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Ya, I'm not down with the pedal-nazis saying coasting is bad form. I enjoy coasting whenever possible unless I'm in some kind of hurry.
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It's not bad form. More that you are a wuss. :D
Just don't ask me if I coast on my geared bike descending a mountain. |
That's what i do in my daily commute.
since i do a 1.5 hrs ride 45km each way. i'm not gunning my bike down the road as i used to anymore. for a 90km round trip commute, i need to conserve as much energy in my muscle as possible. So, coasting is the best way to enjoy commuting. I usually pedal fast until i attain a comfortable coasting speed, then i just let it free ride until it slows back down to like 25km/h, and i again pump it up to about 35km/h This way i keep my phase steady for longer period of times, without burning out. :thumb:
Originally Posted by jharte
(Post 9156936)
The things we think about while riding. My mind goes everywhere. Last night on my way home (in 102 deg temps and 76%Rh) I was coasting down a shallow grade, still sweating. I started thinking about how nice it is to coast!
In the commuting forum I know we have Roadies who commute, MTBers who commute, Urban Assault riders who commute, BMX bikers who commute, and probably some other catagories I can't think of! For me, I'm a long time (over 30 years now) long distance tourer. Hundreds of miles and several week trips are awesome. For years I paid close attention to my cadence. Touring, commuting, cruising, it didn't matter. Cadence was everything. Back then, NO COASTING. Now that I'm a little older, I enjoy coasting. Slowing down to smell the flowers (sometimes literally) :D So how about you? Do you coast? Jerry H |
Originally Posted by tarwheel
(Post 9157944)
I rarely ever coast. About the only time I ever coast is when I ride my single speed because there's no point pedaling when you are totally spun out. I'm an old schooler as well, and I think it's bad form to coast, particularly on group rides. Nothing irks me more than someone supposedly taking a pull in a paceline and coasting down the hills. You're supposed to work when you're at the front.
Huh? This is a commuting list, not a Hammer Boy Shout Out. :roflmao2: |
Originally Posted by GTALuigi
(Post 9158698)
i need to conserve as much energy in my muscle as possible.
So, coasting is the best way to enjoy commuting. I usually pedal fast until i attain a comfortable coasting speed, then i just let it free ride until it slows back down to like 25km/h, and i again pump it up to about 35km/h This way i keep my phase steady for longer period of times, without burning out. :thumb: |
Originally Posted by Booger1
(Post 9158361)
Yes! and if I can figure out how to do it all of the time,I'll be a rich man.
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excuuuuussssse me ...
Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
(Post 9158758)
Pacelines? Group rides? Old School-Bad Form?
Huh? This is a commuting list, not a Hammer Boy Shout Out. :roflmao2: |
Originally Posted by tarwheel
(Post 9158900)
So if you pedal down hills and get going as fast as you, it's much easier and faster going up the other side.
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Originally Posted by tarwheel
(Post 9158900)
Sorry, I forgot that I was in the wussy-boy, coast-down-the-hills forum. One of my main reasons for cycling is exercise. You don't get much exercise coasting. Plus you go a lot slower. One of the things that coasters overlook is that speed and momentum are your friends when it comes to climbing. So if you pedal down hills and get going as fast as you, it's much easier and faster going up the other side.
Originally Posted by canyoneagle
(Post 9159016)
......... that is, unless the hill bottoms out at a busy intersection, stoplight, etc.........;)
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Generally speaking, the more you cycle, the less you coast, because its less efficient than pedalling a constant speed. As your fitness and experience levels improve, your body naturally seeks out efficiency.
The only exceptions to this, of course, would be when decelerating or descending. But I'm with IL2B on this one...who cares, you're commuting. |
Originally Posted by tarwheel
(Post 9158900)
Sorry, I forgot that I was in the wussy-boy, coast-down-the-hills forum. One of my main reasons for cycling is exercise. You don't get much exercise coasting.
~~~~~ sigh~~~ :rolleyes: Lighten up, Francis*. This is the commuting forum. *(It's a movie reference, btw.) |
My legs tend to stiffen up easily. Hence the reason I minimize coasting on my geared bikes as well.
That is until I hit around 40mph. Clamping down on my top tube with my knees makes it difficult to pedal. |
Originally Posted by jharte
(Post 9156936)
(in 102 deg temps and 76%Rh) I was coasting down a shallow grade, still sweating. I started thinking about how nice it is to coast!
Under normal weather conditions I rarely coast. |
Sorry could someone explain what "coasting" means? Is it anytime you stop pedalling, like even after grinding up a hill to let your muscles relax on the way down, or more the technique of pedalling for a while then just rolling on flat stretches, before pedalling again? thanx :)
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It is when you stop pedaling for whatever reason.
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Originally Posted by DataJunkie
(Post 9159278)
It is when you stop pedaling for whatever reason.
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Rarely.
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only when i have to stop for a red light
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If you like a fun time try to coast on a fixed gear. This is especially fun when going from standing to sitting. Weeee!
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I coast on the way to the train fron my house, not so much on the other end. The trip from the station to the house is all either uphill, taking the lane on a 4-lane road (e.g., 2 lanes in each direction), or dealing with traffic lights.
Coasting is fun... except when you need to brake going downhill for miles and miles. My poor hands! |
Originally Posted by DataJunkie
(Post 9159278)
It is when you stop pedaling for whatever reason.
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Originally Posted by tarwheel
(Post 9158900)
Sorry, I forgot that I was in the wussy-boy, coast-down-the-hills forum. One of my main reasons for cycling is exercise. You don't get much exercise coasting. Plus you go a lot slower. One of the things that coasters overlook is that speed and momentum are your friends when it comes to climbing. So if you pedal down hills and get going as fast as you, it's much easier and faster going up the other side.
Cycling isn't all about exercise or going fast anyway...if that's all it is for you, I'm sorry. As far as climbing goes...seems to me like the wussy is the one who needs momentum to avoid a little work. HTFU gomer. :D |
Originally Posted by chipcom
(Post 9159423)
As far as climbing goes...seems to me like the wussy is the one who needs momentum to avoid a little work.
HTFU gomer. :D ...or someone trying to avoid undue strain on his knees. :p |
I guess I consider putting my legs in neutral to be coasting on FG as well. Not putting power to the pedals, but not resisting them either.
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That makes sense.
I have also encountered FG riders who unclip. One who rested his feet on his top tube on a long downhill. Seems like a bad idea to me. |
I like to work hard up hills (standing up, grinding away, whatever) and enjoy coasting down the other side. This is more like interval training and I doubt that it is inferior exercise than a slow spin up the hill and pedalling down the other side (thereby avoiding coasting). Obviously hammering both up and down the hills is the best exercise but I'd hate to get to work too early or win the TDF :D
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hills
Originally Posted by chipcom
(Post 9159423)
Yet I pass wussy boys like you all the time as I coast down nice downhills...laughing all the way as you frantically try to catch up only to find you ain't got high enough gears to do so.
Cycling isn't all about exercise or going fast anyway...if that's all it is for you, I'm sorry. As far as climbing goes...seems to me like the wussy is the one who needs momentum to avoid a little work. HTFU gomer. :D My previous messages were mostly in jest. I actually do coast sometime, particularly on recovery days when I am trying to take it easy. However, I do have a pet peeve about skinny little dudes who climb great and drop everyone on the hills, but coast on the downhills when it's their turn to pull. Actually, I don't like it when anyone coasts on downhills in pacelines -- unless they weigh enough that they roll faster than everyone else. |
On my way home I usually pass through residential Beverly Hills. One strip of road is very smooth and slightly downhill. There I just let off the handlebar and coast through the city, about 2.5 miles.
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Originally Posted by tarwheel
(Post 9158900)
Sorry, I forgot that I was in the wussy-boy, coast-down-the-hills forum. One of my main reasons for cycling is exercise. You don't get much exercise coasting.
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I spent the previous 25 years or so of riding and gearing down/spinning instead of coasting...so I'm trying to break the habit actually. I still have it in the back of my mind that I shouldn't coast...go figure.
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