Reading this thread is like rubber necking an accident, you know you shouldn't, but you can't help but look....

 

Old Guy Bicycle Adventures » ?Longest and Fastest Downhill in America? A Bicyclist Challenge

Mt. Charleston located just off highway 95, about 25 miles Northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada was recently written up in Bicycling Magazine as the “Longest and Fastest” downhill in America. They rated this mountain because it has 17 miles of nearly straight downhill with an average of 5.9% grade, a maximum 10% in one section dropping over 4,400’. For my friends who are unaware of road grades; 3-4% is the norm for highway construction, when you get in mountainous areas you probably have seen warning signs, “trucks use lower gears”, “truck pull-over for inspection” of brakes and equipment and “Runaway Truck Ramp” these hills are normally in the 6-7% grade and sometimes as high as 10%. When I mention higher percent grades such as 19% or 21% those are the hills you look at and say things like “Wow” or “No Way”! Back to the magazine article further stated a bicyclist could easily achieve 50-60 mph on a downhill run. Hmmmm! My maximum speed so far on a bicycle has been near 50 mph, wonder what it’s like to do 60? Well so happens, I’m going to be in Vegas in August just might have to give this challenging run a go.

- If you dont want to read the article, the guy only got to 42.5mph on this hill - very disappointing... lol

 

I don't know where this guy is, but in Colorado from Vail Pass to Vail is 15 miles, and it's 8 miles from the Eisenhower Tunnel to the Silverthorne exit. Both stretches are all downhill.

 

When I walked to school it was 7 miles uphill both ways

 

David!!!! Get out there and yank that handle! Make sure it works!

 

I figured NV lol.. Been there done that, but I didn’t run out of gas

 

I am curious, outside of brake issue, how the hell did you steer the truck for 7 miles? I am assuming it was not a mountain road.

 

My true out of gas story:

For my new job at my current company back in 2012 I was given a Ford Transit Connect (worse vehicle I’ve ever driven btw). It was supposed to have been an F-150, but they got a deal on the Transit Connect... Well I had the entire state of Louisiana as my territory so I put a lot of miles on it in a short time period.

On one trip I was in Lafayette, LA and I had an emergency call in Nachitoches, LA. I was in such a hurry I didn’t stop to fill up the tiny 13-15 gallon gas tank. I was out in the rolling hill area about 4 miles from the exit and I’d just crest one of the hills when it died. I looked down & was like oh crap I forgot to get gas! Slapped it into N and as I was now on the downhill I actually maintained 70MPH, I made the 4 miles coasting along without any issues, but I knew making it into the gas station I was going to have to bring out the Maverick/Tom Cruise in me. It was a yield to the right, but the Exxon gas station was uphill like 25ft above the street!!

I exited, no cars where coming so I made the yield, turned (no problem manually steering), then turned again into the gas station entrance. I rolled right up to the pump like a boss! Hit the brakes & stopped (once again no issues stopping). A guy filling up in front of me was like that is really cool, I didn’t know Ford was making Hybrid Transit Connects. I looked at him & said oh they don’t. He looked confused & then asked why it was so quiet when I pulled up the pump?? I said oh I ran out of fuel 4 miles down the road & coasted in here. He was said damn that’s awesome & went about his business. I filled up, fired up the POS and continued onto the emergency call.

 

Steering without power steering isn't that bad, especially if you're rolling. It's almost like these power options have made people weaker and less in tune with their vehicles.

 

Yep I started driving a 77 CJ7 & it’s PS was INOP, brother then had a 66 109 Safari Wagon & we both lived out in the TX Hill Country. Mountain Views Dr was our street and it alone gained 800ft. No power brakes, no power steering and no issues. It helps to know wth you’re doing lol.