Pedal while descending, or just hunker down aero?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: reno, nv
Posts: 2,275
Bikes: yes, i have one
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1124 Post(s)
Liked 1,171 Times
in
682 Posts
Pedal while descending, or just hunker down aero?
Recently a post about one's fastest speed came up. it had me wondering about descents. Do you peddle down descents? how else to get those kinds of speeds?
i do peddle down, even in the turns. i don't think i am going so fast that i need to lean too far that my peddle will hit the road. a few times i have just gotten down low with no peddling but have felt some wobble due to wind. i find that if i peddle even lightly i feel more stable.
i do peddle down, even in the turns. i don't think i am going so fast that i need to lean too far that my peddle will hit the road. a few times i have just gotten down low with no peddling but have felt some wobble due to wind. i find that if i peddle even lightly i feel more stable.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Highlands Ranch, CO
Posts: 1,221
Bikes: '13 Diamondback Hybrid Commuter, '17 Spec Roubaix Di2, '17 Spec Camber 29'er, '19 CDale Topstone Gravel
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 590 Post(s)
Liked 445 Times
in
260 Posts
If a descent allows me to see far far ahead, and I know the terrain has no blind side roads with cars pulling out, I'll pedal hard until my cadence tops out, and then I go full aero (but no super-tuck). 52 mph is my fastest top speed ever, but nowadays I start feathering the brakes at 40. Now I save the speed for the uphills.
Likes For Riveting:
#3
Senior Member
I try to go as fast as I can to get away from the peddlers, so yes, I do pedal the bike.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,505
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 353 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20791 Post(s)
Liked 9,436 Times
in
4,663 Posts
What are you sellin'?
Likes For rubiksoval:
#6
Heft On Wheels
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,124
Bikes: Specialized,Cannondale,Argon 18
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 560 Times
in
346 Posts
heck no, enjoy the ride! Besides I usually need a breather for the hill I just struggled up in the first place.
Likes For sdmc530:
#7
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Looney Tunes, IL
Posts: 7,398
Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1549 Post(s)
Liked 941 Times
in
504 Posts
If you're going really fast down a hill there's no way pedaling will get you more unless you can spin 150+ rpm. Normal gearing won't get it.
#8
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,811
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6100 Post(s)
Liked 4,732 Times
in
3,262 Posts
I'll pedal more often than not. Unless I'm trying to get all tucked in and aero just to see what I can get out of a hill without extra effort.
I've heard or read that it does help get the lactic acid out of your muscles if you just move your legs whether they are actually adding power and speed to your descent or not. Seems to be something to that, but I've never really put much into finding out except just noting how my legs feel when they are called to put power into the equation at the bottom.
Like you, I pedal in turns too. One of the reasons I like short cranks.
I've heard or read that it does help get the lactic acid out of your muscles if you just move your legs whether they are actually adding power and speed to your descent or not. Seems to be something to that, but I've never really put much into finding out except just noting how my legs feel when they are called to put power into the equation at the bottom.
Like you, I pedal in turns too. One of the reasons I like short cranks.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 520
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 229 Post(s)
Liked 327 Times
in
179 Posts
My limited understanding is that since lactate gets recycled that by pedaling you use the excess lactate but your power output is low enough not to create more excess lactate.
#10
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,522
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4559 Post(s)
Liked 2,798 Times
in
1,798 Posts
I haven't noticed any consistent difference in speed pedaling vs coasting. But I usually at least move my legs to keep them loosened up for the next climb. Doesn't take long for my legs to feel stiff and dead if I'm not pedaling, even without much resistance.
With my old school steel road bike set up for easier rides the 50/38 chainring and 13-28 freewheel means pedaling doesn't do much -- I'm just flailing around at 130 rpm. So I set my feet at 3 and 9 and coast. My other bike has 53/39 and 11-28 cassette so pedaling still *can* generate some power. But I haven't seen any difference in average or peak speed on the usual modest 2%-5% downhills we have here. Coasting is probably more efficient as long as I can maintain a tuck.
I think some methodical tests have been done that show an advantage to an aero tuck and coasting on serious downhills, but I can't hold that kind of tuck for long due to old neck and shoulder injuries. And I ain't sitting on the top tube. There's nothing to be won but a trip to the ER doing that. I've watched other MAMILs trying the supertuck in group rides and they're a damned menace.
With my old school steel road bike set up for easier rides the 50/38 chainring and 13-28 freewheel means pedaling doesn't do much -- I'm just flailing around at 130 rpm. So I set my feet at 3 and 9 and coast. My other bike has 53/39 and 11-28 cassette so pedaling still *can* generate some power. But I haven't seen any difference in average or peak speed on the usual modest 2%-5% downhills we have here. Coasting is probably more efficient as long as I can maintain a tuck.
I think some methodical tests have been done that show an advantage to an aero tuck and coasting on serious downhills, but I can't hold that kind of tuck for long due to old neck and shoulder injuries. And I ain't sitting on the top tube. There's nothing to be won but a trip to the ER doing that. I've watched other MAMILs trying the supertuck in group rides and they're a damned menace.
#11
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 17,662
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10247 Post(s)
Liked 11,601 Times
in
5,946 Posts
Depends. Usually, if it's a straight-ish descent that isn't all turns, I'll pedal up to about 25-30, then tuck to see how much faster I can go. But the other day, I spun up to about 40 mph (120 rpms), just to see if I could.
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
#12
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,067
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2512 Post(s)
Liked 5,430 Times
in
2,827 Posts
It depends. Doesn’t everything? If it’s a super long descent I may just tuck it from the top. If my legs have plenty of ‘go’ I may hammer it until I run out of gears and am spinning with zero resistance and then tuck it. One 8% mile long hill I go down gains speed so fast I don’t bother to peddle because when the corner comes, it’s always scary.
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Likes For rsbob:
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: location location
Posts: 3,033
Bikes: MBK Super Mirage 1991, CAAD10, Yuba Mundo Lux, and a Cannondale Criterium Single Speed
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 343 Post(s)
Liked 292 Times
in
205 Posts
I pedal out of the corners until either a) I’m going fast enough to tuck or b) I have to start braking for the next corner.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Down Under
Posts: 1,936
Bikes: A steel framed 26" off road tourer from a manufacturer who thinks they are cool. Giant Anthem. Trek 720 Multiroad pub bike. 10 kids bikes all under 20". Assorted waifs and unfinished projects.
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1188 Post(s)
Liked 1,154 Times
in
640 Posts
Depends, if it's a straight descent after a long climb then I'll try and turn my legs a bit so they don't seize up.
But if you want to go fast, then the more aero you can get the faster you can go. On a descent smaller bikes and wheels actually enable you to go faster, if you can make a smaller frontal area.
The world record for rolling downhill is 141mph. He was aero and didn't pedal.
But if you want to go fast, then the more aero you can get the faster you can go. On a descent smaller bikes and wheels actually enable you to go faster, if you can make a smaller frontal area.
The world record for rolling downhill is 141mph. He was aero and didn't pedal.
Last edited by Trevtassie; 10-24-20 at 02:52 AM.
#16
Senior Member
It depends entirely on the slope and the tightness of the corners. On a steep short descent where I'm likely to hit 50+, I spin it up to 42, then tuck and coast. If there are tight corners close enough on a steep descent, it makes little sense to pedal hard between the corners and then slam on the brakes. I have one 22 mile descent with only a 2.5% average slope and wide sweeping bends that requires pedaling nearly all the way, particularly if there's a head wind.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,567
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1851 Post(s)
Liked 675 Times
in
427 Posts
If you’re leading a paceline, pedal til you are spinning out. If you tuck too soon, the guys behind you will be braking the whole way to avoid crashing into you.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 701
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 347 Post(s)
Liked 418 Times
in
250 Posts
If there is a headwind or crosswind I like to pedal, it feels more stable to me to have some power going to the rear wheel. At >35mph I sit up a little as my well honed self-preservation instinct kicks in.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Chapel Hill NC
Posts: 1,683
Bikes: 2000 Litespeed Vortex Chorus 10, 1995 DeBernardi Cromor S/S
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 645 Post(s)
Liked 797 Times
in
446 Posts
Recently a post about one's fastest speed came up. it had me wondering about descents. Do you peddle down descents? how else to get those kinds of speeds?
i do peddle down, even in the turns. i don't think i am going so fast that i need to lean too far that my peddle will hit the road. a few times i have just gotten down low with no peddling but have felt some wobble due to wind. i find that if i peddle even lightly i feel more stable.
i do peddle down, even in the turns. i don't think i am going so fast that i need to lean too far that my peddle will hit the road. a few times i have just gotten down low with no peddling but have felt some wobble due to wind. i find that if i peddle even lightly i feel more stable.
#21
Senior Member
Whats your objective?
Conserve energy or going as fast as possible? If its steep enough your going 35 mph without pedalling, adding 200Ws of pedalling isnt doing much difference to your speed. Less than 5 mph additional speed. Thats the nature of wind resistance. The power to overcome it increases by the cube(!) of the speed, meaning 2x speed is 8x power.
Imo, do what ever feels natural to you but know its more efficient conserving your energy to the uphill bits.
Conserve energy or going as fast as possible? If its steep enough your going 35 mph without pedalling, adding 200Ws of pedalling isnt doing much difference to your speed. Less than 5 mph additional speed. Thats the nature of wind resistance. The power to overcome it increases by the cube(!) of the speed, meaning 2x speed is 8x power.
Imo, do what ever feels natural to you but know its more efficient conserving your energy to the uphill bits.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: North Florida
Posts: 510
Bikes: 2019 Specialized Diverge, 2021 Cervelo Caledonia
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 257 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 378 Times
in
197 Posts
I probably shouldn't admit it to this group, but on my longest descent on my regular ride I quit pedaling and move up to the hoods to a more erect position to let the wind resistance slow me down.
Likes For Random11:
#23
Very Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Always on the Run
Posts: 1,211
Bikes: Giant Quasar & Fuji Roubaix
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Liked 343 Times
in
244 Posts
The high gearing on my road bike is currently 52/13. My old legs won't pedal over 32MPH and my daily ride ends with a 7% grade for 1.75 miles and then a coast into home another 1/4 mile. I get aero and might hit 40 MPH but usually average about 38 MPH on the homestretch. I get winded really fast when I try spinning but I can hold a 64 RPM cadence forever. BTW-anything over 64 cadence to me is spinning. And if you're laughing now, let's see how you're doing at age 70 haha.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,433
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 741 Post(s)
Liked 412 Times
in
230 Posts
The high gearing on my road bike is currently 52/13. My old legs won't pedal over 32MPH and my daily ride ends with a 7% grade for 1.75 miles and then a coast into home another 1/4 mile. I get aero and might hit 40 MPH but usually average about 38 MPH on the homestretch. I get winded really fast when I try spinning but I can hold a 64 RPM cadence forever. BTW-anything over 64 cadence to me is spinning. And if you're laughing now, let's see how you're doing at age 70 haha.
Likes For colnago62:
#25
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,811
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6100 Post(s)
Liked 4,732 Times
in
3,262 Posts
I on the other hand consider that a waste of a good hill. If something want's to offer free energy, then take advantage of it and get the full benefits.
But your benefits might not be my benefits so I guess it's all good.