hit). But I wish for lower gearing way more often than taller gearing, so I'm not going with a 52 just for that ultra rare occasion.
Sidewalk is offline  
Old 08-22-19, 11:06 PM
  #32  
DrIsotope
Non omnino gravis
 
DrIsotope's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: SoCal, USA!
Posts: 8,553

Bikes: Nekobasu, Pandicorn, Lakitu

Mentioned: 119 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4905 Post(s)
Liked 1,731 Times in 958 Posts
This thread popped into my head during this morning's ride. I still don't know what my top sprint speed is, but I do know that for me, 25mph takes about 220W, while 30mph takes a bit over 500W. I did 30-ish for maybe 8 or 10 seconds.

I can generate 500W for about one minute, so I reckon I can solo ~30mph for about a minute, then collapse into a field. How fast I've gone for a few seconds? <shrug> My 15-second power is about 800W, but wind drag means I might get to... 35... ish?
__________________
DrIsotope is offline  
Old 08-23-19, 05:47 AM
  #33  
bruce19
Senior Member
 
bruce19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,456

Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1722 Post(s)
Liked 1,272 Times in 734 Posts
https://www.bikecalc.com/speed_at_cadence

.....for informational purposes.
bruce19 is offline  
Old 08-23-19, 05:49 AM
  #34  
bruce19
Senior Member
 
bruce19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,456

Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1722 Post(s)
Liked 1,272 Times in 734 Posts
The only place I ride that may be applicable is a .8 mi, relatively flat, Strava segment that I have done a hair under 25 mph this year at age 73.
bruce19 is offline  
Likes For bruce19:
Old 08-23-19, 06:08 AM
  #35  
BFisher
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,336
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 767 Post(s)
Liked 1,897 Times in 889 Posts
I can hit 35 on my Ironman - 50/11 gearing - alone on a flat, straight with no wind. I'm 39, 160 lbs. Never tried to spin it out, don't know if I can.
BFisher is offline  
Old 08-23-19, 11:07 AM
  #36  
jadocs
Senior Member
 
jadocs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 2,192

Bikes: Ti, Mn Cr Ni Mo Nb, Al, C

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 942 Post(s)
Liked 526 Times in 349 Posts
I have averaged 34.2 mph over .31 miles at 624 watts on a flat KOM. I topped out at 38 mph. I'm pretty sure I can hit 40 if I worked on it.
jadocs is offline  
Old 08-23-19, 05:00 PM
  #37  
gringomojado
Full Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 475
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 200 Post(s)
Liked 136 Times in 86 Posts
Originally Posted by FiftySix
There is a neighborhood near me that has the radar equipped speed indicating signs. It takes at least 15 mph to make them turn on. The speed limit in that neighborhood is 25 mph.

Let's just say I've never been in fear of getting a speeding ticket on my 8-speed, 7-speed, and single speed bikes I've taken through there.
once the radar sign showed 28 mph with me trying to sprint on my old Trek 820.felt great until I noticed a car had snuck out of a side street behind me
gringomojado is offline  
Likes For gringomojado:
Old 08-23-19, 05:18 PM
  #38  
Bluesfrog
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 163
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Liked 19 Times in 18 Posts
Huh? On a Trek 520? At 68 years old? Be Well. BluesFrog
Bluesfrog is offline  
Old 08-23-19, 05:49 PM
  #39  
Rollfast
What happened?
 
Rollfast's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Around here somewhere
Posts: 8,050

Bikes: 3 Rollfasts, 3 Schwinns, a Shelby and a Higgins Flightliner in a pear tree!

Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1835 Post(s)
Liked 292 Times in 255 Posts
I just pedal. I'm not wanting to be HR Huffnpuff.
__________________
I don't know nothing, and I memorized it in school and got this here paper I'm proud of to show it.
Rollfast is offline  
Old 08-23-19, 08:38 PM
  #40  
jamesdak 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,823

Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,

Mentioned: 154 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2300 Post(s)
Liked 4,764 Times in 1,725 Posts
Well looking at my few (very few, lol) KOM's on strava the fastest max was 37.4 back in 2017. 2018 was a bad year. I've hit 40 on my old Bontrager Node II computer but I don't remember the conditions. I ride alone and won't shoot for a KOM if I've got a tailwind. Needs to be calm or a tad of headwind or to me it's not an honest effort. None of it really matters other than just something to make me work harder. I don't think I've even seen 34 mph this year, I'm getting old....
__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
jamesdak is online now  
Old 08-24-19, 01:51 AM
  #41  
canklecat
Me duelen las nalgas
 
canklecat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,522

Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel

Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4558 Post(s)
Liked 2,798 Times in 1,798 Posts
There isn't a single flat segment longer than 100 yards on my usual routes. Strava doesn't permit creating micro segments that qualify as sprints in terms of a typical crit, so I can only guesstimate my top speed at 32 mph for a few seconds. I'm not sure I've ever tried to completely max out my effort on a sprint on solo workouts, though. Usually those come when I'm on an easy ride and decide to try pushing a little harder, or during interval sessions.

I've set up a few private segments on undulating terrain where the rises and dips average out to 0%. Looks like my best speeds over a mile on reasonably flat terrain sheltered from wind are around 23 mph. My best on a 1/3rd mile segment was 30 mph. Fastest on a -1% downhill over 1.5 miles was 30 mph, peaking at 42 mph for 20 seconds.

Best over a 6 mile TT undulating segment with some steep punchy climbs was 25 mph. That was good for 2nd place on Strava for awhile but I've been bumped down to 8th. The KOM is 28 mph. That's on open prairie, lots of wind. It's never not windy there, usually crosswinds.

I rarely do max effort sprints. Mostly I work on climbs and sustained effort over 20-50 miles. My short distance max speed is okay. I have trouble with endurance. I'm not even fast among the serious cyclists in my age group. And my fastest times were a couple of years ago before injuries and illnesses. It's been a slow slog back into good fitness.
canklecat is offline  
Old 08-24-19, 01:56 AM
  #42  
KraneXL
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: La-la Land, CA
Posts: 3,623

Bikes: Cannondale Quick SL1 Bike - 2014

Mentioned: 32 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3405 Post(s)
Liked 240 Times in 185 Posts
Originally Posted by jamesdak
Well looking at my few (very few, lol) KOM's on strava the fastest max was 37.4 back in 2017. 2018 was a bad year. I've hit 40 on my old Bontrager Node II computer but I don't remember the conditions. I ride alone and won't shoot for a KOM if I've got a tailwind. Needs to be calm or a tad of headwind or to me it's not an honest effort. None of it really matters other than just something to make me work harder. I don't think I've even seen 34 mph this year, I'm getting old....
You can always retire to an e-bike and BOOM! You're 21 again.
KraneXL is offline  
Likes For KraneXL:
Old 08-24-19, 04:29 AM
  #43  
aclinjury
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 660
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 497 Post(s)
Liked 170 Times in 128 Posts
Originally Posted by jadocs
I have averaged 34.2 mph over .31 miles at 624 watts on a flat KOM. I topped out at 38 mph. I'm pretty sure I can hit 40 if I worked on it.
38 to 40 is harder than you think, nobody hits 40 by himself on the road
aclinjury is offline  
Old 08-24-19, 04:34 AM
  #44  
nomadmax 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 2,409
Mentioned: 93 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1103 Post(s)
Liked 1,823 Times in 878 Posts
Originally Posted by caloso
Truth. I've lost a sprint because I was in too big of a gear coming out of the final corner and got bogged down.
A 52x15 was my gear, I could wind it up quick for a gap. If it looked like more gear was needed I'd loosen the thumb screw (just slightly) on my Campy RD shifter and start in the 15. By the time I was running out of gear it would "auto shift" to the 13 cog.
nomadmax is offline  
Old 08-24-19, 06:44 AM
  #45  
jamesdak 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,823

Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,

Mentioned: 154 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2300 Post(s)
Liked 4,764 Times in 1,725 Posts
Originally Posted by aclinjury
38 to 40 is harder than you think, nobody hits 40 by himself on the road
Really? Hmmmm....new goal......prove this wrong.
__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
jamesdak is online now  
Old 08-24-19, 06:45 AM
  #46  
jamesdak 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,823

Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,

Mentioned: 154 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2300 Post(s)
Liked 4,764 Times in 1,725 Posts
Originally Posted by KraneXL
You can always retire to an e-bike and BOOM! You're 21 again.
BLASPHEMY!!!!
__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
jamesdak is online now  
Old 08-24-19, 01:37 PM
  #47  
Loose Chain
Senior Member
 
Loose Chain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 2,067

Bikes: 84 Pinarello Trevisio, 86 Guerciotti SLX, 96 Specialized Stumpjumper, 2010 Surly Cross Check, 88 Centurion Prestige, 73 Raleigh Sports, GT Force, Bridgestone MB4

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 278 Post(s)
Liked 71 Times in 56 Posts
I have not always had speedometers and GPS, especially in my younger and competitive times. I have seen 35 MPH but I could question that accuracy being it was an early Cateye and what if I did not have it exactly dialed in. I have done 40K in one hour during my serious triathlon years. My cruising speed are anywhere from my 12.6 avg. on a gravel ride today on a MB4 MTB to maybe 18 MPH on my road bikes like my souped up GT or Guerc SLX. But I am heading to 66 years on this planet also. There you go. A few weeks ago I ran the GT up to 26 MPH, I may have had a breeze, did not do a two-way average as I was just having fun doing a sprint and not dying as a result, always a good thing.
Loose Chain is offline  
Old 08-24-19, 03:30 PM
  #48  
TKJava
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: North Eastern U.S.
Posts: 134

Bikes: Canyon Endurace, Kestrel RT1000 Ultegra

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 56 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts
Originally Posted by Lowerkeys
On flat surface with no wind assist? I have gotten to 34 mph but working on improving it
I have a bike with a compact crankset (50/34) and a cassette with 11/28. A nice bike carbon fiber with full Ultegra and the frame is somewhat aero. On a flat road giving it all I have I can hit 32 for about 10 seconds then I"m spent. For me part of the limitation comes from the gearing in that I cannot ride at high cadence. In a spin class or on a spin bike that provides a cadence readout (my bike does not) my legs can only comfortably churn at roughly 110 RPM. If I back off the tension (spin bike) I don't go any faster its a limit on my legs and super high cadence hurts my back. I mention this because due to gearing your cadence limitation is a factor in how fast you can go so I'm at max RPM for me to hit that speed and hold it very long. The hold it part is of course a matter of cardio endurance not gearing or the bike (its an engine problem).
TKJava is offline  
Old 08-24-19, 03:44 PM
  #49  
Lemond1985
Sophomore Member
 
Lemond1985's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,690
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1628 Post(s)
Liked 1,057 Times in 631 Posts
Originally Posted by KraneXL
You can always retire to an e-bike and BOOM! You're 21 again.
I have to wonder whether those electric "bicycles" will someday have various power settings you can choose from, with the click of a menu. BOOM! "Greg Lemond, 1989 TDF, Final Time Trial". "Eddy Merckx, 1968", "Miguel Indurain, 1996", "Major Taylor 1899", "Fausto Coppi, 1940", etc., and it will put out the exact same wattage as they did. While you sit on your butt and do nothing.
Lemond1985 is offline  
Old 08-24-19, 05:14 PM
  #50  
aclinjury
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 660
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 497 Post(s)
Liked 170 Times in 128 Posts
Originally Posted by jamesdak
Really? Hmmmm....new goal......prove this wrong.
I don't expect anyone in here to hit 40 mph by himself unassisted on the road, no freakin way.

Go to a local indoor veledrome, where the condition is as ideal as it'll get, if anyone is hitting 38 mph, they're gooood.
On the road, to hit 40 mph by yourself unassisted would require power north of 2000 watts.

But let's just see some examples of what it takes to hit speed close to 40 mph (64 kph):

2018 Men's 1 km trial - 59 kph, World record


2018 Men's team sprint: 62 kph (bronze medal)

Here's a vide of your typical club sprinter hitting 1300-1500w and hitting 33-35 mph
(there is no way these guys will ever get to 40 mph)

Local cat1 guys around here can hit 38 mph in a bunch sprint, but this includes major drafting.

Most Tour stage finishing sprint speed are under 40 mph.

If anyone can hit 40 on the road by himself without assistance, they're definitely a talent.

The only guys that can hit over 40 mph are world-class track match sprinters (these guys are freaks themselves, blessed with exceptional genetics).
aclinjury is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.