Fastest you've been on your bike?

[Vantage]

I was taught metric too and had to use it during my working life.
My dad always used imperial though and its just stuck with me.
I do mix the two though...
Something for another thread methinks.

 

[HLaB]

The fastest I've been was on my 2nd time down the String Rd on Arran, 47.6mph but if I can go that down there a good descended will hit 60. Fastest I've been this year is 40.4mph and I don't think I'll be going faster for a while

I actually topped my annual max today and hit 40.7mph. I'm guessing it was on a long straight and descent which has a long straight flat bit at the bottom. I'd usually expect to top 30mph there but today was an unusual east wind.

 

[roadrash]

not as fast as this..
..<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">New top speed recorded on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TDF2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc^tfw">#TDF2019</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/NilsPolitt?ref_src=twsrc^tfw">@NilsPolitt</a> is the first rider to break the 100km/h bar <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TDFdata?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc^tfw">#TDFdata</a> <a href="https://t.co/RTILpii5ag">pic.twitter.com/RTILpii5ag</a></p>&mdash; letourdata (@letourdata) <a href="
View: https://twitter.com/letourdata/status/1154364413731844096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
">July 25, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[ColinJ]

100 km/hr isn't really that fast though, is it, when you think that I have done 90 km/hr freewheeling on an urban road in the UK!

(It is possible that I have briefly touched 100 km/hr at some point in the past but I start to get a bit nervous these days over about 80-85.)

 

[I like Skol]

Ok folks, let's take a reality check here. 100kmh is over 62mph, so plenty fast enough, especially considering you are likely to be wearing not much more than a couple of layers of Lycra.
Personally, my senses start jangling at anything over 40mph, although I don't get nervous, I just get a lot more focused. I wouldn't be grabbing the brakes just because I was heading for 60mph.

 

[ColinJ]

What amazes me is just how nervous some people are when descending. I'm not talking about being (understandably) scared to go downhill at 90-100 km/hr (~55-60 mph) - I have seen many people looking very worried at even 30-40 km/hr (~20-25 mph), speeds that they would feel perfectly safe doing on a flat road!

 

[ColinJ]

Depends on a lot of things. The gradient works against your ability to brake. Is it about to get steeper? What's the visibility like? Road surface? Debris? Are there bends? What are the verges like? Other traffic....

Well, yes - I should have been clearer... There are certainly descents round here that I wouldn't want to do even 30 km/hr on!

I was talking about long, straight descents of moderate gradient on quiet roads with clear line of sight, a good surface, no junctions for other traffic to emerge from, walls to stop livestock/rabbits etc. suddenly appearing in the road; basically, no reason to worry.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Hit 50mph on the road bike before but to be honest I was making chocolate buttons !! I've also hit 42mph on my deceased fixed gear and that was a very scary time indeed and never has been repeated !! not a good idea with only a front brake and leg breaking on the rear !!

 

[ColinJ]

Super fast downhill on fixed - no thanks! I have cycled down local descents with riders who were on ~72 inch fixed and was scared (and impressed!) by their cadence. I reckon they were doing close to 200 rpm!

 

[Dogtrousers]

Well, yes - I should have been clearer... There are certainly descents round here that I wouldn't want to do even 30 km/hr on!

I was talking about long, straight descents of moderate gradient on quiet roads with clear line of sight, a good surface, no junctions for other traffic to emerge from, walls to stop livestock/rabbits etc. suddenly appearing in the road; basically, no reason to worry.

Do they exist?

 

[Sharky]

Super fast downhill on fixed - no thanks! I have cycled down local descents with riders who were on ~72 inch fixed and was scared (and impressed!) by their cadence. I reckon they were doing close to 200 rpm!

Did clock 44mph on fixed once. It was at the "ski-slope" start on the Q10/19 (Tonbridge) 10 course. Very scary and I was bouncing al over the place. But I was on a 95" gear and "bikecalc" tells me it was 159 rpm. In spite of the fast start, I only did a very modest time at the finish.

 

[ColinJ]

Do they exist?

Oh yes!

Here's one local example - the 'Long Causeway' towards Burnley from the Windfarm at Kebs Rd.

The Burnley end does require caution because of steep gradients and bends but the section shown is 2 km in length, almost straight, has an average gradient of only about 3.5%, and is largely walled off. As the Streetview image shows, you get a very good view of what is coming. The only real potential hazards are a couple of dips which could hide small oncoming vehicles. If you look ahead you can see them going into the dips. Avoid rush hour traffic and it is a lovely road. (People use the road as a more pleasant and faster commuting alternative to the A646 below.)

 

[ColinJ]

PS Yes, a rabbit could suddenly emerge from the roadside long grass ahead of you - if so, bunnyhop it!

 

[Milo]

About 50 somewhere near Dartmoor on a loaded tourer. Struggle to hit much more than 40 on anything round here.

 

[Ian H]

You lose nothing by braking.

Apart from wear & tear of components and momentum for the next uphill.

I have never managed to quite exceed 60mph, but I have exceeded 200rpm on fixed (in my younger days). 150rpm is about my limit these days without getting untidy.