Scary

Calpol

Back on the subject of speed. I guess I am fairly new to road biking having rediscovered it in 2011. I am not a big risk taker, in fact I probably suffer with higher anxiety levels than most! However, there is still something in me that wants to see how far I can push things.

My mileage this year has definitely improved my confidence to the point where on a group ride a couple of weekends someone rather flatteringly described me as a good descender. This is patently not the case as there are many more fearless riders around than me but nonetheless illustrates how time in the saddle can improve a lot of things. I hit 46mph last week on a descent near me and it felt pretty fast and close to my limit before bowel movement was involved but last year that possibly would have been 36mph.

I think the concentration levels for long Alpine type descents must be a huge challenge as you really have to try and relax but also remain very alert with great anticipation of what is ahead. I would love to attempt one of the European cols at some point and I reckon that coming down will be equally fatigue as going up for a novice.

Mikey23

Should definitely be 60 40. Anyone who says different is stoopid ...

Crawlinguphills

Calpol wrote:

Back on the subject of speed. I guess I am fairly new to road biking having rediscovered it in 2011. I am not a big risk taker, in fact I probably suffer with higher anxiety levels than most! However, there is still something in me that wants to see how far I can push things.

My mileage this year has definitely improved my confidence to the point where on a group ride a couple of weekends someone rather flatteringly described me as a good descender. This is patently not the case as there are many more fearless riders around than me but nonetheless illustrates how time in the saddle can improve a lot of things. I hit 46mph last week on a descent near me and it felt pretty fast and close to my limit before bowel movement was involved but last year that possibly would have been 36mph.

I think the concentration levels for long Alpine type descents must be a huge challenge as you really have to try and relax but also remain very alert with great anticipation of what is ahead. I would love to attempt one of the European cols at some point and I reckon that coming down will be equally fatigue as going up for a novice.

We have a hill near us that is a - 10 gradient and as low as a -24 gradient, plus two hairpins. The maximum I have hot on this is 31.1mph and I nearly brake my hands on the way down squeezing the brakes. My girlfriend quite happily cruises down at about 35-40mph, and I have no idea how she does it, as its not a great road surface. I think I actually might be developing a phobia of descending, which is really annoying, as you dont get the pay off of the climb. I have no idea how to get over it, besides having my first 'off' and thinking that it wasnt so bad.

unixnerd

I think I actually might be developing a phobia of descending,

I was a bit like that. It honestly just takes practice and going very slightly quicker or braking a bit later every time.

farrina

unixnerd wrote:

I think I actually might be developing a phobia of descending,

I was a bit like that. It honestly just takes practice and going very slightly quicker or braking a bit later every time.

I am currently in the phobic stage, the last two times I have come off have been on diesel, so I now seem to imagine it on every wet bend (especially the busier junctions).

One of the earlier posters hit the nail on the head - confidence builds until the next big off and then the process starts again.

Regard

Alan

JasonBrooke

As a noob 50/50 sounds good to me...or both at the same time. Im sure that if you panic and are going too fast the thought of "now then is that 75/25 or 60/40 isn't going to cross your mind. So 50/50 makes it easier to appreciate and apply.

Peddle Up!

Maybe a good question to ask is "How do you know you're braking 50/50 or 60/40?".

Mikey41

You can't, it's just done by feel and practice.

Anyhoo, yeah it's a brilliant feeling descending fast on a bike, I saw 35mph today which was a great payoff for the miles of climbing I'd had to do before it

Feel vulnerable? Yep, but the application of common sense and looking well ahead is normally enough to avoid nasty situations.

Peddle Up!

Mikey41 wrote:

You can't, it's just done by feel and practice.

Anyhoo, yeah it's a brilliant feeling descending fast on a bike, I saw 35mph today which was a great payoff for the miles of climbing I'd had to do before it

Feel vulnerable? Yep, but the application of common sense and looking well ahead is normally enough to avoid nasty situations.

35mph. I can aspire to that, but tales of 60mph are, frankly, mental.

{Can I still say mental?} :?

Mikey41

Yeah, you can say mental..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tFpNsZXWgc

:shock:

daxplusplus

Someone posted a link to the following page http://sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html on Sheldon Brown's site a month or so ago when a similar question came up and I must say that even though I've ridden a bike for years, covering tens of thousands of miles I still learnt a lot from it. Now I hardly ever use the back brake.

Anyway thought I'd pass on the link and hope it's useful for someone else ..

Muffintop

I had (and still do) crap myself on down hilling it. I only really let go if I know the downhill really well, know the conditions to expect and can see round the bends. Fastest I've ever went so far has been 37mph. This is really good for technique http://www.flammerouge.je/images/factsheets/Corner%20Schematic.pdf. As is the article that goes with it http://www.flammerouge.je/content/3_factsheets/constant/descend.htm. I also found going round my local park and going round in circles helps with cornering (looking where you want to go not where your bike wants to go - it will follow you eventually).

Also, I won't be pushed. There's a face full of road between bravery and stupidity.

Mx

Mikey41

Here's what I have on my regular route. I climb steadily over a few miles to get to the top of the first downhill over the level crossing, then on the 2nd downhill I get 35mph. I could get that after the crossing but the corner at the bottom is blind and the road isn't wide, there could be mud on the road like there was at the top etc. so discretion is the better part of valour there

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp9OK3hpnSA

http://app.strava.com/rides/24553864

lotus49

slowondefy2 wrote:

It's worth looking up about 'speed wobble' so you're a bit prepared if it hits! Happens on motorbikes too so you've probably heard of it as 'tank slapper'...

Back in the day, I bought a Suzuki X7 with a really cheap nasty back tyre. The first time I got to 80 the handlebars started oscillating and they literally hit the stops on both sides. I absolutely crapped myself but somehow stayed on. That wasn't an experience I was in a hurry to repeat so I went straight to my local bike dealer the next day and replaced the tyre and had the tracking checked.

I really hope that never happens on my bike (at least I probably won't be doing 80 but nor will I be wearing full leathers either, gulp).

nolight

I am 1 of those who have experienced what it means to brake too suddenly, so I might actually start with 25-75 if braking at high speed (front brake is stronger and easier to cause crash if you don't control the power well). Then with enough control, I then move to 50-50 and finally 75-25.

I think the more experienced you are, the earlier you can get to 75-25.

Mikey41

I threw out the anchors really hard once and went over the handlebars.... It was more to do with the bike behind me slamming into me to be fair, but when you're 8 and your cap blows off it's what you do! :oops:

butcher of bakersfield

I have ridden bikes for years. BMX and mountain bikes. And will happily descend a good stretch of tarmac on an MTB. But earlier this year I came out of the closet and got a road bike too. And it terrified me. Everything felt dangerous! The brakes are sub-standard. Tyres have marginal grip. Every crack in the road is a hazard.

I'm used to riding bikes designed to inspire confidence on descents. Bikes with brakes that can stop you on a sixpence. This is a completely different world.

For the first few weeks I was scrubbing off speed all the time. Timidly navigating descents and still deciding if this was for me - I wasn't sure whether I'd get used to it. But, I have to say, I soon found myself enjoying the descents and even seeking them out. I have my on, and my off days. Rain nearly always signifies an off day. There are descents local to me me that I literally crawl down when it's wet - 2, 3 or 4mph - I can be a right wuss! Yet on others I have hit over 50mph and been completely comfortable with it, cursing my gearing because my legs are spinning out. I want more. Some days I'm plagued by my own negativity. What if I get a puncture? What if a rabbit runs out? What if I get speed wobbles? And so I proceed gingerly at half the speed I could achieve. I prefer hills not too steep but steep enough. I prefer bends not too tight but tight enough. The extremes I'm not enamoured by. In the right conditions, and with a bit of confidence, it can be great fun.