Maximum/minimum speeds

[jwrushman]

canalligators wrote in a post "...One of my keenest memories of my Northern Tier was coming down passes in the Cascades at 40+ mi/hr..."

Not touring this year, I've got lots of time on my hands.  I started looking at last year's New Jersey to Northern Tier ride.

Fastest speed 40.0 mph - heading west from Diablo Lake viewpoint to Colonial Creek Campground in North Cascades.

Day with the slowest average speed - 6.8 mph from Medora to Beach ND.  Was planning to ride 65 miles to Glendive but gave up after 25 miles!  But it worked out okay.  The next morning, shortly after leaving Beach, I met up with two other cyclists heading my way, Parke from Denver and Doug from Virginia.

I don't think I'm obsessive.  I'm guessing others track many more stats. 

[John Nettles]

In 40+ years my fastest touring speeds was 49.9mph.  Ticked that I could not get it to 50mph.  I think it was in Idaho but not positive as it was back in the 90s.  My slowest average RIDING speed was less than 5 but I only rode a couple miles in traffic in the Washington DC area from a hotel to a hostel so that may not count.

[Patco]

My fastest speed was 53.9 mph descending Cape Sebastian on the Oregon Coast. I was in a severe tuck (ass hanging behind the seat with my chest on the handlebars) and I had to pull out of the tuck when the buffeting from the wind off the ocean became concerning. While I was in the tuck, taking the center of the traffic lane, I was thinking...this is soooooo stupid. Have not even come close to that speed since because it was sooooo stupid.

[BikePacker]

Slowest - Many, many times at 3 mph while climbing on the Skyline Drive / Blue Ridge Parkway.
Fastest - Don't know, but do recall being surprised coming down east out of the Rockies how much wind resistance the panniers caused. 

[BikeliciousBabe]

My computer read 1 mph near the top of Brandon Gap in VT. Had to swing around a head back down a bit to regain momentum before doing another 180 and reaching the top.

Fastest ever was on the entire NT . Close to 49 mph heading east into Ticonderoga, NY.

These days I try to keep it in the low to mid-30s, but four years ago I let myself get up to near 43 descending towards Ennis, MT.

[John Nelson]

I’m a data head, so I track lots of data. My fastest touring speed was descending  Chief Joseph Pass towards Lolo. I passed a truck and two cars. Slowest touring day was eastbound into a fierce headwind all day in eastern Montana on a 99° day. I started at 6:10 am and ended at 9:50 pm with almost no breaks.

[BikeliciousBabe]

I’m a data head, so I track lots of data. My fastest touring speed was descending  Chief Joseph Pass towards Lolo. I passed a truck and two cars. Slowest touring day was eastbound into a fierce headwind all day in eastern Montana on a 99° day. I started at 6:10 am and ended at 9:50 pm with almost no breaks.

Heh. A cattle truck driver waved me around while I was descending the west slope of Monarch Pass. I declined because the shoulder was in bad shape. Staying behind him allowed me to take the lane.

Heading east in eastern Montana I managed to maintain 32.5 mph over flat ground for several miles during a 20 mile stretch to Malta. The wind was that strong. Finally got too far into the red and had to dial it back to 28.

[John Nelson]

A cattle truck driver waved me around while I was descending the west slope of Monarch Pass. I declined because the shoulder was in bad shape. Staying behind him allowed me to take the lane.

I would never pass on the shoulder. If I'm going to pass a vehicle, I always go around on their left. That's the same way a car would pass.

Heading east in eastern Montana I managed to maintain 32.5 mph over flat ground for several miles during a 20 mile stretch to Malta. The wind was that strong.

Yes, I had one of those days in Montana too. In my case, it was between Cut Bank and Havre, just a bit west of your day. I had originally intended to stop in Hingham that day, but I just couldn't give up that tailwind so I kept going. I call it my 129-mile rest day. Those Montana winds can be amazing, both for and against you.

[BikeliciousBabe]

A cattle truck driver waved me around while I was descending the west slope of Monarch Pass. I declined because the shoulder was in bad shape. Staying behind him allowed me to take the lane.

I would never pass on the shoulder. If I'm going to pass a vehicle, I always go around on their left. That's the same way a car would pass.

He waved me around to the left, but that would have left me with the banged up shoulder again once the road became straight enough for him to increase his speed. I was content where I was. Interesting tidbit: Monarch Pass in CO, at over 11,300’, was once home to the world’s highest Subway restaurant. I think it’s now gone.

[John Nelson]

Interesting tidbit: Monarch Pass in CO, at over 11,300’, was once home to the world’s highest Subway restaurant. I think it’s now gone.

I've been over Monarch Pass many times, as recently as last year. Although there is a well-stocked general store on top (Monarch Crest), there is no Subway, and hasn't been in my memory.

[jamawani]

Crossing Nevada - U.S. 6 is way emptier than U.S. 50.
So, there is almost zero traffic for hours.
And the downhills can be airport runway straight for miles.

One time I passed a semi.
He was throttled down, but I was probably going over 50.
I was flattened on the handlebars, crotch on the top tube.
Not to mention all the way over in the left lane.
But I did get a glimpse of the driver laughing.

[canalligators]

My best tailwind story was riding from Hope to Page ND.  14 miles in 28 minutes.  That's a 30 mi/hr average.  We were basically at the speed of the wind.  Here's the catch: we then had to turn 90 degrees, so that became a crosswind.  My riding companions were visibly leaning over, perhaps 30 degrees, to maintain balance.  It was hard to get started after a break.

[RetroGrouch]

Slowest - Many, many times at 3 mph while climbing on the Skyline Drive / Blue Ridge Parkway.
Fastest - Don't know, but do recall being surprised coming down east out of the Rockies how much wind resistance the panniers caused.

My slowest is also Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway. 
My first good ride after a long winter was climbing up from Front Royal VA.  I was fagged and making only less then 5 MPH.  After I reached to top I discovered my rear tire was rubbing the whole way!!!  (Hard lesson learned.)

[BikePacker]

My slowest is also Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway. 
My first good ride after a long winter was climbing up from Front Royal VA.  I was fagged and making only less then 5 MPH.  After I reached to top I discovered my rear tire was rubbing the whole way!!!  (Hard lesson learned.)

The slower the go
the more beautiful the sho
ridin' it too fast just makes me wanna say ho.
- The above brought to you by gaw-RATE recollections + mebbe a little too much caffeine this morning : ).
P.S. When I see you out there Retro we can race to see who can ride it the slowest?

[jamawani]

I do notice that in my journals -
And in most other folks'  journals over at Crazyguy -
There are a lot more photos going uphill than down.