Many years ago before I knew the power of gravity I was lucky to find a nice soft bush through some ones garden in there front yard to fall into. Don't underestimate the power of the force of gravity. For any givin rider with any given gear ratio and steepness of hill you very well may not be able to stop. I avoid steeps now. But some times you get one so what I do is pretty much stop at the top make a game plan and go by half pedal strokes holding slides in between. slolom if necessary.