NyoGoat

I don't know if this is accurate or not because my perception is very subjective: I've noticed that I tend to lose momentum a lot faster than other riders. I have minimal experience with other riders, I've done a few group rides and i've ran across a few random riders on the roads. I've done a few triathlons with other riders on aero bikes. On the steep climbs I feel like I pull ahead, on a downhill coast others seem to coast much faster. Coming off of a downhill onto a flat section I have to pedal to keep going while others can coast a bit longer.

Comparing against aero bikes it's obvious that they would go faster on the downhill. Recreational road bikes seem to do the same though.

PepeM

Tuck.

corrado33

Your body position determines the majority of the aero affects of the bike/rider combination. Ride lower/wear more aero clothing.

redfooj

you need ceramic bearings and brake fairings

Wested

Tires properly inflated?

wphamilton

Heavier riders will have more momentum going downhill, normally a bigger factor than the extra wind resistance from their larger size. But good aerodynamics can compensate for that.

PepeM

Compensate and much more. Seriously, get down low and you'll see a big difference.

milkbaby

^This... Even at 130 pounds, I would often be coasting downhill as fast or faster than friends who were 50 pounds heavier. I'm pretty sure the main factor was lower frontal area since most of them have a much more upright bike fit than me.

Carbonfiberboy 

Given two riders of equal ability, of course the heavier rider will have more momentum and coast faster, all other things being equal. That last is something you can work on. Faster wheels help a lot because you'll be going fast enough for them to make a difference. Low resistance tires help, too. I have a riding buddy I always used to whip on the descents, even though he was shorter and heavier than I. He finally couldn't stand it and went out and bought more aero wheels and the same tires I was using and I couldn't beat him anymore.

The other thing you can do is learn to pedal really fast in the drops. Learn how fast you can pedal before it stops helping you to go faster. At the bottom of the descent, watch your speedo. As soon as you slow to that speed, start pedaling like hell and keep downshifting and pedaling fast to keep your power up. If the other riders don't know what they're doing, you'll be blasting past them up the next roller. Plus your heart rate will already be up as you settle into the climb and your power should be higher. Just kill them.

How to get aero and have good control: position your chin ~2" off your stem. The 2" allows for bumps. Hands deep in the drops, a finger or two on the levers. Straighten your back. Level the pedals and put most of your weight in them, a little on the saddle, the rest on your hands. Squeeze the top tube between your knees, hard. Now try to touch your elbows together under your stomach. Of course you can't do that, but bring them way under you. If the road is or becomes bumpy, rise slightly out of the saddle and take it in your knees, keeping your chin low, letting your elbows move out. Sit back down when you can to conserve strength. Besides being fast, this position suppresses front wheel wobble.

You'll see riders with hands on the tops, elbows way dropped. That's fast too, but no faster and ignores safety. OK if you're getting paid to do it. I've done a lot of testing during group mountain descents in the past 20 years.

Campag4life

Have somebody toss you a bowling ball at top.

kbarch

If it happens even when you're not going particularly fast:

GlennR

Take the baseball cards out of the spokes.

69chevy

I'm the fast coaster you are talking about.

It’s annoying to me when I’m in a group descent and have to stop pedaling and scrub my brakes so I don’t run over people.

Me plus my bike are about 205 pounds right now and I keep a pretty “aero” position.

I love pushing the pedals on fast descents when my buddies “tuck”, but if I descend mid pack, I’m stuck scrubbing speed.

NYMXer

Me too! There should be a law against using your brakes on a downhill coast unless there is danger, obstruction or traffic.

PepeM

That's just how the draft works. Of course you'll have to brake if you're behind, unless the person all the way to the front is pedaling like crazy.

If you don't want to brake go lead the paceline then. I'm sure no one will mind you 'laying down the watts' while they rest behind you.

69chevy

It's not just the draft though.

If I'm two wide with a friend, I can coast past them while they pedal down soft grades, which is pretty funny.

PepeM

Well, you were talking about a 'group descent.' On a side by side case then weight + aerodynamics dictate what happens of course. Not much can be done about the weight during a ride, but one can improve his aerodynamics easily, which is why I suggested to the OP to tuck to solve his momentum issue.

69chevy

For sure.

PepeM

It is actually impressive to see how much speed doing that 'Euro tuck' can gain you. Still haven't tried it myself.

StanSeven

The obvious thing already have been mentioned - weight and aero position. One not so obvious is clothing. A flapping jacket really slows you down. Even a loose jersey adds up on long, steep dos hills.

seypat

It works both ways. If you are on a "V" shaped descent/climb the weight will slow you much quicker going up. That momentum becomes an anchor as soon as you start up and the tiny climbers coast right on by. I find that out every year on this ride. I can make it up the big climb ok, but all of those short, steep "V or W" up and downs, and up and downs just suck it out of me.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/2442798

For those in the Mid Atlantic, this is Storming Of Thunder Ridge. It is a great ride. Join us next year. We usually have a thread about it in the C & V forum.

The 7th Annual Storming of Thunder Ridge - May 22, 2016 - Storming of Thunder Ridge Storming of Thunder Ridge - www.stormingofthunderridge.org

mpath

Yup, same here.

Besides what's already been mentioned, the bike frame itself has something to do with it also, even if only a little bit, IMHO. I've ridden the same bike for the past five years, but on four different set of wheels, and same thing...faster coasting.

69chevy

I sometimes find the opposite to be true.

If I use my momentum to scream down a “V”, It carries me fairly far up the other side.

I often try to speed up the next hill only shifting when my legs beg me to.

On a long hard climb, my weight is an anchor for sure.

In “ups and downs” I’m not convinced it’s ever a disadvantage.

rmfnla

Maybe a new sport..?

rms13

coasting is for wussies