How fast can you sprint on the flat?

[Matthew_T]

I can easily reach 30mph but have difficulties going any faster without a tailwind.

Recently I tried to set off a camera by doing 32 through it but it didnt seem to work. Shame...a good pic of my bum in the air would have been one for the album.

 

[Hip Priest]

30mph is my maximum, with a tailwind.

 

[Bassjunkieuk]

Think I've hit 34.5mph once...Don't think I could do much more then that but I'd need to have someone faster to give me the impetus :-)

 

[fossyant]

Not as fast on my fixed as the road bike.

 

[hennbell]

I should not be proud of this but..

In Canada they use radar detectors to determine your speed and flash it up on a sign as you approach a construction zone. This on its own is a bit of temptation as the colour changes if you breech the speed limit of 30 kph. Then with my 4 year old in his chariot, shouting for me to go faster. I could not restrain myself, 35 kph with a child trailer attached. there was no one working in the construction zone at the time.

 

[thefollen]

Was just chatting about the subject actually- had 33mph out of the Trek on flat before (no idea regarding wind) but usually if going fast but not flat out, hover around the 28mph mark. Haven't had a good sprint for a while. Legs are usually a bit 'tangy' from the Sunday running escapades.

I'd have a go tonight but it's looking like some beers may be going down, think the bike will remain in the company's basement lockup.

 

[thefollen]

Just chatted with a fella at work who's a serious club rider and he can sprint at 42mph! Seen (and lifted) his bike though and it's full carbon, a beast and weighs practically nothing.

Oh yes, apparently Cavendish can do 55mph. No scalping him.

 

[tongskie01]

38mph on my lowracer. with about 15-18kg of bike and equipments.

 

[HLaB]

I can easily reach 30mph but have difficulties going any faster without a tailwind.

Recently I tried to set off a camera by doing 32 through it but it didnt seem to work. Shame...a good pic of my bum in the air would have been one for the album.

Most camera's (if they even have film) are set to take a photo at 35mph (110% x speed limit + 2mph).

 

[jdtate101]

Typical sprint speed 32-35mph. I suspect with most of us it limited by gearing (as well as leg power). My bike certainly has a compact chainset with a max 50T x 12T, but perhaps at full sprint with 53x11 this could be better. I doubt I will ever find out unless I borrow someone else's rig. Not going to splash to the cash for a theory!!! better to work on my power output instead.

 

[ColinJ]

I wouldn't dare try to find out! (The last time I really went for it out of the saddle was as a teenager and the chain slipped, causing me to go over the handlebars, headbutt the road and then use the top of one shoulder, an elbow and a knee as brakes - the results were pretty gory!)

I've done 30 mph on uphill drags while remaining in the saddle so I could probably be fairly quick if I put my mind to it and got out of the saddle, but sprinting is not my thing.

 

[the_mikey]

30mph (not exactly sprinting) spinning along some very flat, smooth, fresh tarmac. If it had been the more typical road surface found in the uk then I expect my speed would've been closer to 25mph.

 

[BentMikey]

38mph on my lowracer. with about 15-18kg of bike and equipments.

About the same here. The nice bit is when feeling fit and fast, doing just 30mph and the lowracer makes it possible to hold for quite a long time on the flat.

 

[tongskie01]

About the same here. The nice bit is when feeling fit and fast, doing just 30mph and the lowracer makes it possible to hold for quite a long time on the flat.

that i think is with spinning and not grinding.

 

[numbnuts]

I've got up to 28mph a few times