Bike question
When going downhill on my bike should I take advantage of the descent and pedal hard to increase my downhill speed? Or do I rest my legs for the duration of the descent? Joe
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When going downhill on my bike should I take advantage of the descent and pedal hard to increase my downhill speed? Or do I rest my legs for the duration of the descent? Joe
Comments
Check out the guidance in the Wiki on Race Execution; you pedal at target power/softpedal...until you hit around 30mph...when you get stupidly aero and coast....
This momentum is carried into the flats...or the next hill...etc...
I'm no expert, but I use the -when speed < 13mph going uphill, then aero is less inportant "rule" as a time to eat/drink while sitting up and stretching etc. I try and keep cadence high and power low-ish during this time. On the down hills ...as above. Sitting up to eat/drink at 30mph will have a huge drag cost -a few seconds @ 30mph will take away any savings from being supper strick aero at 18mph. Only sit up when breaking out of high speed. Also remember that torking head to side to drink with aero helm has a huge drag effect as well at higher speeds. Sitting up usually provides a few more watts and is useful on climbs and is nice break over 56-112 miles w/o any downside when <~13 mph.(13-15mph is kinda "grey area"...ie use minimal breaks in aero form)</p>
Note, I use a Speedfil A2 bottle and eat gels from a bento, so I am not sitting up to eat.