going down a hill on road bike

[jamma]

I just want to know what you would do


I use a route alot since it has fairly few cars travelling and in one bit is a hill on a fairly busy 60mph road. I go down slowly is this wrong or should i just go as fast as possibly and just hope for the best as the road narrows over a bridge at the bottom?

 

[vickster]

Go down at the speed you are comfortable at and that you feel is safe. I personally am a slow descender, not that there are many 60mph hills around here. If you don't like that route, find another

 

[DRHysted]

Personally I'd go at a speed I was happy with. Go as fast or as slow as you want.

 

[earlestownflya]

if the road surface is good,and conditions are good and you're confident in your own ability and trust your bike to perform.....just smash it

 

[slowmotion]

Go down at the speed you are happy to be at. I'm a bit of a coward personally. The roads in London have fairly shocking tarmac and I don't want to come across a "glitch" at speed. I went on a ride to Brighton once and mentioned this to a fellow rider....."If you come off, 30mph or 50 mph doesn't really make a whole lot of difference". I liked that.

 

[Doobiesis]

When you was younger u bet you used to speed down. Lol

I always take it slow, you can control your bike, but you can't control other people, animals or trees!

 

[oldfatfool]

Depends on how narrow the road gets, sight lines over bridge etc, however if it is wide enough for two lanes of traffic and isn't a bend or blind crest and the hill is steep with good tarmac then I would be looking to keep up with traffic.

 

[IBarrett]

Go like stink. It's a wonderful feeling. Like being a kid again!

 

[EltonFrog]

Go down with your feet off the pedals splayed out in front of you shouting " WHEEEEEEEE!".

 

[Jimidh]

You need to go down as fast as you feel comfortable and as the road conditions permit - if it's really a 60mph road then would imagine it would be fine to get the speed up but you are the guy who knows the road.

 

[sidevalve]

hope for the best as the road narrows over a bridge at the bottom?

You've answered your own question - 'hope for the best' means 'I don't really think it's safe'. Way too many accidents are caused because people hoped for the best both in cars and on bikes. Sooner or later 'the best' won't happen.

 

[ianrauk]

 

[Pikey]

On two wheels I'm pretty slow and scared.
On three... that's now become a different story...

Just go at the speed you want to. Its your pleasure, sod everyone else.

 

[RoubaixCube]

Your the boss!

 

[Jody]

or should i just go as fast as possibly and just hope for the best as the road narrows over a bridge at the bottom?

Don't just hope when you see that bridge coming up. If you're not confident or you over estimate your abilities then it will come back and bite you. If it looks sketchy then slow down.

Go like stink. It's a wonderful feeling. Like being a kid again!

This for me although I have a little more reassurance of wide rims/tyres, disc brakes and a bit of boing incase of potholes. If the conditions allow then spin the cranks up and get tucked down.