terrified of hills

[velogirl]

Cindy, you're very welcome.

I know everyone is at a different level. Trust me, I teach beginners and I teach racers and just about every type of rider in between. And I teach them all using the same techniques. It really works.

Lorri

[RoadRaven]

Very true, but then I'd probably get attached to the water bottle

But water-bottles don't eat much
Low maintainence pet - you win either way

[Geonz]

Thanks Velo for the info and pics. Went for a short ride this afternoon and tried this technique on a "gentle" downhill turn. I had been pedaling through because I like speed, but handling the turn as you described I was able to maintain speed (21.5 mph) and it was fun!!!!! I will continue to practice so I can handle tighter turns in the future.

Whew!!! I am trying to think of a turn I've ever taken that fast (Have I mentioned how flat it is here?) You Go GIrl!!!!

[MyLitespeed]

Well it sounds like just about everyone rides a road bike, I don't. My bike is a cross bike of sorts, touring frame and mountain bike handle bars. I can get really terrified of steep straight down hills too and even did some hypnosis to try and cure it. I had some success with that. The fastest I have ever gone downhill is 28 mph. That's probably really slow for most of you and I will only get up to 25 mph most of the time on hills I know well. Any suggestions for me since I like to remain more upright in my decents.

[smilingcat]

Its not a race so go down at speed you feel comfortable. Now some of us are adrenaline junkie so we push it.

If you are scared by the speed, your ride isn't enjoyable. So slow down. Going down slow does not mean you are a less experienced rider or less fit. It may actually be that you are more prudent then the others. Adrenaline junkies are not prudent. I have shattered both collar bones to prove I wasn't prudent. enjoy your downhill ride at speed you feel comfortable.

smilingcat

[Zen]

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.

[KnottedYet]

Well it sounds like just about everyone rides a road bike, I don't. My bike is a cross bike of sorts, touring frame and mountain bike handle bars. I can get really terrified of steep straight down hills too and even did some hypnosis to try and cure it. I had some success with that. The fastest I have ever gone downhill is 28 mph. That's probably really slow for most of you and I will only get up to 25 mph most of the time on hills I know well. Any suggestions for me since I like to remain more upright in my decents.

I tend to be slower than that. It's all good, do your own ride and your own speed and tell your riding buddies to lay off.

[iowagrad]

Its not a race so go down at speed you feel comfortable. Now some of us are adrenaline junkie so we push it.

If you are scared by the speed, your ride isn't enjoyable. So slow down. Going down slow does not mean you are a less experienced rider or less fit. It may actually be that you are more prudent then the others. Adrenaline junkies are not prudent. I have shattered both collar bones to prove I wasn't prudent. enjoy your downhill ride at speed you feel comfortable.

smilingcat

So maybe this is a dumb question....but how do I actually slow down? I hit 35-40 mph at one point last summer on a downhill. I couldn't seem to help it. It was a VERY long, fairly steep hill. I was back in my saddle, judiciously braking, etc. I pondered getting off and walking down, but I felt like I couldn't slow my bike down any more to do that. I made it down alive, but I was scared to death. That was the worst one ever for me. I had some other hills that I hit some high speeds on, but I think they were less terrifying because they were straight and I could see the uphills that lay ahead for me. This hill curved at the bottom, and even though I'd driven the road a few times, I still felt like I didn't know what to expect as I looked ahead.

[smilingcat]

So maybe this is a dumb question....but how do I actually slow down? I hit 35-40 mph at one point last summer on a downhill. I couldn't seem to help it. It was a VERY long, fairly steep hill. I was back in my saddle, judiciously braking, etc. I pondered getting off and walking down, but I felt like I couldn't slow my bike down any more to do that. I made it down alive, but I was scared to death. That was the worst one ever for me. I had some other hills that I hit some high speeds on, but I think they were less terrifying because they were straight and I could see the uphills that lay ahead for me. This hill curved at the bottom, and even though I'd driven the road a few times, I still felt like I didn't know what to expect as I looked ahead.

You should be able to control your descent even on 15% grade, you should be able to come down at 5MPH.

If you are not able to close down on the brake handle tight enough, may be you need to have shims in the handle so that you can grip tighter.

Your brakes may not be adjusted properly, brake shoe too old, or brake caliper may not be of high quality.

If the brake shoe/pad is too old, it will not grip and it just slide on the rim. If your wheel has carbon rims, you DO HAVE TO USE A SPECIAL brake pads. REGULAR ONE WILL NOT WORK.

If it isn't adjusted, well like anything else, it doesn't work very well.

There are cheap brake calipers and expensive ones. The expensive ones tend to be lighter, more durable and has better braking action. Good brake caliper would be dual pivot type Shimano Ultegra, Dura Ace, Sram Rival, Force, Red, Campagnalo Centaur, Chrous, Record.

I haven't used Shimano 105 brakes so can't speak about it.

Your story is pretty scary. Not being able to lose speed.
That's not the way it supposed to work.

Slowing down and stopping on downhill. Sit way back so your weight goes to the back. Then brake evenly between front and rear wheel. Ask Velogirl for more instruction.


Please have your brakes checked in the mean time.
Smilingcat

[RoadRaven]

So maybe this is a dumb question....but how do I actually slow down? I hit 35-40 mph at one point last summer on a downhill. I couldn't seem to help it. It was a VERY long, fairly steep hill. I was back in my saddle, judiciously braking, etc.

Feather your brakes and that can make slowing down easier.

But if you have a long descent, gravity and momentum want to take over, and you will keep speeding up. Just keep feathering those brakes to keep yourself to a manageable speed.

It sounds like you are getting low - good positioning on your bike is important so your centre of gravity isn't too high (sitting upright on a descent is way less comfortable in terms of control than holding the drops, for example).
It sounds like you are doing the braking.

Just keep practicing on the hills, and if you truly begin to feel too unsettled then do not be bothered about stopping and either walking a bit, or starting the descent from stand-still again. You have to work out the best way to descend, and I know that my speed downhill bothers people I train and race with - some think I am waaaay too slow, others think I am waaaay too fast. The key is to find what works best for you.

Best wishes, Rave