You know that nervous feeling you get when you’re driving down the road and you see a cop? And you have no idea how fast you’re going or what the speed limit is? It can happen on a bike too.
On Thursday nights, my friends and I unwind by rambling on the quiet backroads of Los Altos Hills. Given the town name, it’s no surprise that it’s a climbing ride, and as they say “what goes up must come down.” No complaints for me, though. The downside of climbing is the upside for me. I LOVE to descend.
A couple of weeks ago, I slapped on my GoPro helmet-cam before we descended Altamont Road. I had carved through the tricky off-camber steep section and was shooting down the final straightaway when a sheriff pulled out ahead of me. He wasn’t close at all, but I felt a twinge of fear. How fast was I going? What’s the speed limit? That night I replayed the video, but couldn’t find speed limit signs. Do you see any?
Tonight, we climbed up to Altamont Road again, taking a slightly different route so we could find a speed limit sign. We found it: 30 mph. Lower than I expected.
This time I caught up to two guys early in the descent, so I took it easy the rest of way down. At the bottom I checked my bike computer. Max speed 39.5. Definitely speeding. I wonder what it was two weeks ago when I was pedaling instead on braking through the turns?
Have you ever been pulled over for speeding on your bike? Would you fight a ticket or would you frame it?
One woman. Many bicycles. 
ladyfleur
August 25, 2011 at 11:20 pm
Did anyone notice in the video that I stopped longer at the stop sign than the sheriff did, even though I didn’t put my foot down? It’s really annoying that they will ticket you in Portola Valley for not putting a foot down, when they roll on through…
Michelle Perez
August 26, 2011 at 11:39 am
Loved the video! And yea, I see law enforcment roll through stop signs all the time.
Cindy
August 27, 2011 at 4:05 pm
Great video Janet! I never saw the sheriff – he had already rolled and gone.
jay keehan
September 27, 2011 at 8:43 pm
I’ve done as fast as 44 mph past the guardrails, but then I’m a Clydesdale (god I hate typing that).
Watching your video, I got to wondering–did you play it at 1.5 speed? It seems a bit too fast for me.
I like just past the stop sign when it looks like your shadow is riding in the dirt before you dismount.
ladyfleur
September 27, 2011 at 11:05 pm
It’s played at normal time. I think the wide angle lens makes it look faster. I liked seeing my shadow in the video too.I actually was on the dirt at the very end. My road bike isn’t afraid of dirt.