Racing cyclist speeds (was Re: Illegal to drive with side lights?)

[Alan J Holmes]

In article <Pine.SOL.3.91.961018...@humus2.ucc.hull.ac.uk>,
ralph moorhouse <R.Moo...@educ.hull.ac.uk> wrote:
>On 3 Oct 1996, Alan J Holmes wrote:
>> >> I once cycled from Ealing to Stow on the Wold, a distance of 84
>> >> miles, the journey took 2 hours 50 minutes, I was riding a bicycle
>> >> equiped for a fortnights holiday, clothing, food, water bottles,
>> >> primus stoves, parrafin, meths and etc.

>> >> The bike was a standard roadster type, the average speed was about
>> >> 29 miles per hour, remember that much of it was uphill through the Chilterns
>> >> and Cotswolds, I calculate that at times, I had to be travelling at about
>> >> 45 - 50 miles per hour, and that on a _very_ heavy bike.

>> >You have *got* to be joking. I have just checked the National rankings
>> >for time trial cyclists from last week's Cycling Weekly.

>> >One Andy Wilkinson, who recently rode over 300 miles (just)in 12 hours,
>> >took 3 hrs 27 minutes and 39 seconds to ride 100 miles, at an average
>> >speed of more or less 29 mph dead. This on a specific time trial bike,
>> >ridden by one of the best time triallists in the country.

>> >Your average speed, across the Cotswolds, with camping gear, on a
>> >roadster (this just gets better and better!) was apparently 29.6 mph.

>> Yes, so what's your point?

>My point is that your story seems highly unlikely. Bordering on
>fantasy, even.

It's your choice whether you believe it or not, I'm just stating
what happened.

>It's very hard to maintain high average speeds. If you travel half
>your trip (the uphills, say) at 15mph, then, even if you go at the
>speed of light (a velocity no doubt well withing your capabilities
>judging by your post), your average speed will be 30mph for the whole
>trip.

>Does your 2 hrs 50mins include stoppage times etc? Or did you forget
>to put an intial 1 in the hours. 13 hours to travel 84 miles,
>*including* stoppage times for lunch, rest breaks and so on, is
>qute believable, albeit no-where near as eyeball poppingly
>impressive...

I thought I had put the conditions in the original article, I
left home at 2.00 oclock, just after lunch, I arrived at the
hostel 10 minutes before opening time which is 5.00 oclock, the
distance on my trusty odometer was 84 miles.

My intention had been to arrive in time for an evening meal about
6.30 or 7.00, no one was more surprised than me to find I had
arrived before the hostel opened.

Alan