Originally Posted by
big john
The speeds people are talking about, 50 mph or higher, riders are generally spun out, just coasting in a tuck. Unless you can spin a huge gear and remain aerodynamic you can't pedal above 50 mph.
Probably true. One year I was doing BRAT and had installed a 58T chainring especially for the ride. On the last day, I was coasting down a moderately large but not particularly steep hill and noted that my speed had topped out at 49 mph. "That's not going to do..." I thought, and spun up high gear to 51 mph. That was a lot of effort for only 2 mph... but worth it!