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Originally Posted by
Andy_K
The Cypress descent I mentioned was (at least for me) all about controlling speed and keeping it low. I was generally looking for around 10 mph in the gravel section because scrubbing a lot of speed just before a corner wasn't possible, so aerodynamic drag was much less of a factor. Instead, it was all about pumping the brakes a lot to keep the speed low. Obviously, the limiting factor, especially on a gravel road, is the traction of the tires and even braking from the hoods I had to be carefully not to brake too hard and go into a skid, but with the constant hard braking I quickly found my forearms starting to cramp when braking from the hoods. From the drops, it was no problem.
This is why I like the
idea of Eroica California but wouldn't actually ride it. I'm a chicken on descents that are PAVED, riding with disk brakes, so the idea of steep gravel descents with dodgy 80s single pivots? Nuh-uh.
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