Slowing down hill!!!

[lex_achter]

I'm pretty new to cycling and am getting prepared to go on my second RAGBRAI. I noticed that I seem to slow down as I go down hill. I know I'm over exerting myself by having to pedal down hill to keep up pace but I'm not sure what is causing it. I checked my brakes and they don't seem to be holding me back but I'm not sure what else to look for.

Any idea or remedies?

[Cataboo]

what are you riding?

I tend to pick up speed going down hill whether or not I'm pedaling or not.

IF you stop pedaling and cost down the hill do you still slow down?

Try making yourself more aerodynamic & bend forward... I'm pretty upright on my commuter with thick tires (700x28's) and that's the only bike that I don't really gain much speed on downhill.

[wildeny]

lex_achter, I like your avatar.

I cannot understand why you'd slow down when going downhills. Without pedaling & on a long slope, I could go up 50+ if I don't apply the brakes. And you said the problem wasn't because of the brakes against the rims, so ... that's really strange.

You may need to give us more details about your position and bike (tires) so that we can know what's wrong.

[Grog]

Maybe gravity works the other way in Kentucky?

Have you noticed going faster-than-expected up hills?

p.s. Just kidding.

[aicabsolut]

This only happens to me when I have a horrible headwind (strong enough to beat gravity).

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Maybe gravity works the other way in Kentucky?

Have you noticed going faster-than-expected up hills?

p.s. Just kidding.

Yeah, like maybe you are sitting backwards on your bike and you're really going uphill?

I just don't get it!

[madscot13]

like really slowing down or not going as fast as others going down hill around you?

[lex_achter]

Yeah, I'm totaly not gaining or keeping my speed as I coast down hill. Its really strange and is confusing the hell out of me.

I've got a light weight Trek 7.2FX "hybrid" with 700x35 tires. I'm not normally upright unless I'm just cruising around town with friends.

It wouldn't be so bad if I just maintained speed but I get to the bottom of the hill and I might as well be stopped.

I'm starting to think my gears are rubbing my back tire, but I'm as ignorant as they come when talking about gear maintnence. So I'm not sure what to do.

[lex_achter]

Maybe gravity works the other way in Kentucky?

Have you noticed going faster-than-expected up hills?

p.s. Just kidding.

Nope but that would be crazy cool!

[DebW]

Does your cassette freewheel easily? If not, the bike would perform perfectly while pedaling but slow when you coast. Try lifting the rear wheel and spinning the wheel forward. Do the pedals turn when you do this?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Are your brake pads dragging on the wheel rims??

[Cataboo]

Do you hear or feel anything rubbing? Is it hard for you to pick up speed while you're pedaling on a flat?

[Grog]

Does your cassette freewheel easily? If not, the bike would perform perfectly while pedaling but slow when you coast. Try lifting the rear wheel and spinning the wheel forward. Do the pedals turn when you do this?

That seems like the most likely culprit to me so far, although I still think anti-gravity is an option.

I have that same bike and do not experience the problem, but there could be a problem with how it was built.

[SadieKate]

I think we need more info about these hills. Some hills are so shallow that combined with any kind of headwind, I'd slow to the point of toppling if I didn't drop into the lowest tuck possible.

[madscot13]

there is a supposed hill in Minnesota that will make you go against gravity. I think it has something to do with a sattellite or so.

Is this a straight shot hill or a curved hill? I noticed that on turns my brakes rub on the wheel/