Top speed on a bicycle?

Question

On a straight road, not downhill

24 speed mountain bike, nobby tires

If im hoofin it, what is the highest speed I could achieve?

Started riding my bike to work, sure beats 4.05 a gallon for gas.

Answer 1

As Silver bullet mentions it's up to you. The average mountain bike with a 44t big gear and an 11t small gear in the rear works out to something like this pedaling at,

90 rpm = 30mph

80 rpm = 26.5mph

70 rpm = 23.5mph

60 rpm = 20mph

(26" tires for  29" add about 10% to the mph)

Answer 2

I got 57km/h on flat, but with clip-on pedals and a 27speed

Answer 3

Measure the circumference of your wheel, count the teeth on your biggest ring, and the smallest cog in your cluster.  

Multiply circumference times gear ratio times your highest cadence.   That's your absolute max speed.    How long you can maintain that?  Well, that's up to your cardiovascular system.

------

Edit: I run out of gears around 28mph on my MTB, 37mph on my tri-bike.

Answer 4

You could get into the low 20mph range if you're in average shape for a very short time.