descending--pedal vs. coast ?

[tctrek]

Definitely pedal downhill. It helps me spin out any lactic acid I picked up during the climb. My coach says to pedal even if I'm going so fast that I run out of gears and have no resistance. Gotta keep everything moving. I also take advantage of downhills to drink, eat and stretch!

[uk elephant]

Don't know anything about such things cycling in groups as I usually cycle alone, but I generally get passed and left behind when hiking up hills with BF. He finds it very hard work walking at my pace up hills, it's too slow for his legs. So he bounds ahead and then waits for me to catch up every now and again. I really don't mind. I know I'm slow. I would be of the same opinion when cycling in a group. Go at your pace, just stop and let people catch up occasionally. You're faster and stronger, nothing wrong with that. And if they ask about how they can get faster too, explain about the pedalling downhill.

[deeaimond]

Definitely pedal downhill. It helps me spin out any lactic acid I picked up during the climb. My coach says to pedal even if I'm going so fast that I run out of gears and have no resistance. Gotta keep everything moving. I also take advantage of downhills to drink, eat and stretch!

yup i pedal downhill too coz theres less lactic acid build-up that way. plus downhills are fun. on a group ride, i ride with mostly guys so they dont really mind if i pass them and i dont mind if they pass me later. but also depends on where we are. safety first. if its a narrow road with traffic, i will just apply brakes and follow behind whoever is in front of me. sometime even coasting i can be faster... greater body mass i think. hahhha.

[Trek420]

Pedal downhill to loosen the legs but more important on descents with turns I want my outside leg down on the turn.

Pedaling ensures I'm in the right position for a safe, secure turn. I feel more grounded with the outside leg down.

I can adjust my speed a little. Feet in a 3 & 9 o'clock position if I want to go fast, 12 & 6'oclock adds resistance and slows me down.

I'm slow at climbing and a descending wimp so I'm usually at 12 & 6.

It's not about the speed, everyone passes me.

[lph]

Pedal until I run out of gears. Then coast and make myself tiny Unless I'm smack up against the back of a group, of course.

[Miranda]

Thx for those additional responses.

Well, I'm glad I'm not alone on the pedal down-hill theory. That is also a really good point about the lactic acid build up in the muscles!

[Kano]

I like the pedal til I run out of gears then coast plan, myself. On the descents I'm willing to have anything to do with speed on anyway! There are descents where I coast and grip my brakes like my life depends on it -- I'll need to stop and rest so my hands get a break when I get on a really long descent sometimes!

(Do you know how HARD it can be to keep your speed under 10mph on a downhill? Yes, there are runs I do NOT want to do at 30+. Then there are runs _DH_ does not want me to do at 30+ -- that's the rest of them!!!)

I've been curious, reading this thread, about the definition of "slowly spinning up a hill" -- I know I'm slow, but this year I feel like I'm flying up at 6-8 mph on hills that last year I plodded up at about 3-5 mph -- and felt like I was doing pretty well just to make the climb!

Personally, I don't mind being passed on a hill or flat -- sooner or later, I'll catch up, or at least reach the destination!

Karen in Boise

[tctrek]

I've been curious, reading this thread, about the definition of "slowly spinning up a hill" -- I know I'm slow, but this year I feel like I'm flying up at 6-8 mph on hills that last year I plodded up at about 3-5 mph -- and felt like I was doing pretty well just to make the climb!
Karen in Boise

Karen, I too get very excited this season when I can get up a hill faster than I did last year! Last year, 4-5mph was my max speed up most hills-- hanging on for dear life with maximum heart rate and screaming quads. This year (such as today!) I was hitting 7-8 mph on those same hills.

Still, even with my big improvement, younger/fitter riders were passing me. But I didn't care one bit - I was just so thrilled to be better than I was last year -- and to not "hurt" so much either!