For several years I didn't want to reset my cycle computer since it had a recorded top speed of 96kph.

But I can't remember ever going that fast on the bike - I must have been drunk at the time!

My fastest in recent memory was drafting (I know, I know, but in defence, the drafting rules are for bikes in the flat) off a large dump truck while desending Tarawera Hill in the Rotorua Half Ironman. Thankfully, I wasn't alone, as there was another rider next to me, and I'm sure he was also thinking about the wisdom of what we were doing. And the truck was speeding...

I commute daily down Brooklyn hill, and it is one of those descents that flows much better if you lay off the brakes, especially in a northerly. In the mornings, it's usually full of buses and cars, so you have to ride them anyhow.

I've occaisionally thought registration of bicycles would be a good idea, simply so I could get one or two speed camera photos of me on the bike with the speed listed.

As for the downhilling Ann, I used to be a nana as well, till I learned to use my head a little more, literally. Alot of cyclists corner downhills following the line of the road with their eyes. My downhilling got much more stable, comfortable and heaps faster when I started actually turning my head.

If memory serves, the law was only changed a few years ago to make speed limits apply to bikes.

I remember hitting 70 once on a steep, straight stretch of Wadestown hill, when I was younger and more reckless.

I also remember doing 55-60 on that same stretch of road and having a car overtake me (on double yellow lines, no less). Could have been very nasty if someone had come round the blind corner in the other direction. I don't get that -- some drivers seemingly just can't cope with being behind a bike, no matter what the speed.

Highest indicated speed I have seen on my bike computer is 67 kph, and that on a MTB in a 50 zone. I've only done it the once, the consequences of an off at that speed are too big. Normally on the downhill from my place I brake to 50, down to 20 or 30 for the corners, which makes dealing with cars a bit easier. Having disc brakes helps. I followed a padded bike down once and all I could smell was burning rubber.

My fastest ever was around 65 kph, coming downhill into Sumner. The guys in front of me managed about 80, but I was happy with my speed. As an added bonus, I managed to get most of the way to the park where we stopped for a break without needing to pedal again!

Funnily, I can do 85kph on skis just fine (measured with Dad's GPS), but going above 50 on the bike gives me the willies. I guess there's less chance of road rash when skiing.

My top speed is 79.9kph (still yet to break in to the 80s) and that was going down Tikitere Hill on the road to Whakatane from Rotorua.

I've regularly broken the advisory 25kph around a corner at the back end of Lake Rotorua. It's a tight corner after a great downhill section and I often scream around it at 45 plus.

I'd love to get a speed ticket while riding my bike just for the anecdote to pass on to all and sundry!

Alice2 (#6) - yes, those idiots who go into the 50kph zone on Evans Pass doing 80kph+ are an absolute menace to those of us who live on that road.

The police regularly ping the cars for 60+, but let the (less controlled) cyclists do what they want.

I've had cyclists banging on my car for doing 'only' 60 in the 50 zone and making them slow up.

One day one of them is going to get killed or seriously hurt, and then, no doubt, it'll be someone else's fault.

My quickest is 88.5k exact coming off MyUndermans hill at this years K2 (only hit 80ish on One-Ton though :( ). I regularly get the bike up over 70 in the Waitaks and there is a particular suburban street in Auckland where its not hard to get over 70, although not advised.

Ann - best way to descend is to basically take a corner in a similar way that Peter Brock would have.

Brake on the straight ("before its too late") until you can see the apex (bit more tricky to do on double/triple apex turn), ease off the brake, transfer weight and move your head towards the corner, hit the apex then get back on the pedals (unless its going too fast to spin), then start setting yourself up for the next corner and always think ahead.

Fav corner of mine is this 35/25 left/right combo in the Waitaks on West Coast Rd. Hit the 35 doing about 45-55, come around that, then have 30m to scrub off about 20k an hour into a steep downhill slightly offcamber bend. Many a time I've gone into the 2nd corner with the rear wheel hanging out trying to get it back on line. Teehee.

While I'm not a cyclist, I remember taking a bus full of university students down Dyers Pass road and being overtaken by a cyclist. Luckily the bus driver had seen the cyclist!