going down a hill on road bike
- Thread starter jamma
- Start date
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rugby bloke
Veteran
- Location
- Northamptonshire
I'm normally holding onto the brakes for dear life ... but if you feel in control then go for it an enjoy the ride. After the uphill slog you have earned it !
Really depends whether the road narrowing would put me head on head with cars the other side then no. 
If there's no side junctions and the narrow of the road just makes it iffy for cars following behind then I'd pedal down the hill and go as fast as I felt comfortable to and position myself into the lane a little more.
If there's no side junctions and the narrow of the road just makes it iffy for cars following behind then I'd pedal down the hill and go as fast as I felt comfortable to and position myself into the lane a little more.
That just sounds like an opportunity to get some big air to me.
The_Weekend_Report_Guy
Pablo's Cycling Tours
- Location
- Coín, Málaga
At whatever speed you feel is safer... Each day is going to change.. Traffic, weather conditions, equipment too many factors that can influence the speed..
Just be safe and have fun while doing it..!
Just be safe and have fun while doing it..!
biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
Just ride at the speed you are comfortable with and enjoy it.
Widge
Baldy Go
All good advice........don't descend at an uncomfortable rate.....road conditions-weather-sightlines-other traffic-trees/bollards/potholes etc are all uncontrollable by you.
However....
NOTHING beats taking it to the max ... whatever 'the max' is for you. In todays risk averse society there is something to be said for occasionally pushing the envelope....but always within YOUR limits and never out of control. It's part of what makes road cycling so glorious and faintly but satisfyingly anarchic.
My cheesy wired cyclo 'puter tells me my max all time speed was something like 36mph. I get a thrill from anything over 30! It rarely happens but I can easily recall the elation. Ride safely and enjoy the moments when you can safely let go. Don't make it a death wish!!
I don't race, Time Trial, keep up with club riders, draft or any of those things. I ride a bottom dollar road bike in bottom dollar kit but with top dollar helmet,brakes and tyres. The pinnacle of my cycling career was setting off the 30mph flashy advisory sign approaching our village. I did it just once...a red letter day for sure. (Once is enough!!)
Best
w
However....
NOTHING beats taking it to the max ... whatever 'the max' is for you. In todays risk averse society there is something to be said for occasionally pushing the envelope....but always within YOUR limits and never out of control. It's part of what makes road cycling so glorious and faintly but satisfyingly anarchic.
My cheesy wired cyclo 'puter tells me my max all time speed was something like 36mph. I get a thrill from anything over 30! It rarely happens but I can easily recall the elation. Ride safely and enjoy the moments when you can safely let go. Don't make it a death wish!!
I don't race, Time Trial, keep up with club riders, draft or any of those things. I ride a bottom dollar road bike in bottom dollar kit but with top dollar helmet,brakes and tyres. The pinnacle of my cycling career was setting off the 30mph flashy advisory sign approaching our village. I did it just once...a red letter day for sure. (Once is enough!!)
Best
w
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jamma
Über Member
- Location
- stockton on tees
Thanks for the advice everyone i keep going along that route but will pull over if cars are behind so i can go faster than usual but knowing my luck another car will probably be behind me half way down
jamma
Über Member
- Location
- stockton on tees
Side of the road is worse for wear i.e. thorns,sticks,loose chippings
vickster
Legendary Member
Exactly which is why you take primary or strong secondary depending on the road, you said you pull over?
Mrs M
Guru
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
Safety, your comfort and confidence should dictate, also road conditions, traffic, etc.
I am quite cautious descending apart from one hill with a nice smooth cycle path. I go as fast as I can down that
.
There's a speed camera at the bottom of the hill, then uphill after that to help slow me down.
Great fun 
I am quite cautious descending apart from one hill with a nice smooth cycle path. I go as fast as I can down that
.There's a speed camera at the bottom of the hill, then uphill after that to help slow me down.
Great fun 
jefmcg
Guru
This bugged me, so i just did the maths. 30mph is (ignoring air resistance) equivalent to a 9 metre drop, assuming you hit something travelling at that speed. 50mph is a 25metre drop. Sure, both are going to fark you up, but you might easily survive the 9 metre drop. 25 metres, and they will be bringing a body bag.
Just googled, and apparently you are mostly likely to survive a fall with velocity of 12m/s if you don't hit your head. That's 27mph. So there is a lot of difference between 30 and 50mph, if you care about being alive.
DRM
Guru
- Location
- West Yorks
I agree with what the majority have advised, as fast as it is safe to travel, at this time of year the roads can be dry in the main, but shaded areas can be wet, and slippy, last summer I came down a descent near to me and bottled it at just below 40 mph, however I did back off where the built up area starts, along with various junctions, didn't want to be hit by someone pulling out of a sideroad without looking and also not being able to stop in time.
