Have the laws of gravity changed ?

[Psycolist]

I wonder if any of you have had a similar experience. There are a couple of routes that i have experienced this phenomina on, I rode one today which has prompted me to post this. Imagine, all five senses tell you that you and your bike, are going DOWN hill, yet if you stop pushing the pedals round, you slow down as though you are going UP a hill. And visa-versa when it appears that you are going UP a hill, despite making no effort, your speed increases. There are two sections of road on which I get this sensation, both only 4-5 miles from base camp, and it happens every time. Anybody else ??

 

[stephen.rooke]

bit like that near me its an optical illusion, were not all going to suddenly float off into space lol

 

[Wonder Wheels]

Theres a bit I cycle on that I can feel it being tougher going even though it appears to be downhill, everytime I cycle over it I wonder whats going on. Apart from that it's usually the wind, I live on the coast and have to pedal going downhill a lot

Might want to check this out, this is one I know of near where I stay (optical illusion road), might be similar to what you mean. Come to think of it I've never been to that place in a car or otherwise. My next cycle destination.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Brae

 

[Red Light]

They are know as gravity hills. The most famous in the UK is the Electric Brae in Ayrshire but there are others. Its all down to an optical illusion that makes the slope appear to go in the opposite direction to the topography

 

[subaqua]

theres one on the way to llandegla from pontblyddyn, as you rise up towards treuddyn. really does spook your head

 

[gary in derby]

so does that mean that, if going down is harder than going up? then going up hill is easier than going down the hill? if so i might like them hills, lol

 

[betty swollocks]

Loads of them in the Pyrenees.
One day I was really flagging (or so I thought) on a 'downhill' section, until I noticed a roadside stream flowing towards me. After that I learned to trust the feedback from my legs more.

 

[Psycolist]

I'm so pleased that its not me having 'a moment of madness' Has anyone explained how or why this illusion happens, I did ponder wether it was something to do with the curve of the earths surface. I'm sure somebody somewhere has been given a grant to investigate the causes, if not they should have been. Maybe i'll contact the lottery people, see if I can get funding . Its the daft sort of thing that they would throw cash at. LOL

 

[derrick]

Where abouts were you ridding, i see your from Essex i ride around Epping way and there are a couple of roads we go down or up which feel wrong.

 

[User269]

They are know as gravity hills. The most famous in the UK is the Electric Brae in Ayrshire but there are others. Its all down to an optical illusion that makes the slope appear to go in the opposite direction to the topography

Quite right, it's a weird phenomenon! I regularly ride on familiar roads round here where this happens, aka 'false flat'. These days the GPS tells me I'm riding up at 2%, but my eyes tell me otherwise.

 

[Benthedoon]

A road I use everyday on my commute is only about a mile long but for the entire mile it's uphill - in both directions! I know it can't be but it is, you have to pedal no matter which direction you're riding in.

 

[Nihal]

Go ask Doug,he made Newton mad when he decided to stare at the burner and make Laws about it