Uncomfortable in descending position.
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 561
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Uncomfortable in descending position.
On a particular technical hill descent, my shoulders/back/biceps start to get super sore really quick. I get in an aero position - butt back on the saddle, hands on the drops/fingers on the levers. The descent is too technical to not have my hands on the levers the whole time, ready to brake (at least at my skill level), due to the fact that just about every turn is blind and most of the turns are pretty sharp, plus the few cars and other cyclist on the road.
I have a feeling that I shouldn't keep my hands on the levers the whole time, but on a technical descent where I have to brake often, the second where I have to move my hands to the levers leaves me vulnerable.
What am I doing wrong?
edit: I should note, I feel fine on less technical descents.
I have a feeling that I shouldn't keep my hands on the levers the whole time, but on a technical descent where I have to brake often, the second where I have to move my hands to the levers leaves me vulnerable.
What am I doing wrong?
edit: I should note, I feel fine on less technical descents.
#2
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Local psych ward
Posts: 813
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
anxiety = muscle tension
lose all fear of death and the soreness will vanish
then you will become:
lose all fear of death and the soreness will vanish
then you will become:
Last edited by dysFTP; 01-19-09 at 09:49 PM.
#5
climb, climb, fall.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 352
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 561
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That's what I've been doing (or trying to), but it's difficult to relax your fingers while they're poised/resting on the levers, waiting to brake. I'm going to try to take my hands of the levers after I brake next time and see how that goes.
#8
moth -----> flame
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 5,916
Bikes: 11 CAAD 10-4, 07 Specialized Roubaix Comp, 98 Peugeot Horizon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Have you tried to "loosen up"? i.e. avoiding the death grip on the bars, and also raising yourself out of the saddle a little to let the bike absorb more of the bumps?
__________________
BF, in a nutshell
BF, in a nutshell
#10
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,271
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1425 Post(s)
Liked 692 Times
in
351 Posts
All good suggestions above. I'd add ride in the drops more to get comfortable with the position.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Santa Cruz Mountains
Posts: 6,169
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Some people "drag" their brakes on descents. Holding the brakes on for a long time like that will make your hands tired. That's why I suggested to brake hard only when you need to. It's easier on the brakes as well, as it leaves more time for the rims to cool down.
If you are uncomfortable descending in the drops then that might have something to do with it. Having too long a reach to the bars and then reaching for levers could tire your hands more out quickly. If you have small hands then you may benefit from adjusting the reach on your levers to make them easier to reach. Sram levers have adjusters and you can buy shims from Specialized for Shimano levers. Make sure that the brake levers are in a good position on the bars. Sometimes people move them up on the curve too far to get the hoods to a comfortable position but then that leaves the brake levers at a bad angle where they are hard to reach from the drops and give little leverage when braking from the hoods. If that's the case then you may need to compromise a bit, or even go for a different brand of brake lever to get a hood shape that works for you.
#12
Senior Member
Picture of set up and maybe you on it (at least hands, arms, neck), esp in the positions you find difficult to hold.
If you're having that much difficulty holding a position, it's probably not right. Yeah, I get really tired on technical descents but that's after 20 minutes of descending down switchbacks that I really don't remember too well, and I'm good for another 10 or 15 minutes before I'm done. For 5 or 10 minutes pretty much any position on my bike is fine.
However, if you're doing 20-30 minute descents regularly, then you probably need to compromise your position to accommodate the stress of such riding. For such descents (the only time I run into them is coming down Palomar in CA) I'll try using an 80 degree stem (7 deg rise) to raise my bars a touch. Normally I use a 73 deg stem (0 deg rise).
cdr
If you're having that much difficulty holding a position, it's probably not right. Yeah, I get really tired on technical descents but that's after 20 minutes of descending down switchbacks that I really don't remember too well, and I'm good for another 10 or 15 minutes before I'm done. For 5 or 10 minutes pretty much any position on my bike is fine.
However, if you're doing 20-30 minute descents regularly, then you probably need to compromise your position to accommodate the stress of such riding. For such descents (the only time I run into them is coming down Palomar in CA) I'll try using an 80 degree stem (7 deg rise) to raise my bars a touch. Normally I use a 73 deg stem (0 deg rise).
cdr
#13
moth -----> flame
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 5,916
Bikes: 11 CAAD 10-4, 07 Specialized Roubaix Comp, 98 Peugeot Horizon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
It shouldn't be. It's not for me, but I have 30 years of motorcycling where I "cover" the brake (and clutch for off road riding) so I am very used to it. It may take some practice and conscious thought. Try practicing when riding along on flat ground. Your fingers should be just resting on the lever, not putting any pressure on it. Grip the bars with the other fingers. I normally use one finger for each brake. Two for the front brake if I have been doing a lot of twisty road descending and my index finger is getting tired.
__________________
BF, in a nutshell
BF, in a nutshell
#14
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 28,387
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
It shouldn't be. It's not for me, but I have 30 years of motorcycling where I "cover" the brake (and clutch for off road riding) so I am very used to it. It may take some practice and conscious thought. Try practicing when riding along on flat ground. Your fingers should be just resting on the lever, not putting any pressure on it. Grip the bars with the other fingers. I normally use one finger for each brake. Two for the front brake if I have been doing a lot of twisty road descending and my index finger is getting tired.
And here I am a few minutes later...
I love that descent. Still one of my all time favorites.
#15
slow up hills
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 4,931
Bikes: Giant TCR, Redline CX, Ritchey Breakaway, Spec S-works epic
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
just out of curisity where do you live?
edit: joe binder?
edit: joe binder?
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 561
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I live in San Carlos (right now, winter break) and San Francisco (school). I'm talking about the Old La Honda and King's Mountain descents.
I gave the above finger/hand changes a shot today, and I'm pretty sure it's a combination of my short fingers and levers maybe being a touch too high. Also, I've got SRAM Rival on my bike, so I'm going to try to adjust the reach.
Thanks for everyone's help.
I gave the above finger/hand changes a shot today, and I'm pretty sure it's a combination of my short fingers and levers maybe being a touch too high. Also, I've got SRAM Rival on my bike, so I'm going to try to adjust the reach.
Thanks for everyone's help.