Speed Debate Resolved

Someone was asking how Japan was... the answer is very nice thankyou. How did you know I was there? No secrets round here is the answer I guess

Anyhow, I've often said that I thought one could go a fair bit faster on skis then a bike but have come across some non-believers in my time.

The fastest time I've recored off road on a bike so far has been 54.4Km/h down part of the Tianjara Fire Trail:

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/1452504

Update: Ah, actually, I think faster was had from the helipad to gate on this run down The Oaks, looks like maybe 56-57Km/h:

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/1856460

Quicker still down the Causeway means the exact figure isn't shown (erm... that, and a crazy GPS error right at the end).

Over 40Km/h is routine at places like Cascades, but I believe the above is fastest in the MB digest. Maybe I'm just a wimp when off road... have hit over 70Ks on sealed stuff (coming down Black Mountain in Canberra) so those rocks and dirt must be hurting either the rolling resistance or one's sense of security

Whist in Japan though had the chance to ski with a GPS, and also on some fast runs - they were groomed to perfection in Shiga Kogen and as there was no snow during the day for the first few of the trip this landed some nice fast runs. The GPS shows that one can hit 50-60Km/h down just about any wide open run. It also shows that max speeds completely blitz a bike, day 3 here I managed 105.3Km/h:

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/2078011

Nice, eh? So there you go - skis will beat a bike any time (erm... that there is snow on the ground and it's a big slope!)