What is your cruise speed in top gear on flat ground?
#1
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What is your cruise speed in top gear on flat ground?
Rode 3.5 miles in 17 mins.
Noticed my cruise speed on flat ground, in top gear, was 15mph.
What is your cruise speed in top gear on flat ground?
Noticed my cruise speed on flat ground, in top gear, was 15mph.
What is your cruise speed in top gear on flat ground?
#2
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Top gear on flat ground isn't really for "cruising."
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I enjoy blowing out my knees, so I rock 50/11 on flat road at 80rpm. That means 30mph. Anything slower and you are doing it wrong.
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By "cruise speed", I will assume you mean a fairly easy-to-moderate effort level that can be sustained for a long distance. Assuming flat ground, with no wind, riding my road bike, it's probably going to be somewhere around 18-20mph (I'm guessing, since we really don't have much in the way of actual flat ground). I would not use my top gear (53x11) for that kind of riding, however. I would use a gear ratio that results in 85-90rpm, which is were I tend to be most efficient.
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Last edited by Eric F; 04-21-23 at 11:11 AM.
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#6
slow on any terrain
see no point to the snark
50-11 for me yields about 15 mph at a comfortable pace
#7
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#8
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Flat ground is relatively difficult to come by where I live. However, when I go visit mom in ironing-board flat Florida, I would say my cruising speed is around 16-17mph. I can sustain 20+ (on flat ground) for a few miles, but not long term.
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What is this "flat" of which you write?
12 mph on the uphill flats, 20 on the downhill parts?
12 mph on the uphill flats, 20 on the downhill parts?
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My speed in top gear on a flat grade is indeterminate, because I never use the top gear on a flat grade.
My "just pedaling along, I could do this pace forever" speed on a flat grade with no wind is, um, about 18 mph. But it's really hard to find those conditions around here, so that speed is a guess.
My "just pedaling along, I could do this pace forever" speed on a flat grade with no wind is, um, about 18 mph. But it's really hard to find those conditions around here, so that speed is a guess.
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#11
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I have 1/2/3 and 1/2/3/4/5/6/7 for my gears.
On flat, I put it on 3/7 and can hold a moderately resistance pedal
I will try to count rpms next time
On flat, I put it on 3/7 and can hold a moderately resistance pedal
I will try to count rpms next time
#12
slow on any terrain
Poking around the internet this afternoon has made me aware of the benefit of higher cadence and the availability of cadence sensors. A change in technique may be in the offing for me.
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I'm starting to see the error of my ways: Have always assumed that the objective is to ride the tallest gear that is comfortable and that i should ride front-big and rear-little as much as possible.
Poking around the internet this afternoon has made me aware of the benefit of higher cadence and the availability of cadence sensors. A change in technique may be in the offing for me.
Poking around the internet this afternoon has made me aware of the benefit of higher cadence and the availability of cadence sensors. A change in technique may be in the offing for me.
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Here is a calculator, you can figure speed with any gearing and rpm w/o wondering. calc
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Your top gear is probably 48-14 which isnt as big as most bikes, but still pretty big and hard for most people to cruise in. Try 3-6, which for you is 48-16, often considered the golden ratio. I bet you would cruise at closer to 16 mph there
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If you didn't do it on a velodrome, it doesn't count as "flat"
And like others, I only use my "top gear" for descending.
And like others, I only use my "top gear" for descending.
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My average cadence is only about 75rpm, just never seem to have the ability for faster for any real length of time. My cruising speed is about 19mph, always hard to fully estimate due to wind which would be about a 75rpm in a 53/16. Track bike runs a 53/15 and it seems easier maintaining my 75-80ish cadence on a fixie though I'm still not fast enough on it for the competition.
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My normal cadence and gearing on my own generally 17-19 depending on how bad the wind is. If the wind is low to non-existent, 20 to 22 on avg. If I am in a group and they are going quick, I can normally hang up to 24-25 for a good distance. But that is not in my top gearing, I will probably never be in that as I have no hills to descend on.
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Last edited by jaxgtr; 04-19-23 at 10:13 PM.
#20
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It's very flat where I live but I get worn out quickly if I ride faster than about 17 MPH for a long time. Sure, I could go faster.... But not for a long time. I'd need to be on a downhill to utilize the faster gears.
On the other hand.... My old Sears 10-speed bike (2x5) was geared such that the fastest/hardest combination was just about ideal for cruising speed. I was also younger and stronger in those days.
On the other hand.... My old Sears 10-speed bike (2x5) was geared such that the fastest/hardest combination was just about ideal for cruising speed. I was also younger and stronger in those days.
#21
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Very little ground here in Shanghai isn't flat, so I'm very familiar with riding on the flats. On my new Ti road bike I could probably hold 32km/h for hours at a cadence around 90. My large chainring is a 50t, and I think I'd probably be running around 16t or 17t out back in the most comfortable gear for long distance cruising.
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Cruise speed in top gear on the flats?
Well, as always, that would depend = on the bike and it's gearing.
54/12 down to 46/14, because ... cruising requires variable speeds to best take in the scenery.
Well, as always, that would depend = on the bike and it's gearing.
54/12 down to 46/14, because ... cruising requires variable speeds to best take in the scenery.
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Jeremy Clarkson may have some thoughts on Top Gear (speeds).
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not sure what I can sustain in such a gear range, & if I can sustain a good speed with a comfortable cadence then I would be looking to change my gearing up.... If the big ring with small cog doesn't give me a struggle, then I'm either getting younger or it's the wrong gearing.
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Probably not as fast as it was 40 years ago. But I still enjoy riding.
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