5kdad

Just bought a new Felt road bike. Fastest speed I ever hit on my other bike was about 40mph. After a long ride which included many hills, I'm wondering if my odometer is working correctly. Says my maximum speed was 55.7mph (yes, it's set to mph, not kilometers per hour). Can't imagine I actually went that fast, but when going off a hill, I don't often look down at the speedometer.
But computers don't make mistakes, right?

KevinF

50+ mph is certainly possible on a road bike, although it usually takes a pretty steep downhill to do it. And if your old max speed was 40mph, you'd know for sure if you exceeded that my 15mph.

Is your computer wired or wireless? Overheard power lines are known to interfere with the wireless variety. Did you input your tire size correctly? Old batteries? My computer has a habit of claiming I'm doing 75.5 mph once the batteries start dyring.

msincredible

+1 on issues with wireless computers, I've gone 85 mph at a stoplight and 0 mph while riding with a headlight on next to the computer.

My top speed is 45 mph (with a wired computer).

5kdad

It's wireless.
The bike shop set it up for me, only had the bike 4 days when hit the "top" speed, new odometer, wouldn't think battery was an issue. Seems to register correctly on speed, distance and other times on max speed.
Hadn't heard about overhead power lines causing a problem, I'll sure watch it closer on my next long ride.
I took a photo of it, posted it on my blog. Seems to really impress the non-biking friends who think computers don't lie......lol
Thanks.

Wordbiker

Wireless computers work on the same narrow band allowed by the FCC for wireless routers, family band radios, cordless phones, etc. You may experience interference from a lot more sources than overhead powerlines in congested neighborhoods.

My take on wired versus wireless computer reliability is best summed up in the phrase, "Can you hear me now?"

rbrian

I hit 50mph (according to my computer) on Kirkstone Pass, a long, 1 in 4 downhill on a mountain bike, complete with knobbly tyres. I think it's pretty accurate - when I was testing it after setting it up, I set off a 30mph sign at 32mph, but not at 28mph, and 1 mile on the map measured 1 mile on my odometer. On that run, which was slightly damp, and twisty, so I was afraid to brake, I overtook cars, and the tyres were squealing on the corners. At the top, I pedalled until I ran out of gears, the last time I glanced down I was doing 44mph.

knobster

I've gotten up to 51 mph on a hill with my old Trek 520 touring bike. My road bike (Specialized Roubaix Comp) could never get up to that speed on a hill. I'd need a mountain. Gearing and weight is what holds the Roubaix back. Huge difference going up the hills though!

one_beatnik

In 1997 on the last day of RAGBRAI, I hit 52 on a wired computer. That was on a 1979 Motobecane Mirage. I was exhausted at the bottom of the hill from hanging on so tight! Yes it was a steep, long hill. It was also LOTS of fun.

BeretCyclist

On my way to a job last year I'd constantly draft large vehicles...50 mph was about the most I'd like to pedal, as there was no air drag. However, one time, and only once, I was still following a garbage truck after a few miles and decided i'd finally stay behind going down the hill. I hit 57mph. And then was doing 30 up the hill haha. Speed limit on that stretch was 45, and people would pass me as i was doing 40+, and they'd have a smile as they went by...that was pretty cool.

umd

I've hit 56... it's certainly possible but you know you are going that fast. If you can't imagine having gone that fast then you most likely didn't. Yes, it is possible that computers get false readings.

Velo Dog

54.1 on a wired computer, one time. I was going down a steep hill with a tailwind without thinking about speed, and i glanced down and saw 49.2.
Can't get that close without trying for 50, so I pedaled for a few seconds just to account for 'puter error. Then I remembered that everything on the bike was bought off clearance tables and installed and maintained by me, and I backed off and sat up. I'm comfortable at 40.

coldfeet

I had 70 kph once going down Sinclair pass in BC, thats 43.5 mph, would have gone faster, but a wobble started, presumably because i was using one front pannier. The wobble somewhat cooled my enthusiasm. A tandem couple on the same descent exceeded 99 kph, they don't know by how much as the speedo only registered up to 99.

DavidLee

33 mph down a pretty good hill, I'm a wuss after my accident & surgery.

dprayvd

...

yak

Munson Road, East Longmeadow, Ma

joshandlauri

43.9 mph, 7% downhill

Bekologist

new computer, have you checked the accuracy of the wheel size by doing a measured mile? computer should get to 1 percent accuracy.

I'm with UMD.... you'd know it! over 50 MPH on a bike is stunningly quick. really, really fast.

here's 40mph on handheld video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiQ89...e=channel_page


I've broken 55 MPH off the North Cascades highway, and get to 50 regularily around town on one hill with a great runout.

How exhilarating was it? were you freaked out by the speed?

Machka 

Wireless computers definitely make mistakes ... go under powerlines, and you'll either cut out or suddenly appear to be going 100 km/h.

Fastest I've gone is 80 km/h descending on a tandem ... definitely noticable!!

DMF 

The fastest I've seen is 44 (wired) but terror tends to fix one's eyes on the road...

djwid

I have hit 51mph on a local rolling hill loop I use for the purpose of fast runs. Regarding the claim that you would know if you hit 50 mph, I notice my speed as it gets into the 40s generally but I then am paying attention to bike handling and checking the top speed in the download later.

degnaw

I've gone 35 in the past.

Then I crashed at 29mph, and haven't really pedaled above 25mph since.

Sixty Fiver

After riding at 90 kmh (56.7 mph) I can tell you it is something you will never forget... it is stupidly fast.

After 20 years it still makes me clench up.

stevemtbr

56MPH with the Mt. bike on a fire road in California. If the wind is right I'll hit 55MPH on the road bike at the bottom of Rambo Rd. hill which is on one of my commute routes heading home.

Sixty Fiver

My fastest recorded speed (ever) was 260 kmh as that's where I had to back off the throttle on my Honda due to increasing anxiety about dying...

umd

I crashed at 28-29mph and barely got a scratch... of course the guys I ran into and landed on broke my fall