It was a 12% downgrade, and it scared me so...
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 683
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
It was a 12% downgrade, and it scared me so...
I walked it. Yup. Its a long way down, nearly straight down, and sitting on a 63cm frame it looked like I was trying to jump off the Empire State Building. Its seriously a good half-mile or more descent, and I just didn't know how to ride it.
How do I ride that hill down?
It was a different route for me and the first time facing that hill down. I like the rest of the route, but I can't keep walking my bike down that part. I posted this here because this is the section I spend my time in.
How do I ride that hill down?
It was a different route for me and the first time facing that hill down. I like the rest of the route, but I can't keep walking my bike down that part. I posted this here because this is the section I spend my time in.
#3
Hebrews 10:20a
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 141
Bikes: '74 Viscount Aerospace GP
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Keep both hands on the brake levers. Rise out of the seat, and straddle the top tube with your knees to keep the frame from bouncing -- the idea is to transmit the vibrations through your body, rather than have the frame absorb them.
And enjoy! We used to go to a state park that had some wicked hills; though most of them were fairly short. I had a blast on them; riding my Viscount, complete with the "death fork" on some of the trips....
And enjoy! We used to go to a state park that had some wicked hills; though most of them were fairly short. I had a blast on them; riding my Viscount, complete with the "death fork" on some of the trips....
#4
Senior Member
Hell, I get freaked out at curvy 8% grade. Couple a steep drop off with no barriers. It's not so much the speed but the cornering around a 100 foot drop off..
__________________
Pray for the Dead and Fight like Hell for the Living
^ Since January 1, 2012
Pray for the Dead and Fight like Hell for the Living
^ Since January 1, 2012
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 683
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Here is a view from the top, though not of the street itself. I'm essentially going to the gravel/brown section you see coming on from the bottom right edge.
Last edited by P4D; 01-28-10 at 03:39 PM.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 351
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Maybe the combination of speed and shoulder is what's putting you off? When you go fast, take the whole lane as no cars will be overtaking you, I presume. Since your posting here, maybe you have a vintage lightweight that isn't as high speed friendly as a more modern bike, maybe borrow a newer bike to get your confidence up? The longer wheelbase and different trail of an older lightweight give a more vague feeling front end at high speed.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 683
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Maybe the combination of speed and shoulder is what's putting you off? When you go fast, take the whole lane as no cars will be overtaking you, I presume. Since your posting here, maybe you have a vintage lightweight that isn't as high speed friendly as a more modern bike, maybe borrow a newer bike to get your confidence up? The longer wheelbase and different trail of an older lightweight give a more vague feeling front end at high speed.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 14,110
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 109 Times
in
78 Posts
12% is seriously steep for a 240lb person. I dont blame you for taking the safe route. From a physics perspective your starting of with almost 2X more potential energy than a flyweight 150lb rider on a 17lb carbon bike.
#10
Fat Guy on a Little Bike
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 17,229
Bikes: Two wheeled ones
Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1254 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times
in
174 Posts
I agree with Jim...take it easy and safe. Don't do anything you're uncomfortable with. Do it once riding the brakes and maybe lay off them a bit until you get comfortable.
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 683
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I don't know the answer, so here goes....is there a point at which I can lose the brakes? In a car, if you ride them downhill too long they can overheat and become useless/less effective. I considered the same could happen with the bike, esp. because I'm not lightweight. I didn't actually think they would melt, but I worried a bit that something like melting might happen.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
Posts: 9,563
Bikes: '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, '94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster, Tern Link D8
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1598 Post(s)
Liked 2,181 Times
in
1,086 Posts
Once you reach terminal velocity, you don't need brakes. Just ride it out.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Victoria, B.C. Canada
Posts: 323
Bikes: LHT, International, 310
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I once tried to climb this "mountain" (it's actually a hill), right behind where I live. The road has some ridiculously steep sections, tight, TIGHT hair pins, and is also in rough repair.
Oh, and it's 1.5 lanes....
Descending is what I love, but it made me nervous....because of how fast I would accelerate, without even pedalling, while heading for a hard 90, or a hairpin.
My strategy, was to put my center of gravity as far back as possible when braking hard, and releasing the brakes as much as I could on the short straights. To control my speed, I was pretty much constantly dragging the rear brake, but even so, there were points when even if I locked the rear wheel, I'd still be accelerating (Disturbing feeling that). Worse was when I tried dragging my front, and started smelling the brake compound.
In the end: Take it as slow as you can, alternate dragging rear and front brakes to keep the rims from getting too hot. Just....ONLY drag the front on a clear stretch of pavement, NOT over rough/broken tarmac. Keep your balance rearward, and stay out of the saddle. Use your arms and legs as your suspension, and I believe, you should be fine.
Oh, and it's 1.5 lanes....
Descending is what I love, but it made me nervous....because of how fast I would accelerate, without even pedalling, while heading for a hard 90, or a hairpin.
My strategy, was to put my center of gravity as far back as possible when braking hard, and releasing the brakes as much as I could on the short straights. To control my speed, I was pretty much constantly dragging the rear brake, but even so, there were points when even if I locked the rear wheel, I'd still be accelerating (Disturbing feeling that). Worse was when I tried dragging my front, and started smelling the brake compound.
In the end: Take it as slow as you can, alternate dragging rear and front brakes to keep the rims from getting too hot. Just....ONLY drag the front on a clear stretch of pavement, NOT over rough/broken tarmac. Keep your balance rearward, and stay out of the saddle. Use your arms and legs as your suspension, and I believe, you should be fine.
#14
Freewheel Medic
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Posts: 12,869
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
Mentioned: 139 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1443 Post(s)
Liked 2,165 Times
in
952 Posts
250 lbs here and let it rip! I barely touched the brakes.
This is on a decent of 1 mile where the elevation change is 1300 feet to 800 feet.
This is on a decent of 1 mile where the elevation change is 1300 feet to 800 feet.
__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
#15
十人十色
So there you are, flying down the hill at over 51 mph and you manage to whip your SLR out of your knapsack, sit back, check light readings and depth of field and snap a perfectly in-focus picture? Your job is paying off, Bob!
#16
aka: Mike J.
Yep, you can overheat or smoke the brakes, different than in a car though (unless you're running hydraulic disks).
Keep your speed under control, shift your weight back a little, off and on the brakes and don't ride them, alternate front and rear. Do a youtube search for bicycle braking and ignore the crazy ones.
Find some shorter grades to practice on. Zig-zag if there's no traffic. Search for videos of MTB'ers and downhill braking.
I've walked a few of the hills in downtown Seattle several decades ago, no real shae in that. It's better to walk than to give a crowd something to applaud about sometimes.
Keep your speed under control, shift your weight back a little, off and on the brakes and don't ride them, alternate front and rear. Do a youtube search for bicycle braking and ignore the crazy ones.
Find some shorter grades to practice on. Zig-zag if there's no traffic. Search for videos of MTB'ers and downhill braking.
I've walked a few of the hills in downtown Seattle several decades ago, no real shae in that. It's better to walk than to give a crowd something to applaud about sometimes.
#17
Light Makes Right
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Green Mountain, Colorado
Posts: 1,520
Bikes: Gianni Motta Criterium, Dean Hardtail
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I guess don't do anything you're uncomfortable with. That said, my driveway is 10% and the a lot of the MTB trails behind my house have to be descended with your butt rubbing the rear wheel (and even then it's a bit tippy sometimes) so it's hard for me to be sympathetic....I used to have a job near home about a mile away and 600 feet below. I'd push off and not pedal a stroke all the way. Coming home was a serious b!tch though!
flatlanders.....sheesh....
flatlanders.....sheesh....
Last edited by GV27; 01-28-10 at 04:41 PM.
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 683
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I drive down that road nearly every day, and thought, "hey, this will be soooo much fun tomorrow". Then I got to the top, and well, walked. Its an extremely busy road, and a pretty busy intersection at the bottom, and I just needed to figure it out before I went for it.
I'll try it, eventually...
#19
Tilting with windmills
Join Date: May 2008
Location: North Texas 'Burbs
Posts: 4,828
Bikes: Many
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I don't know the answer, so here goes....is there a point at which I can lose the brakes? In a car, if you ride them downhill too long they can overheat and become useless/less effective. I considered the same could happen with the bike, esp. because I'm not lightweight. I didn't actually think they would melt, but I worried a bit that something like melting might happen.
However, that's unlikely in a distance of 1/2 mile.
#20
12345
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: south france
Posts: 1,248
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I saw one guys on an old pink mercier blow out his tubular while braking decending ventoux at the tour de france this year. I saw alot of flat tyres that day (some with both front and back) and an ambulance arriving at a corner to help a fallen cyclist who was on the other side of the barriers. We we decending on a 1979 mafac racer equipped tandem and when ever I poured water onto the steel rim's it bubbled and boiled. I have changed the rims and pads now, so I hope thats problem solved.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,929
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Both hands on drops and fingers on the brake levers.
Keep your body LOW!
Push back until your butt is almost off the rear of the seat.
Weight goes on the outside pedal.
Lean into turn BUT push on the inside handlebar, as though trying to go straight. Dynamic tension between these two is how you steer.
Watch where you want to go NOT what you want to avoid. You will go where you LOOK.
Keep your body LOW!
Push back until your butt is almost off the rear of the seat.
Weight goes on the outside pedal.
Lean into turn BUT push on the inside handlebar, as though trying to go straight. Dynamic tension between these two is how you steer.
Watch where you want to go NOT what you want to avoid. You will go where you LOOK.
#23
Roadie in Training
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 409
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I got something like that in my neck of the woods, last time I went down it, it had recently rained, and my rims were sizzling... Fun though, in a scary sort of way.
#24
Señor Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hardy, VA
Posts: 17,929
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1488 Post(s)
Liked 1,057 Times
in
629 Posts
With those conditions, I wouldn't ride it either. I used to live in California, and there are some descents I wouldn't touch unless the roads were closed (and a couple that I wouldn't attempt even with a closed road). What did that guy say about discretion being the better part of valor?
...course you're listening to a guy who can legally post in the 50+ forum and never had a broken bone.
I drive down that road nearly every day, and thought, "hey, this will be soooo much fun tomorrow". Then I got to the top, and well, walked. Its an extremely busy road, and a pretty busy intersection at the bottom, and I just needed to figure it out before I went for it.
I'll try it, eventually...
...course you're listening to a guy who can legally post in the 50+ forum and never had a broken bone.
I drive down that road nearly every day, and thought, "hey, this will be soooo much fun tomorrow". Then I got to the top, and well, walked. Its an extremely busy road, and a pretty busy intersection at the bottom, and I just needed to figure it out before I went for it.
I'll try it, eventually...
__________________
In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.