Are cyclists faster than cars?

[Matthew_T]

I mean in relation to setting off. As we have lower gears than cars, are we able to sprint off the line quicker than them? I know we eventually get to our limit on the flat (35 mph or so), but has anyone bothered to race a car (with friends inside).

 

[Stephen wilby]

I often find i drop cars up to about 15-20 mph to which they take over.

 

[HLaB]

I think a good car would be faster at accelerating but because of reaction time I think I'm faster over that first few metres.

 

[BentMikey]

IMO most car drivers are not motivated to take off hard. The few that do are usually a little bit quicker, but not by much. I thought this question was going to be about over a long distance. In London, cars are slower over a few miles.

p.s. now on skates, it's possible to leave cyclists and cars behind in a big way, but only for the first 50-100m when the more limited top speed takes effect.

 

[Stephen wilby]

On a 2 mile rum fown to te shop i can beat a car. I have tried this but also safetly. My reaction time is quicker than a cars and also that little sprint burst when they are in between gears at about 25 .

 

[ohnovino]

In normal conditions (i.e. not a race) I'm quicker than a car until it's comfortably into second gear.

I had one ride recently when I was next to really flash supercars at four consecutive sets of traffic lights, and beat them away each time. Then at the fifth set a Ducati superbike pulled up and I didn't stand a chance!

 

[endoman]

I'm usually fumbling to to get myself clipped in, so unless I'm lucky it's car every time, especially on an incline, once I'm in I can catch a few though

 

[Moodyman]

Even small underpowered cars are faster than bicycles.

It's just that car drivers are not motivated like us to set off quickly to built up speed.

So in normal commuting we're a bit faster over the first 20-30 metres.

 

[Bigsharn]

I can outrun almost anything up to a 100cc bike to 15-20mph (and some heavier 125s). I'm yet to find a car that beats my acceleration, and I've had a Maserati and a Shelby try out-accelerating me (Or maybe they weren't... I like to think they were ).

Oh FFS boys, who give a sh*t? How many times do we have to tell you, speed isn't everything?

Maybe not, but it's nice to beat a Lamborghini at it's own game :3

 

[BlackPanther]

Oh FFS boys, who give a sh*t? How many times do we have to tell you, speed isn't everything?

I agree. That's why I sold my Honda Blackbird which had a top speed of 175 mph. I now have a CBF1000 which has an almost laughable top speed of a paltry 150 mph. Not that I ride it often......I converted to cyclism a couple of years ago, now the motorbike just sits in the garage.

My top speed on the Allez is 45mph, down a very steep hill, fully loaded with tent and gear. It was scaaaaary, but fun.

 

[gaz]

Oh FFS boys, who give a sh*t? How many times do we have to tell you, speed isn't everything?

aye. you don't want to be a quicky

 

[HLaB]

Oh FFS boys, who give a sh*t? How many times do we have to tell you, speed isn't everything?

You are right but it sometimes helps when you've got a muppet up your erse

 

[screenman]

Hold on! the same guy that moans about drivers now wants to race them, also he only flats out at 35mph. Take that camera off and you my even hit 40.

Internet speed warning.

 

[pshore]

Beating them off the line isn't hard. Park yourself in the box right in front of the car.

 

[Jonathing]

Well, I'm about 10 minutes quicker then my colleagues in their car between Portsmouth and Southampton at rush hour.