Thoughts when your're going 40mph+ down a hill...

[DarrenCT]

- i sure hope these skewers are on tight!@#

- hopefully a deer doesnt cross the road!@

[catulle]

Bacon strips.

[djg]

Gotta get lower so I can hit 45.

[ejh]

was that glass?, or rubber side down, or I should not have put the compact cranks on so I could of hit 50.

[J.Greene]

This must be the steepest hill in FL

JG

[mschol17]

Faster!

[avalonracing]

"When we get to the bottom I'm going to punch out the guy in front of me who thinks that now is good time to adjust his shoe strap".

[CNY rider]

Why did I buy a house on top of a 450 foot climb?

[Kevan]

falling isn't an option!

Yeee-hawwwww!!!!

Darren, be careful of those wild turkeys too. I've almost been scrubbed by them too.

[David Kirk]

There was a hill near my home in NY that you could break 60mph on if you had the stones. My best buddy and training partner Peter and I used to race down it, passing each other and drifting the speed up. The best way to win the "race" to the bottom was to say something like "looks like you got a flat" or "is that skewer tight?" as you passed to other guy.

Never failed.

Dave

[Erik.Lazdins]

I have more time for thoughts when I'm going back up the hill.

[skyflash]

Why do they have to put red lights at the bottom of hills?!?

[Sandy]

falling isn't an option!

Yeee-hawwwww!!!!

Darren, be careful of those wild turkeys too. I've almost been scrubbed by them too.

The poster said 40 mph down a hill, not 4 mph. Have you ever hit 40 mph down a hill in yout Yugo? :rolleyes: :)


Supersoinc Speedster Serotta Sandy

[fierte_poser]

I hope that mountain biker going 20 doesn't swerve out into my line...

[AgilisMerlin]

THOUGHT:

"my stem tastes funny" :rolleyes:

[Z3c]

I hope that deer stays off to the side of the road!

[cpg]

No thoughts just bliss!

Curt

[Climb01742]

i'll tell ya when it happens.
signed, the wuss
:D

[Ozz]

"I'm glad I don't need to come back up this hill on my way back."

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Training-route-1-Bellevue-Woodinville-loop

[fiamme red]

190 rpm (on a 72" fixed-gear): "This is fun, but I'm really pushing the limits here. Why am I doing this?"

[rockdude]

Last year here in Boulder during one of the Tri races, a racer was flying down one of our steep hills and hit a bear. Our local newspaper reported the Bear was unhurt.

[Kevan]

What do you do when you reach the bottom of the hill?

loves 'n' hugs

[Ginger]

Wow, I wonder how fast that was?

or


Looking up from the stoker spot and seeing that we're doing 50 down a hill and there's a 90 degree left at the bottom and my captain is either looking at the road right in front of us and not down the road (he was bad for that) or planning on using our motorcycle skills to scream around the turn at speed without mentioning it to me:

Oh *****.

[wooly]

1. TUCKKKKK

2. Man, that's a small contact patch.

3. Should I still be doing this?

[NateM]

will I be able to ride through the dreaded 46mph speed wobble this time?....relax the grip.....any bumps ahead?....this will be my last happy moment if I crash....relax already....this is nothing compared to the Ducatti

[Dekonick]

WEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

[Ginger]

I thought about this some more...and I really just enjoy the ride. It's the only time I resemble fast. :)

[Ray]

No thoughts just bliss!

Curt
Yup. 40+ is when you STOP thinking. Yeah, you process the critical stuff like where are the cars, potholes, etc, but the whole POINT of going 40+ is to get out of your head and totally into the moment. It works!

-Ray

[sw3759]

"where is that extra 100lbs pounds when i really need it"

[atmo]

40mph doesn't seem that perilous to me.
i hope you still will take my calls atmo...

[Fat Robert]

what's a diorama?

[andy mac]

c'mon people, 40 is just getting going on a road bike. yawn.

a guy i know skied 132 miles an hour on one leg.

http://www.michaelmilton.com/


:beer:

[Fat Robert]

michael milton also got his thing bitten off by mrs. garp.


man


that guy has lost a lot.

[steelisreal]

you know that dream you have where you can fly or levitate, if you really concentrate?

[TimD]

i'll tell ya when it happens.

C'mon Climb, MA 111 East out of Harvard Center down to I-495 is good for at least 44 MPH :)

Oak Hill Rd down toward Veryfine is probably even faster, but I usually ride up!

[TimD]

"Damn I'm glad I sold that Trek"

"Dario, YOU DA MAN"

"BenKellyWhoever, YOU DA MEN"

"I wonder what 60 feels like?"

[sailorboy]

i'm with atmo,
somebody wake me up when it says 50

[Ginger]

i'll tell ya when it happens.
signed, the wuss
:D


Put tape over the computer. If you don't *know* how fast you're going you stop worrying about it and just pay attention to the ride. Descending can be a mindful thing. And that's not all bad!

[atmo]

If you don't *know* how fast you're going you stop worrying about it<cut>
gets it atmo.

[cpg]

For all the folks that ponder bike performance if one never really lets the bike fly how can one really know? I'm just askin'.

Curt

[Ginger]

For all the folks that ponder bike performance if one never really lets the bike fly how can one really know? I'm just askin'.

Curt
Well...yeah...there's that.


(hush!)

[weisan]

I remembered this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNwmpLPhoHw

[dreadpiratetim]

Personal max: 64mph. But now with Mrs. Dread and the little dreadlets I keep it to 50 (OK, 55). But as a friend pointed out: if something goes wrong there won't be much difference. At any rate, ATMO gets it.

[Ken Robb]

I've never ridden a hill that allowed more than 47mph--at that speed I'm spun out on most of my bikes. I do worry about one of the parked cars coming unparked or pulling out ofr a driveway.

[alembical]

My only thoughts are... "whee....." with a big smile on my face. I think that is what i like so much about biking. There are those times you just zone out, times you think, daydream, stare at scenery, listen, concentrate, talk to buddys, etc... but for me once I get on a decent, assuming it is not too technical, everything else goes away and I feel like a kid again.

Alembical

[konstantkarma]

that squirrel is headed left...no, right...no, left....no, right...awww I hate squirrels! :crap:

[flydhest]

I am curious . . . do most people think of 40 as fast? The Doctor likes riding the tandem because she can let me do the controlling and then go faster. Her reaction when we hit 50 was "can we do 55?" When we did 55, her reaction was "can we do 60?" I'm not eager to break 60 on the tandem, howeever, especially with her on the back--too much precious cargo.

In any event, Tuesday's lunchtime ride on the flat, flat, flat sprint loop (Zap, and Saab were both there) registered a max speed of 34.5.

If we're talking about on flat land, what would go through my mind at 40 is not a lot of oxygen and the sincere hope that the sprint finish is coming up really soon.

[palincss]

I knew this guy once who told a story of descending a mountain somewhere in New England. He got on his aerobars, and before he knew it he was doing close to 60 mph -- and couldn't get back to the drops.

It was a twisty descent along a heavily forested road with caution signs warning about deer all along it. He said he gave a lot of thought to what he might do if a deer did spring out of the forest.

I asked him what he concluded, and he said he would "...go to Plan B." I asked him what exactly Plan B was, and he said "Scream Oh Sh1t! and then die."

[Lincoln]

At 62 my thought was "I wonder how much faster I would go with an aero f wheel, rear disk and a skin suit.

Answer: 6 mph. I was too chicken to put the TT bars on though.

Once you've gone 85 mph on your sled it's hard to get a speed rush doing anything else. A shifter cart comes close, but not quite.

[atmo]

Once you've gone 85 mph on your sled it's hard to get a speed rush doing anything else.
i wish i knew what you knew atmo.

[gt6267a]

I am curious . . . do most people think of 40 as fast?

I think the answer to this question is terrain dependent. On a back country 1.5 mile curvy descent in Emmaus PA, 40 is very fast. On a straight line descent with a nice run out on the other side of the valley, 40 is a reasonable speed to grab a water bottle or find a banana in a jersey pocket.

[stevep]

i love bombing downhill.
tuck, scrunch,
beautiful.

[Ginger]

Everything is relative.

Heck, on bicycle on a rough, unknown road 30 can be fast.

But yes. I'm not fast after all. On a bicycle...to me, 40 is fast. Enjoyable, but fast.


On a mortocycle 110 is starting to be fast. No speed rush...just click click click fun.
On a mountain bike on the trail 15mph is scary fast for me. On a snowmoblie...off track over 30 I'm a bit uncomfortable, the unknown under the snow is a whole different world of risk.

Different strokes for different folks.

[C5 Snowboarder]

Here is the goal for all you younger speed demons..

Every year Ride your age in MPH. :banana:

I can no longer do that safely, but I still can in KPH :) :beer:

[swoop]

it's niether fast nor slow. it's just a number.

[BUTCH RIDES]

Hello, one time I got it up to twenty five miles an hour but that scared GiGi I told her I would never ever go that fast again . Now I just go half fast down the hills .You fellows are so brave to go that fast in those little bike outfits I always wear a nice suit when I ride
adios

[Lincoln]

i wish i knew what you knew atmo.

i wish i knew what i forgot.

if you have a flexible flyer, I know a good hill. arrangements can be made. 'course it is a little close to Provo.

[Kevan]

I am curious . . . do most people think of 40 as fast?

-a gust of wind slaps you hard to one side.
-when a large truck tries to suck you under its front right tire. Then blow you out to the curb.
-when the car up ahead in the opposing lane is signaling a left turn and is trying to decide whether to go for it.
-a tire blows.
-when a deer is running along side of you.
-when a kid playing in his front yard fakes throwing his baseball at you.
-when cars start passing you and a large lateral crack appears in what pavement is available to you up ahead.

40 isn't bad, but approaching 50 things turn bit**in'. That's when my family obligations start nagging me.

[97CSI]

- hopefully a deer doesnt cross the road!@When we rode into Estes Park in the summer of '05 the downhill into town was covered in elk. They look really large when you come flying around the downhill curve at 40+ and the road and both shoulders are covered in elk.

The downhills...........that's what makes all the uphills in CO worth the effort.

[Elefantino]

40: Cool.

50: Oh sh*t.

Anything over 50: I think I wet my bibs.

Last time I did 50 was two years ago on the backside of Hogpen.

There was no "whee" ... almost "wee."

[jcmuellner]

"If I weighed more I could go faster..."

"Is that a car coming out of a driveway?"

"Where did everyone go?"

Over 50 - no thinking allowed.

[onekgguy]

I remembered this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNwmpLPhoHw

that guy is nuts...an example of thinning the herd.

the fastest i've gone on my bike was 57 mph. i was coming into chaska from the west on hwy 212 with a nice 7% grade. i tucked in behind a semi and let him pull me along...fun stuff for sure. the only problem with that was i was a bit preoccupied with the thought that if there was road kill in front of me i wouldn't see it until it was too late. i don't mind dialing the speed up but i can tell i'm becoming more conservative in that regard the older i get.

Kevin g

[weisan]

that guy is nuts...an example of thinning the herd.

the fastest i've gone on my bike was 57 mph. i was coming into chaska from the west on hwy 212 with a nice 7% grade. i tucked in behind a semi and let him pull me along...fun stuff for sure. the only problem with that was i was a bit preoccupied with the thought that if there was road kill in front of me i wouldn't see it until it was too late. i don't mind dialing the speed up but i can tell i'm becoming more conservative in that regard the older i get.

Kevin g

Kevin-pal, we shared the same "personal best time" at 57 :D That's the fastest I have ever gone before and probably never again. It happened on a relatively straight but busy road, somewhere along the "Dam Loop" as the locals would call it between 2222 and 360. It taught me more about the aero-tuck positioning and how it can really impact overall speed, and finding that sweet spot. Anyhooooo...after achieving my PR, I called the old man for a chat the next day, mentioned it briefly to him, then there was a long pause on the phone, before Dad finally said, "weisan, I have only one son, I wish he can outlive me." That was it, enough to bring me back to my senses. No more crazy speed for me, esp. with the wife and kids waiting at home. Keep it under control.

[manet]

'lovely little dirt road this'

[onekgguy]

That was it, enough to bring me back to my senses. No more crazy speed for me, esp. with the wife and kids waiting at home. Keep it under control.

weisan...i don't anticipate i'll ever reach that speed again either. i have the memory and that's all good.

a few years ago i was coming out of lillydale on hwy 13 in st. paul. the speed limit is 35 mph on a short 7% hill. i worked it up to 43 mph and as i reached the bottom a cop pulled along side me and with his fingers expressed to me that he clocked me at 43 mph...not that fast really but he seemed impressed. he gave me a thumbs up and a big smile before he pulled away and that was that. that made my day.

Kevin g

[BUTCH RIDES]

Hello. you fellows are so brave ,I once went 25 mph. on my bicycle and GiGi (my poodle) said never again . I am so mad I got black grease on my hand this morning. Time for a nap that five mile ride to get cigars got to me .
adios

[Tailwinds]

I love my Kirk!!!!!!

[Ginger]

I love my Kirk!!!!!!
Yeah...that too. :)

[C5 Snowboarder]

Here is what happens when you exceed a safe limit and when your bike fails above that limit.


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-162891478515007486

[Ginger]

Here is what happens when you exceed a safe limit and when your bike fails above that limit.


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-162891478515007486

Yeah...but what do *you* think?

[C5 Snowboarder]

Yeah...but what do *you* think?

I think you should not faster than your age. :)

[thwart]

You fellows are so brave to go that fast in those little bike outfits
It's those little bike outfits that really make the difference... :D

For me, my steepest 40+ mph drop on my usual route has a sharp curve at the bottom... and you can't check out the amount of sand on the road from the top... an important consideration this time of the year, in this part of the Northland.

How crazy/lucky do you feel today?