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 08-21-19, 10:07 AM
  #1  
Lowerkeys
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
What’s your top end sprint speed?

On flat surface with no wind assist? I have gotten to 34 mph but working on improving it
Lowerkeys is offline  
Old 08-21-19, 10:30 AM
  #2  
livedarklions
Tragically Ignorant
 
livedarklions's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613

Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM

Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,094 Times in 5,053 Posts
I'm taking the question to be about whether you can realistically expect to improve that, and maybe how.

This probably isn't the right forum for that. Try this one instead:

https://www.bikeforums.net/training-nutrition/
livedarklions is offline  
Old 08-21-19, 11:28 AM
  #3  
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
With a leadout or no?
caloso is offline  
Likes For caloso:
Old 08-21-19, 11:52 AM
  #4  
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
This is a horsepower question. So basically, whoever has the biggest highest output will have the highest top speed on a flat. So, basically, a muscle car.

I'm a Miata myself.
Sidewalk is offline  
Likes For Sidewalk:
Old 08-21-19, 01:26 PM
  #5  
bcpriess
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 289

Bikes: Masi Giramondo, Trek 830 monstercross build, Raleigh Gran Sport, Lemond Tourmalet

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 121 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times in 12 Posts
On flat gravel w/o wind, 3 min around 23-24mph. There may be a higher peak in there somewhere. Never tried on blacktop. It's just a HIIT interval though, no relationship to racing or other riders. Does this actually matter to anyone?
bcpriess is offline  
Old 08-21-19, 01:29 PM
  #6  
OldTryGuy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SW Fl.
Posts: 5,604

Bikes: Day6 Semi Recumbent "FIREBALL", 1981 Custom Touring Paramount, 1983 Road Paramount, 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL3, 2018 Specialized Red Roubaix Expert mech., 2002 Magna 7sp hybrid, 1976 Bassett Racing 45sp Cruiser

Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1063 Post(s)
Liked 771 Times in 499 Posts
Seriously, I'm now my old college day's 1963 VW Beetle. Not even an extra helping of Blazing Saddles dinner would help. In my BC time (before cancer) managed low 30mph

Last edited by cb400bill; 08-21-19 at 05:51 PM. Reason: clean up
OldTryGuy is offline  
Likes For OldTryGuy:
Old 08-21-19, 01:57 PM
  #7  
DomaneS5
Fredly Fredster
 
DomaneS5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 639

Bikes: Trek Domane S5, Trek 1.1c, Motobecane Omni Strada Comp, Trek X-Caliber 6

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 207 Post(s)
Liked 18 Times in 14 Posts
Road bike... 25mph, give or take.
Gravel bike.... 18mph, give or take.
Mountain bike... slow
DomaneS5 is offline  
Old 08-21-19, 02:53 PM
  #8  
Reynolds 
Passista
 
Reynolds's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,584

Bikes: 1998 Pinarello Asolo, 1992 KHS Montaña pro, 1980 Raleigh DL-1, IGH Hybrid, IGH Utility

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 866 Post(s)
Liked 711 Times in 392 Posts
Used to be about 46kph/29mph. I'm not a pure sprinter, I guess.
Reynolds is offline  
Old 08-21-19, 03:50 PM
  #9  
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
My hybrid spins out at 34 mph.
KraneXL is offline  
Old 08-21-19, 04:53 PM
  #10  
Doge
Senior Member
 
Doge's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Southern California, USA
Posts: 10,474

Bikes: 1979 Raleigh Team 753

Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3374 Post(s)
Liked 371 Times in 253 Posts
I assume the question meant I (or you) go out on my bike alone and am on a flat section and there is no wind - and I sprint. Funny, in 40 plus years of cycling, I really don't know, I never did that.
Been in some group sprints over 40 on a single. Tandem (flat, no wind) you had to do 45 to come around us. Then that was when "we" turned out 3,000W. I was very good at picking the right partner.
Doge is offline  
Old 08-21-19, 04:57 PM
  #11  
HTupolev
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Seattle
Posts: 4,261
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1971 Post(s)
Liked 1,297 Times in 629 Posts
Originally Posted by DomaneS5
Road bike... 25mph, give or take.
Gravel bike.... 18mph, give or take.
What's wrong with your gravel bike?
HTupolev is online now  
Old 08-21-19, 04:58 PM
  #12  
FiftySix
I'm the anecdote.
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: S.E. Texas
Posts: 1,823

Bikes: '12 Schwinn, '13 Norco

Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,176 Times in 795 Posts
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.
FiftySix is offline  
Old 08-21-19, 05:54 PM
  #13  
cb400bill
Forum Moderator
 
cb400bill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 21,321

Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Schwinn Waterford PMount Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista

Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3059 Post(s)
Liked 6,377 Times in 3,690 Posts
Originally Posted by Lowerkeys
On flat surface with no wind assist? I have gotten to 34 mph but working on improving it
According to my Garmin, 33.5 mph.
cb400bill is offline  
Old 08-21-19, 05:55 PM
  #14  
cb400bill
Forum Moderator
 
cb400bill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 21,321

Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Schwinn Waterford PMount Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista

Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3059 Post(s)
Liked 6,377 Times in 3,690 Posts
We just deleted a bunch of non-helpful posts. If you can't, or won't, help out a new forum member asking a legitimate question, I suggest moving on to a different thread.
cb400bill is offline  
Old 08-21-19, 06:16 PM
  #15  
shelbyfv
Expired Member
 
shelbyfv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,455
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3637 Post(s)
Liked 5,314 Times in 2,700 Posts
I don't know why this wouldn't be helpful, but a bigger gear seems obvious. Post what you are currently using.
shelbyfv is offline  
Old 08-21-19, 06:16 PM
  #16  
one4smoke
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Nashville, TN.
Posts: 2,176

Bikes: 2020 Specialized Roubaix Comp SC - 2016 Specialized Roubaix SL4 - 2015 Giant Roam 2 Disc

Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 639 Post(s)
Liked 338 Times in 224 Posts
Wouldn't swear it was completely flat, but after about 65 miles of riding last Sunday, I gave it all I had with an all-out sprint on a stretch of road before I hit the MUP again, and the top speed was 35 mph.
one4smoke is offline  
Old 08-21-19, 06:17 PM
  #17  
OmegaWolf
on your lawn
 
OmegaWolf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 175

Bikes: 1995 Trek 370, 1997 Trek 800 Sport, 2013 Specialized Crossroads Elite, 2016 Trek Emonda ALR5, 1991 Fuji Roubaix

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Liked 19 Times in 12 Posts
When I was in my 20s and 30s I could go about 35 MPH on level pavement with no wind. The last 10 years or so I can't seem to ever get over 28.
OmegaWolf is offline  
Old 08-21-19, 06:20 PM
  #18  
guachi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 520
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 229 Post(s)
Liked 327 Times in 179 Posts
The only place I feel safe enough doing a full sprint is on Zwift and it gives to the benefit of better aerodynamics than I can probably manage on my own.

That being said, I can do 700 watts in the drops for 45 seconds and I'm a terrible sprinter out of the saddle. And that's probably good for 33-34 mph.

I doubt I can do much better. My FTP is up from about 245 to 285 over the previous three months but my top end has gone basically nowhere. Apparently I did 900 watts for 15 seconds in June and I still have no idea how I managed that.
guachi is offline  
Old 08-21-19, 06:38 PM
  #19  
BlazingPedals
Senior Member
 
BlazingPedals's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of da Mitten
Posts: 12,474

Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1511 Post(s)
Liked 733 Times in 454 Posts
As someone wrote in an unhelpful, deleted post, the first liar always loses in these kinds of threads. I can say that one of my flat KOMs on Strava is 31.+ mph. For a mile. But that'll never matter to you.
BlazingPedals is offline  
Old 08-21-19, 06:40 PM
  #20  
zarbog
Senior Member
 
zarbog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Golden Horseshoe
Posts: 147

Bikes: Giant SLR GX1 Toughroad

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 65 Post(s)
Liked 22 Times in 16 Posts
I have a short section of flat good quality paved road near me. I can sustain 34 kph on it or just over 21 mph. It is not even a mile long. On the rail trail with the same bike on crushed cinder I can do 29kph, or 18 miles per hour. Thats on a Giant toughroad, with 40mm tires at 50 and 55 psi, and me at 69 and still 15 pounds overweight. I have really just lost enough belly fat to get down in the drops comfortably and am now getting down in that position a few times a ride but those speeds are on the hoods.
zarbog is offline  
Old 08-21-19, 07:18 PM
  #21  
Dirt Farmer
Senior Member
 
Dirt Farmer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Madison, Wi.
Posts: 1,181

Bikes: Jamis Quest Elite; Fuji Sagres; Trek Fuel EX 8

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 329 Post(s)
Liked 73 Times in 53 Posts
Sprinting to me ain't biking, that's working!

I sometimes wonder how fast I could sprint. It's nowhere near a serious ponder, but I have thought about it once or twice.
Dirt Farmer is offline  
Old 08-21-19, 09:22 PM
  #22  
Homebrew01
Super Moderator
 
Homebrew01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
Posts: 21,845

Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1173 Post(s)
Liked 923 Times in 609 Posts
Originally Posted by shelbyfv
I don't know why this wouldn't be helpful, but a bigger gear seems obvious. Post what you are currently using.
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.
__________________
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.

FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
Homebrew01 is offline  
Likes For Homebrew01:
Old 08-22-19, 04:58 AM
  #23  
shelbyfv
Expired Member
 
shelbyfv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,455
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3637 Post(s)
Liked 5,314 Times in 2,700 Posts
I agree completely. For my purposes even 50t is fine. OP apparently has a specific goal, unrelated to overall suitability. Why is another question....
shelbyfv is offline  
Old 08-22-19, 05:25 AM
  #24  
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
34.1 mph (just kidding).
Lemond1985 is offline  
Old 08-22-19, 06:21 AM
  #25  
Cl904
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 331
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 106 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 36 Times in 23 Posts
As far as I can tell... I was trying to stay ahead of traffic on the road. It worked.
Cl904 is offline  
Likes For Cl904:

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.