Do you pedal like hell on a steep descent?
11-25-04, 02:07 PM
#1
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Do you pedal like hell on a steep descent?
Other day, watching those about me...Co-cyclists are peddling like crazy on a steep descent..Not me, my hand hurts from gripping the brakes...Those w/o fear...I am not in that category...
11-25-04, 02:10 PM
#2
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Not on the road...I don't have any confidence in grip of tire on the road
But on a mountain, if I am racign someone down, for sure.
But on a mountain, if I am racign someone down, for sure.
11-25-04, 04:09 PM
#3
Wheres the beef?
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hell yea! but i kinda have to
11-25-04, 08:09 PM
#5
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it depends on the decent and my objective for the ride. If I'm trying to do a base training ride, I'll spin so that I can keep my HR at 120 or above. If I'm doing a hard ride, though, I generally take the hills to recover and get aero.
11-25-04, 08:19 PM
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Usually I work myself on the hill usually if I see a hill coming I will increase my speed a bit until I get to the hill then I will just pump the pedals until I get to the top, probably not the best strategy but I definatly can feel the burn when I get to the top.
11-26-04, 06:50 AM
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It depends on the grade of the hill, if it's steep I tuck because I don't think there's much use above 40mph but if I'm only going 30 or so I'll pedal to keep my legs warm and so I can carry momentum into the next hill...
11-26-04, 09:27 AM
#8
cut my gas use in half
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Yeah!! I can't go any 40 mph, but I go as fast as I can. (Rider, not racer, granny, not fit...) And I am lazy, if I am going fast down the slope, the next upslope is easier.
11-26-04, 04:29 PM
#9
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I do if I want to build up som momentum for an upcomming ascent.
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11-26-04, 04:53 PM
#10
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I usually stop pedalling once I spin out the 53x12 above 120RPM. I'll stop pedalling sooner if the descent is especially long (more than a mile). I find that above 120RPM or so, I'm not doing myself any favours by pedalling because all the bouncing around and stuff actually decreases my speed. It's better at that point to just tuck in low and get as aero as I can.
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11-26-04, 08:09 PM
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Sure do, How else can I get to 30MPH? I do try to settle in around 30 though. Don
11-26-04, 08:14 PM
#12
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I do sometimes. By I get nervous when I get above 30. Just a couple days ago I found this big hill near my house that got me to 41. Hit a rock at that speed and you're done for, I guess. It's quite a thrill to be going as fast as the cars, though.
Then after the hill I settle in to my average speed of 13mph!
Then after the hill I settle in to my average speed of 13mph!
11-27-04, 12:34 AM
#13
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One hill coming down from Palomar Mtn..About a 4-5 mile descent..Actually ,some of my friends complained cars were going too slow...I've clocked in over 40 mph..But, the recorse is braking to the point your hands ache...
Sometimes, I recall seeing crushed citrus remains on this road...During harvest season..
One slip, you are done for.
Sometimes, I recall seeing crushed citrus remains on this road...During harvest season..
One slip, you are done for.
11-27-04, 09:53 AM
#14
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I back-pedal my fixie like mad on the really nasty decents... I've ended up being slower at the end of the hill than the top.
11-27-04, 10:48 AM
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I guess, Im not too afraid of speed compared to some of you. Could just be my young+naive-ness. I went around 46 kmph, about 30mph and I felt I was going too slow. I needed more speed. MORE MORE MORE!!
11-27-04, 12:35 PM
#16
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Going fast down hills is the best part!! Give me a long, straight downhill road and I'll probably be pedaling harder than I was on the flats.
11-27-04, 12:56 PM
#17
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On the mountain bike I generally don't pedal too much going downhill as the trails I ride have short, steep descents and a sharp 110 turn at the bottom. The sharp turn plus the sand/rocks/snakes that are usually at the bottom make me go a bit slower than I could go.
The road is another story
I pedal as fast as I can until theres no resistance in 52/11. Top speed so far has been 56mph down Palomar mtn and I almost peed my shorts 
The road is another story
I pedal as fast as I can until theres no resistance in 52/11. Top speed so far has been 56mph down Palomar mtn and I almost peed my shorts
11-27-04, 11:01 PM
#19
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Originally Posted by oknups
What is the max speed obtained on a bike?
This is the current record holder I believe. of course it was done while motorpacing behind a vehicle with a big wind fairing.
This woman, Carolyn Curl, accomplished 120MPH through gravity assist.
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Last edited by khuon; 11-27-04 at 11:08 PM.
11-28-04, 09:19 AM
#20
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Originally Posted by forum*rider
The road is another story I pedal as fast as I can until theres no resistance in 52/11. Top speed so far has been 56mph down Palomar mtn and I almost peed my shorts
I pedal as fast as I can until theres no resistance in 52/11. Top speed so far has been 56mph down Palomar mtn and I almost peed my shorts I always get a little freaked,when I look down and see the road pass by at how many feet per second!
11-28-04, 11:28 AM
#21
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yeah, I don't think I'm going to be going that fast anytime soon. Imagine if you wrecked going that fast, only a thin jersey and somelycra between you and the road 
11-28-04, 12:13 PM
#22
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Don't forget this guy. 107mph (which I think he later increased) with one of the nastiest crashes all time
https://www.sonypictures.com/tv/shows...e/ep_412a.html
11-28-04, 09:23 PM
#23
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Wow, those are some wild looking bikes!
Personally, it depends. If I'm trying to conserve energy, like if I'm doing a century, I probably wouldn't go all-out down steep declines for the same reason I wouldn't pedal like hell on the flats. In that case, I try put about the same amount of effort into my pedaling regardless of terrain, and the speed depends on what gear I'm in combined with the incline. Of course, it is fun to go like hell down fast hills... so, on a regular ride, and when the spirit moves, which is quite often, I go for it!
Personally, it depends. If I'm trying to conserve energy, like if I'm doing a century, I probably wouldn't go all-out down steep declines for the same reason I wouldn't pedal like hell on the flats. In that case, I try put about the same amount of effort into my pedaling regardless of terrain, and the speed depends on what gear I'm in combined with the incline. Of course, it is fun to go like hell down fast hills... so, on a regular ride, and when the spirit moves, which is quite often, I go for it!
11-29-04, 11:43 PM
#24
Get outdoors! :)
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Normally I coast down hills, to recover some from the climb. Sometimes, though, just for fun, I put it in top gear and really lean into it. I love the look on the cagers' faces when I pass them at 35 mph!
11-30-04, 02:01 AM
#25
Every lane is a bike lane
On descents I just grit my teeth and hope to hell it's over soon (but not quite that soon). I see descending as the price to pay for a beautiful climb.
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