Does this bike exist?

[emily_in_nc]

It's those new hills I've never done that make me a bit nervous. I do admire you for all that exploring the both of you are doing.

Mostly I sit and spin to get up hills, but now and then, I just say the heck with it and stand and pedal, kind of a throwback to my younger days and also something I've always done in my MTB biking. Standing to pedal is probably a big no no in the roadie world, but I get lazy, sometime, and just don't want to shift. Now that I'm back in shape, I can handle it, physically.

Thanks...you're right that what you don't know CAN hurt you. However, sometimes it's just as well not to know, so you don't build up any anticipatory stress over having a massive hill to climb. I know after I climbed the one here I've been talking about the first time, I was really dreading it the second and third times, since I knew how tough it was.

You're wrong, though: in the roadie world, it is actually very much encouraged to stand some while climbing. Helps pull in different muscle groups so you don't get as fatigued. The usual advice on a long hill is to alternate sitting in a lower gear, then shifting up a gear or two and standing for a bit. Definitely helps keep you strong. I do stand from time to time, especially to get over short hills, and on longer ones I'll sometimes stand for a certain number of pedal strokes, then sit when I get too exhausted. Nuttin' wrong with that!

[north woods gal]

What you don't know can hurt you, for sure. The closest call to cashing it in was while biking in upstate New York. The sign said steep grade coming up. Wasn't all that steep a grade, probably 8% or so, but what I failed to estimate, properly, was the long half mile distance down the hill. Instead of going down, cautiously, I gunned it right from the start, hoping to build up enough speed to climb the other side. By the time I woke up and realized I was in trouble, it was too late. Last check on the bike computer showed 38 mph and gaining. I was now into a serious wobble. Tried feathering the brakes, but it just made it worse. No choice but to ride it out. I was praying, now, and holding on for dear life.

I made it to the bottom, though. Pulled off to the side of the road and had a good cry. I was so lucky. That's a lesson I will never forget. Really the stupidest thing I've ever done on a bike. Believe me, my attitude about going down hills has never been the same, since. (The computer showed 42 mph for a top speed. )

Good to hear about the standing thing, for sure. Pretty much what I do, too. Just recall, back in the 90s, when some local roadie expert told me, otherwise. Not that going against the grain has ever stopped me, anyway, and, for sure, notions on what is correct in biking change over time.

[Skierchickie2]

I'm surprised a roadie told you that - maybe that particular person didn't like it. I don't remember a time when standing on hills was frowned on, that I was aware of. And I know I've seen in done in every Tour de France I've ever watched on tv.

I love speed on downhills, although much more so on roads I'm familiar with. It's the unknown pavement patches, curves and possible gravel that I'm concerned about. I know I'm stupid that way, assuming everything will be fine. Once toward the end of a 100-miler on a course I'd never done before, I just tucked (okay, skier term) and went for it on what turned out to be a 40 mph downhill I'd never been on before. Afterward my friend said "did you see those deer by the edge of the road?". Nope. That was dumb.

[north woods gal]

If it's good enough for the TdF folks, it's good enough for me.

Good point about being alert to animals popping out in front of you. This year, already, had a wild turkey explode out of the ditch and I actually had a wing nick my helmet.

[emily_in_nc]

If it's good enough for the TdF folks, it's good enough for me.

Good point about being alert to animals popping out in front of you. This year, already, had a wild turkey explode out of the ditch and I actually had a wing nick my helmet.

Closest call we've ever had was deer running out on the road right in front of us. Thankfully, they were faster than we were, but it was still awfully scary.

It's hilly enough around here that I've been hitting 35 mph on some of the descents, and that is even with feathering the brakes ever so often. Then I'll grind up at 4-5 mph. Brutal.

[Crankin]

I hate descending and I am extremely cautious. Thus, my highest speed downhill has been 32.5. DH, on the other hand has hit 55-60 mph, but he no longer does this; too much risk involved. He doesn't get above 40 now.
I've given up on the descending thing. I am a little better than I used to be, but I just don't feel comfortable descending in the drops, despite the fact it all fits perfectly. For some reason, I have more difficulty turning right, so I slow down on these turns. If I find a straight hill, I am much more comfortable. I do use the drops on flats or smaller hills, but I think it's an issue of feeling out of control, and once my body has muscle memory for something, it's almost impossible for me to shake the bad habit.

[emily_in_nc]

I actually enjoy descending, but being aware of the risks, am pretty cautious these days and brake a lot more than I used to. I don't care for going over 30 mph! When we used to have tandem bikes, we used to hit much higher speeds on the descents, and those were super scary since I couldn't even see where we were going. I much prefer descending on a single bike!