How fast can you sprint on the flat?
- Thread starter Matthew_T
- Start date
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itchyrider
Aka Chris
- Location
- london N16
If you want to set off a camera, hold on to a mates motorbike to get the speed up ;-)
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
No - a sprint is a sprint - the fastest you can go even if you only manage it for one second!
Once you start talking about sustaining the speed, you are talking about a time trial!
I can ride pretty fast for a very short period of time because I've got big, strong legs (from lugging 3.5 stone of extra weight about on foot and on the bike!) but I can't maintain a high average speed because I'm not very fit.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
In that case you are way undergeared! I have a pretty low top gear on my Basso (only 52/14) but I can easily pedal that to about 36 mph and often do (downhill!). My Cannondale has 53/13 and I can pedal that downhill to about 40 mph before it becomes easier to get aero and freewheel to 50+ mph.
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
you wouldn't be the first person to have said that.
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
you're not miscounting pedal revolutions are you? it's all the way round not a left/right count
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Blow the actual cadence figure, I think that "I start to spin out and bounce in my saddle too much" speaks for itself - undergeared!you're not miscounting pedal revolutions are you? it's all the way round not a left/right count
So, jonny - what is your top gear?
cloggsy
Boardmanist
- Location
- North Yorkshire
That is neither fair, nor Human!
Andrew_P
In between here and there
Well mine is 50/11 and I start to feel uncomfortable at around 33mph so put me in the Johnny no bottle bouncing around camp!!
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
I cut quite a dash in jeans and a polo shirt
...sorry
I've no idea, how do you measure it?
GrasB
Veteran
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
Power output is inversely proportional to duration. This is why there's power profiling. Typical markers are 5s, 1min, 5 min & 1h/FTP, ideally you'd want 1s however you'd need to be up at 180rpm to get reliable readings & endurance riders might add 6h or 12h to that.
GrasB
Veteran
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
tell us your tyre size & the tooth count of the sprocket & chainring
freewheelwilly
Senior Member
- Location
- London
My trip computer once recorded a top speed of 512mph. I'm guessing this was a reading from my hub as i rocked back and forth at a red light waiting to set off.
Top speed on the flat is around the 37mph mark before i want to ease off.
Top speed downhill was clocked at 59mph. I was in the dolomites and giving it the beans early one morning knowing (hoping) there was not much traffic. Even managed to get a puncture at the same time.
Which was nice.
Top speed on the flat is around the 37mph mark before i want to ease off.
Top speed downhill was clocked at 59mph. I was in the dolomites and giving it the beans early one morning knowing (hoping) there was not much traffic. Even managed to get a puncture at the same time.
Which was nice.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Hmm, your top gear is 22% higher than my Basso's so you ought to be able to pedal faster than that. That corresponds to a cadence of only about 93 rpm which is about what I would aim for in normal riding. I think most people can get up to 120 rpm for fairly long periods of time if they have to, and I know fixed wheel riders who can manage 160 rpm.
Are you using clipless pedals? Are you sure that your bike setup is correct?
