Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 29

Thread: 1974 10-speed Bicycle Acceleration Figures

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    San Fernando Valley, Calif.
    Posts
    6,794

    1974 10-speed Bicycle Acceleration Figures

    Back in the '70s, I did some acceleration times with my '74 Huffy 10-speed bicycle because I was curious.

    Me on the bike and a brother doing the timing using a watch.

    Here were the results:

    0-10 mph--------- 1.4 seconds
    0-15 mph--------- 3.2
    0-20 mph--------- 5.0
    0-30 mph--------- 18.0
    0-35 mph--------- 33.0

    Passing: 5-15 mph- 4.0

    Actual 1/4 mile---- 33 seconds @ 35 mph
    Top speed-------- Approx. 37 mph

    I don't think I could match those times now, being about 30 lbs heavier and 30+ years older.


    I also did a similar test with my early-'70s dirt bike, but I can't find those figures. They are around somewhere.
    '76 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine, '95 Lincoln Town Car.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    29
    ah yes... a '74 Huffy 10-speed, nice bike.

    I had a colnago 18 speed. Still have it stored in the garage for my future kids to use

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    New York City
    Posts
    2,056
    pedal bike or gas?
    Gone:
    09 Ducati Monster 696
    09 Audi Q5 3.2
    03 Infiniti G35 Sedan
    07 Honda Civic Coupe LX 5spd

    Current:
    10 BMW 335d
    12 Audi Q5 2.0t
    10 VW Jetta TDI
    11 Ducati Monster 796

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    San Fernando Valley, Calif.
    Posts
    6,794
    Quote Originally Posted by coolieman1220 View Post
    pedal bike or gas?
    Who are you directing your question to?
    '76 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine, '95 Lincoln Town Car.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Northamptonshire, UK
    Posts
    180
    I think the closest i came to doing anything close to that was a drag race back in the 80's over 100 metres between myself on my Skyline TA bmx against an old friends AR50 motorbike. I beat him by a good 15 metres since his motorbike had a restricted top speed of 26mph :P

    Likewise i couldn't do that now either since i'm about 5 stones heavier and +24 years

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Kyushu
    Posts
    6,039
    Quote Originally Posted by coolieman1220 View Post
    pedal bike or gas?
    being that it's a huffy... i'd say pedal.
    Honor. Courage. Commitment. Etcetera.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Posts
    205
    1/4 mile time is faster than I thought it would be.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    San Fernando Valley, Calif.
    Posts
    6,794
    Quote Originally Posted by RSOWNER View Post
    I think the closest i came to doing anything close to that was a drag race back in the 80's over 100 metres between myself on my Skyline TA bmx against an old friends AR50 motorbike. I beat him by a good 15 metres since his motorbike had a restricted top speed of 26mph :P
    I once raced a moped from a standing start. I easily won but it was one of the slower mopeds.

    Likewise i couldn't do that now either since i'm about 5 stones heavier and +24 years
    Yes, age and weight are a factor!
    '76 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine, '95 Lincoln Town Car.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    San Fernando Valley, Calif.
    Posts
    6,794
    Quote Originally Posted by cmcpokey View Post
    being that it's a huffy... i'd say pedal.
    Yes, it was a regular pedal-type bike.
    '76 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine, '95 Lincoln Town Car.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    San Fernando Valley, Calif.
    Posts
    6,794
    Quote Originally Posted by VOGUE_MAN View Post
    1/4 mile time is faster than I thought it would be.
    I was kind of surprised, too, when the time came out to 33 seconds. Unlike a car, though, I couldn't do one run after another... to tiring.
    '76 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine, '95 Lincoln Town Car.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Wishing I was in Moscow, Idaho
    Posts
    2,585
    Quote Originally Posted by Fleet 500 View Post
    I was kind of surprised, too, when the time came out to 33 seconds. Unlike a car, though, I couldn't do one run after another... to tiring.
    I saw a test of a ladder (fire) truck that ran the 1/4 slower than that. I did similar when riding my bike in places with no sidewalk. You find that it is possible to keep up with traffic in the city, although quite a bit more tiring than driving.
    Big cities suck

    "Not putting miles on your Ferrari is like not having sex with your girlfriend so she'll be more desirable to her next boyfriend." -Napolis

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Eindhoven, The Netherlands
    Posts
    7,833
    Quote Originally Posted by Fleet 500 View Post
    I once raced a moped from a standing start. I easily won but it was one of the slower mopeds.
    Sounds familiar I once raced my friend on his moped (restricted on 27mph) as well. I won easily. In the time it took the scooter to wind up revs for the CVT i was waaaay ahead

    Yes, age and weight are a factor!
    Don't talk me about it.. I get tired by even looking at the bike nowadays..

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Rozenburg, Holland
    Posts
    27,329
    Interesting figures...
    Questions:
    What gear ratio did you use? Front blade and rear please.
    Did you shift and if so to what gears?
    and btw 10-speed is purely theoretical, there will certainly be overlaps, and using the large front blade in combo with the largest sprocket on the wheel will wear out your chain very rapidly. When the weather gets a bit better here I'll see what I can do with my 30-speed gearbox....
    "I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    New York City
    Posts
    2,056
    how times have changed. my Giant OCR1 Aluminum Frame w/ Carbon forks and seats has 30 speeds and i've gotten it to over 45mph drafting down a hill. i can maintain 20mph on flat ground. its quick and feels so nimble and makes me feel powerful when i put the power down via my clipless pedals. can't wait for warmth to ride again. i can sprint to around 35 mph.
    Gone:
    09 Ducati Monster 696
    09 Audi Q5 3.2
    03 Infiniti G35 Sedan
    07 Honda Civic Coupe LX 5spd

    Current:
    10 BMW 335d
    12 Audi Q5 2.0t
    10 VW Jetta TDI
    11 Ducati Monster 796

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Perth, Australia
    Posts
    6,534
    I used to ride barefoot, but that bike got nicked.. the next one I had that I was borrowing had pedals that were too spikey to be ridden barefoot.. so I wore thongs. Now I have no pushie.. I should remedy that. I never timed me, but I know that the heavy iron pushies I had were slower than I could be.
    Life's too short to drive bad cars.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Rate Your Car
    By Fleet 500 in forum Car comparison
    Replies: 115
    Last Post: 05-22-2011, 05:17 PM
  2. Finally, the truth about speed bumps and low speed limits
    By Matra et Alpine in forum Technical forums
    Replies: 99
    Last Post: 04-26-2008, 11:46 AM
  3. Bathurst 1000
    By Monty_Burns in forum Racing forums
    Replies: 49
    Last Post: 10-13-2007, 07:07 PM
  4. How to drive fast but safely
    By Swissbeatz in forum Miscellaneous
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 06-03-2005, 03:40 PM
  5. V8 Supercar race 1 Albert Park
    By charged in forum Racing forums
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 03-04-2005, 08:32 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •