How fast have you ridden?
#126
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#127
Grupetto Bob
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I flew at 562 MPH in a Boeing Dreamliner in Sept. Just as relevant? Top speed in a car at a track 138 MPH. Top speed for a mile in a 10K run, 7 MPH. Apples and oranges just like bicycles and motorbikes? Yeah they both have two wheels and obey the same laws of physics but engine versus human power puts them in different realms like sail and power boats, Sorry but I had to rant.
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#129
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I flew at 562 MPH in a Boeing Dreamliner in Sept. Just as relevant? Top speed in a car at a track 138 MPH. Top speed for a mile in a 10K run, 7 MPH. Apples and oranges just like bicycles and motorbikes? Yeah they both have two wheels and obey the same laws of physics but engine versus human power puts them in different realms like sail and power boats, Sorry but I had to rant.
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#131
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My bad. Just reacting to the escalating number of motorcycle posts in a bicycle forum. Apologies
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#133
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No worries. But upon further reflection, I think the fastest that I've gone on a bicycle (70mph) was riskier than the fastest that I've gone on a motorcycle (150mph). On the motorcycle, I had full leather gear and an airbag vest on a racetrack on a motorcycle with massive dual front disks with ABS. On the bicycle, I was on a public road with just lycra and a bit of foam on my head, riding on 23mm tires and with just 2 small calipers squeezing the rims. A crash on the bicycle would have been much worse.
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#134
Senior Member
No worries. But upon further reflection, I think the fastest that I've gone on a bicycle (70mph) was riskier than the fastest that I've gone on a motorcycle (150mph). On the motorcycle, I had full leather gear and an airbag vest on a racetrack on a motorcycle with massive dual front disks with ABS. On the bicycle, I was on a public road with just lycra and a bit of foam on my head, riding on 23mm tires and with just 2 small calipers squeezing the rims. A crash on the bicycle would have been much worse.
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#135
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I once fought for many hours to get to the top of one of the Atlas mountains in Morocco, on my touring bike loaded with 15 kg, so I freewheeled down the other side with 75 km/h / 47 mph . At the bottom I stopped to have a wee and when I came back to the bike, one of the tyres were flat !! Since then I go much slower down the mountains.
#136
Senior Member
I don’t know about 70mph on a bicycle but I watched a video of champion cyclist Tom Pidcock shooting down Tuna Canyon in Malibu and it scared the stuffing out of me . He hit just over 50mph ….and he is a pro. I was coming into Atascadero after a pretty steep climb on one of my classic road bikes, a 1973 Windsor Pro with Phil Woods hubs and 700 x 28 tires pumped up to about 90lbs. The downhill sweeping canyon was beautiful and it was just that kind of day. I just decided to go for it and gave it everything I had . I hit 38mph according to Strava . I don’t think I will ever do that again at my age. Two years after that , at an event , I went down at 12mph and spent the day in the hospital with 6 broken bones and quite a bit of road rash. The time I hit 38 , coming down the grade , felt great and I didn’t really think about it but I wouldn’t want to imagine what could happen.
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#137
I used to ride a route that ended with a 1350ft descent over 4.5 miles long. I once wrecked at 48mph on that descent. Broke the top 3 vertebrae in my neck, and fractured the base of my skull. Lucky to walk away from that one.
For some reason, I don’t charge the DH like I used to.
For some reason, I don’t charge the DH like I used to.
#139
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A steady 65 mph for a couple miles according to our Garmins, descending Stevens Pass on our '03 CoMotion Speedster, both of us tucked down on our aero bars, 4 lane smooth, clean road, nice windless summer day. Yes, we both have aerobars. Stoker's hands are beside my hips. Felt perfectly safe. I think that section is about 7%, judging by the times I've climbed it on a single. That time we had climbed the pass by the old road on the west side. Back then we were running 28mm @110 lbs. on ~25mm deep rims. It's a very nice bike, never had a problem on it. We run really bright flashers at both ends. Descending, we pass singles so fast that they think we are a motorbike. We take the lane.
Back in the day, I had a nice BMW R60US, rode it around in Europe, Morocco, and down to Istanbul. My practice back then was to ride it as fast as the road would allow. I garaged it decades ago, no fun in the USA.
Back in the day, I had a nice BMW R60US, rode it around in Europe, Morocco, and down to Istanbul. My practice back then was to ride it as fast as the road would allow. I garaged it decades ago, no fun in the USA.
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#140
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I can't drive 55 , but I've been that fast on a bike on some of the Utah passes in the 80's. Even here in Ohio, I can hit at least 50 as live next to Ohio River and many of the hills are quite steep. I only do that when I know the road is intact(not broken) and relatively straight or has nice sweeping turns. It's fairly rare to even find a road that the pavement hasn't been done in sections, with different types or grades of pavement. Cracks ensue and the gaps are never filled. Not good for a bicycle at a high rate of speed. I don't know if pavement in patches is an Ohio thing or what, I never recalled that growing up in MN, but that was then. When it's go however I just tuck and enjoy the ride.
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#141
Super-duper Genius
I think the highest speed I've hit was 55. This was several years ago on a 1991 Trek 1100. I held 50 or 52 a few times and briefly touched 55, on Utah canyon descents. My current bike, a steel framed Cinelli Vigorelli Road, will not quite make that speed. I think I've only gotten it to 47 or 48.
I find 35-40 MPH exhilarating but anything faster kind of scary.
I find 35-40 MPH exhilarating but anything faster kind of scary.
Last edited by Broctoon; 12-28-23 at 01:57 PM.
#142
I'm lucky to be alive after that wreck. LITERALLY.
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#143
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I literally walked away from it. I didn't think I was that hurt. Some motorists that knew who I was, helped me back to the marina where I lived. When security saw my condition, they called National Park Service, and they called in a chopper.
I'm lucky to be alive after that wreck. LITERALLY.
I'm lucky to be alive after that wreck. LITERALLY.
#144
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Spent decades trying to crack 60. No dice .
Hit 58 three times:
~once while descending Mount Baldy after finishing L'Etape du California. Passed half a dozen surprised cars that day.
~twice descending Twin Oaks Valley Road on the downslope to CSU San Marcos. (The truck I was drafting chickened out and slammed on his brakes.)
Passed dozens of cars on descents, and at least ten motorcycles. Man that feels good,
As a motorcyclist, it seems pretty pedestrian. I've been over 150 many times on a motorcycle. (My 7-pound leather jacket flapped like it was paper mache.)
Hit 58 three times:
~once while descending Mount Baldy after finishing L'Etape du California. Passed half a dozen surprised cars that day.
~twice descending Twin Oaks Valley Road on the downslope to CSU San Marcos. (The truck I was drafting chickened out and slammed on his brakes.)
Passed dozens of cars on descents, and at least ten motorcycles. Man that feels good,
As a motorcyclist, it seems pretty pedestrian. I've been over 150 many times on a motorcycle. (My 7-pound leather jacket flapped like it was paper mache.)
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#145
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Ah, yes, descending Marsac Ave past the old mine. It’s steep and straight at that point. Like you, that’s where I hit my top speed.
Check out Cadel Evans and others race down this road in the 2014 Tour of Utah (RIP).
At 2:30, the front of the race goes past the turn-off to Stein Ericksen that you recall and then past the old mine.
(And the racers, especially Cadel who was chasing to catch on, were almost guaranteed to exceed 55mph between the numerous switchbacks before the clip started.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KiHWu6DzgQ
Check out Cadel Evans and others race down this road in the 2014 Tour of Utah (RIP).
At 2:30, the front of the race goes past the turn-off to Stein Ericksen that you recall and then past the old mine.
(And the racers, especially Cadel who was chasing to catch on, were almost guaranteed to exceed 55mph between the numerous switchbacks before the clip started.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KiHWu6DzgQ
Good on Cadel though. I wonder if he's also a motorcyclist.
#146
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I I just decided to go for it and gave it everything I had . I hit 38mph according to Strava . I don’t think I will ever do that again at my age. Two years after that , at an event , I went down at 12mph and spent the day in the hospital with 6 broken bones and quite a bit of road rash. The time I hit 38 , coming down the grade , felt great and I didn’t really think about it but I wouldn’t want to imagine what could happen.
A man without without scars is a sad, sorry animal. Wear them with pride.
#147
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Do mental ones count? (Yeah I earned my ‘stripes’ but it was on a mtb.). Fortunately have not gone down on my road bike in years, knock on wood.
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#148
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Everyone thinks motorcycling is so deadly.
Over half of my 27 broken bones have happened while mountainbikiing.
I lived in Colorado for years and skied stupidly between the trees at Kennedy speeds for many years and had to dig myself out of an avalanche at BryanHead, UT. I've passed hundreds of automobiles across the double-yellow while motorcycling (and a few times while bicycling) three quarters of a million miles. I was a whisper away from death my first time kayaking solo to Catalina Island when the storm came up and a small-craft advisory was proclaimed.
But I've broken more collarbones, ribs, toes, fingers, and FEMURS while mountainbiking than any of these things. I think sometimes we're exceeding Darwin and should just stick to running.
Over half of my 27 broken bones have happened while mountainbikiing.
I lived in Colorado for years and skied stupidly between the trees at Kennedy speeds for many years and had to dig myself out of an avalanche at BryanHead, UT. I've passed hundreds of automobiles across the double-yellow while motorcycling (and a few times while bicycling) three quarters of a million miles. I was a whisper away from death my first time kayaking solo to Catalina Island when the storm came up and a small-craft advisory was proclaimed.
But I've broken more collarbones, ribs, toes, fingers, and FEMURS while mountainbiking than any of these things. I think sometimes we're exceeding Darwin and should just stick to running.
#149
Senior Member
I refuse to have anything to do with mountain biking for this very reason. The injury:fun ratio, as much fun as it is, is too high.
I’ve also run out of bike storage space.
I’ve also run out of bike storage space.
#150
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I've been over 50 a couple times on downhill. I've been chasing 40 mph under power for the last 5 years or so. Every year I've inched closer. Last year I hit 39 twice on a regular ride I do with a group. It's a regular group ride with 4 or 5 sprint points and regrouping. It's a fairly fast group and an undulating road. I'm hoping to hit it this year.