at full speed

[Untaught88]

Hi,

Are these sentences correct?

She was riding the bike at full speed.
She was driving the car at full speed.

 

[Rover_KE]

They don't mean much without context.

Somebody else could possibly ride/drive them faster.

 

[Tarheel]

I suppose you could argue that "full speed" is partly subjective, but they certainly pass the grammar test.

 

[emsr2d2]

If they were driving/riding at the maximum speed achievable by that particular car/bike, use "... at [its] top speed".

 

[Barque]

Are these sentences correct?

As far as I know "full speed" is used only in subcontinental English, to mean "top speed", and usually exaggeratedly.

 

[5jj]

She was driving the car at full speed.

I would say that if she had her foot to the floor.

 

[SoothingDave]

A car has a full speed. Top gear, accelerator pedal to the floor.

A bike doesn't. There's no specification. It depends on the rider.

 

[Barque]

A bike doesn't.

You mean a bicycle. Am clarifying for the OP's benefit, because in India and Pakistan, "bike" and "motorbike" both mean a motorcycle. A bicycle is called a cycle for short here.

 

[SoothingDave]

Yes, I read it as bicycle.

 

[Barque]

Well, just letting you know the OP probably meant a motorbike.

 

[emsr2d2]

I assumed it referred to a motorbike as a bicycle doesn't really have a full/top speed.

 

[emsr2d2]

Well, just letting you know the OP probably meant a motorbike.

It's always best to allow the OP to tell us what they meant, rather than just guessing.

 

[Barque]

It's always best to allow the OP to tell us what they meant, rather than just guessing.

It wasn't a guess. I made that statement on the basis of a lifetime of exposure to Indian English. I wasn't sure the OP would think of clarifying the point themselves, because many people in this part of the world believe the word "bike" only means a motorcycle and they don't realise it can also mean a bicycle.