Gearing, maximum cadence and maximum speed?

[I like Skol]

If I'm doing 55MPH I ain't pedalling anymore.

Yeah but I am if I'm trying to keep up you fast B'stard!

 

[winjim]

This is handy for this sort of thing; http://cycleseven.org/bicycle-gear-inch-calculator
I hit 40mph on a 72" fixed gear last week (down Blissford hill) which is around 186rpm, so yes it's perfectly feasible to pedal faster than 155rpm, how much control you've got is an entirely different matter.

Surely at that speed on a fixie, the bike pedals you?

 

[HertzvanRental]

Amen.

I was struggling to do that on my "avatar"!!!

 

[dan_bo]

Yeah but I am if I'm trying to keep up you fat B'stard!

Cheeky farker.

 

[nickyboy]

What hill was it?

Anyway, my understanding is that the extra force you are able to apply by pedalling when at those speeds is more than offset by the extra wind resistance of not adopting the most aero position you can

My fastest was just tuck the elbows in, chin on the bars, pedals at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock and let gravity do it's best. Definitely more aero to put the hands on the top of the handlebars, close together.....but that means you can't brake.....which is a bit of a scary thought. That was down Holme Moss

 

[Tim Hall]

Definitely more aero to put the hands on the top of the handlebars, close together.....but that means you can't brake.....which is a bit of a scary thought. That was down Holme Moss

On the plus side, your hands are close enough that praying is easier, should the need arise.

 

[Hacienda71]

Skolly will be wearing a skin suit and a pointy helmet soon, chasing @dan_bo down the Chunal.

 

[Dave Davenport]

Surely at that speed on a fixie, the bike pedals you?

Yes, you're right. I doubt I've ever done more than 120'ish rpm with a freewheel.

 

[potsy]

Skolly will be wearing a skin suit and a pointy helmet soon, chasing @dan_bo down the Chunal.

Funnily enough he has been talking about shaving his legs recently, now i know why

 

[dan_bo]

Funnily enough he has been talking about shaving his legs recently, now i know why

To match his napper.

 

[Norry1]

I find that on gradients over -10%, it is pedal hard to get initial speed up and then tuck and turn brain off.

I got my new max in the Alps 2 weeks ago and I definitely was not pedalling at the time.

 

[andrew_s]

Surely at that speed on a fixie, the bike pedals you?

If you don't keep up with the pedals, it can get a bit hairy.
My max rpm on a descent was 198, but only briefly. On the flat (sprinting for village signs) or on a longer descent, about 155 rpm was my limit.

 

[fossyant]

57 in the Alps. Got 60 in Wales !

 

[bpsmith]

Regular 50mph plus here in Wales, even on shallower descents.

 

[Smurfy]

Greenhow Hill into Pately Bridge is another very fast descent, curves are fairly benign near the top, but it gets dangerously twisty further down, and there have been nasty accidents involving cyclists. I didn't have a speedo on, but the driver of the car following me told me at the bottom that his speedo was showing 50-55. I probably won't do that again, what protection is there with lycra shorts, top, gloves and helmet? Even a motorcyclist in full leathers wouldn't want to come off at that speed.