So in a few weeks I will be making the move to the fixed world of biking. I am looking forward to it! So what are some downhill techniques? I know I will have to learn back pedaling pressure.

i ride mine with a front brake so i apply a little brake pressure as well as pack pressure on the pedals to slow myself down...you'll get it in no time

Don't attempt to go downhill without a brake unless you have extensive riding hours already in. Trust me.

Pedalling really fast works good for me

Seriously though, I just recently made the switch to fixed and downhills are not as big a deal as alot of people make it out to be, especially with a front brake. If you're just leg braking it's alot easier to control your speed up at the top rather than trying to slow down after you've already built up a crapload of speed and momentum.

My technique is to get in my drops and pedal my ass off. Make sure you have a brake.

1) learn to spin high rpm.
2) prepare to suffer on the way down unless you have a brake or don't mind careening out of control; going from high speeds to low speeds with just your legs can be as tough as a fast climb.

if you descend a lot, your cadence at high rpm will improve remarkably.

I would put a brake on the front until you acquire the skills that the more experienced riders have as a second nature. I have done a lot of riding this year on regular bikes and thought it would easy to switch to Fixed - it is different - You do have to pay attention and trying to learn everything at once might not be the best way. Take your time and keep the shiny side up! S&F

I find there's a bit of a barrier in terms of when you start to bounce and how fast you can spin. For example, you might start bouncing in the saddle at 24 MPH and really be bouncing at 28. If you focus on smoothness and keep spinning, you'll break through the barrier and be able to reach a much higher cadence. I've also noticed that it takes me a few downhills for my legs to loosen up so I can spin faster.

Also, keep applying pressure to the pedals, don't let them pull you around.

even with a brake, i have to fight to not feel nervous going fast downhill (even in a park)... i think it's not being used to super fast spinning, as you guys are saying.

incidentally, lower ratios suck going downhill. i ride 47x16; a few months ago, i rode my gf's 42x15 (she now rides 44x15) down a hill in manayunk-- it was terrible. i was bouncing and had almost no control over the bicycle; i normally descend those hills with no problem, perfectly controlled.

I agree--- if you live in an area with a lot of hills, you might find it better running a higher ratio than lower. It sounds counter-intuitive, but I prefer to struggle a bit more going up than easily spin out going down.

In practice I prefer a high ratio for downhill to keep the spin lower. With a brake.

However a low ratio makes it easier to bring a too high spin under control. Then a brake may more optional.

I spin slower on moderate to step downhills that I do on flat sprints or gentle downhills. This is because I want to keep it under control - me pushing the pedals instead of them pushing me. On a flat just slowing down pedaling quickly brings spin under control, however on a downhill one can get in a situation where one can not provide enough resistance to slow and the momentum takes over. This is where a brake can help.

Al

I was running 49/19 and, while it was a nice, easy ratio for climbing and spinning in the flats, things got a little crazier than I'd like in the downhills. I've since thrown a 16t on back and, while it's a little slower to get started, it's much nicer to actually feel like you've got some pedaling power down hills, rather than barely keeping up with a lower ratio.

I have a brake but never really use it going downhill, unless I need to stop or if things just get totally out of control.
I prefer to just spin like a maniac and get down the hill as fast as I can. Rather than just trying spin my legs to keep pace, I find it a little more comfortable to actually push it up to an even higher cadence, putting more force into the downstroke and letting the pedals push my feet up in the backstroke (being careful not to get too bouncy).

Naturally, you can descend faster and more comfortably with a bigger gear. For me, I eventually realized that its better to develop the strength and technique for climbing in a big gear, so that the descents are less unpleasant. Over time, I also developed a capacity for spinning at very high cadence.
My fastest descent ever was 42.7 mph with 76 inches. I'm sure I could spin a little faster than that given a steeper hill, although it would be unpleasant and probably dangerous.

thinking about changing mine up to a 17 in the back...i am running 48x19 right now and my legs really get going on the hills but i am able to control them pretty well