RShantz

I have a tough time staying with larger guys on descents. I weigh about 135lbs and the guys that are 160-170 give me fits on the descents. I'm talking about charity type events or very spirited group rides where we try to drop folks. Obviously these guys are a bit stronger than I am as they stay with me on the climb up. It just sucks to be in the lead group only to get dropped by 4 or 5 guys on the descent near the end of the event.

Where I loose the draft is coming out of a turn where you have to brake a little. I can brake later than these guys b/c I'm lighter, and I can carry the same speed through the turn. Problem is when they hit a few very powerful strokes right after the turn & get in a "super tuck" position - eventually I'm gone. My max gear is a 52-11 but I'm not out of gearing if I wanted to turn a very high cadence to catch them. It's just that I have to do all out sprints to catch them after each turn/switchback. Then after 3 or 4 of such turns, I'm toast.

Any suggestions? All I keep saying to myself is that I have to increase my short term power to be able to close those gaps coming out of the turn.

brianmcg123

Ride more.

znomit

You're not fat enough for this sport.

Retoocs

Learn to late apex and start pedaling sooner out of the corner. Instead of gradually turning into a corner, go straight a little longer, brake harder, then a hard initial turn in. From this point on, you should be straightening up before you get to the apex and accelerating out of the corner.

If you find yourself braking or turning harder in the second half of a corner, you didn't get the line right.

Also when you are following someone, don't start turning when they turn. A lot of people do this. You end up early apexing the corner. You need to turn at the same point in the road that they turn in or later.

Bob Ross

You're screwed.

Also, I hate you.

woodcraft

Don't understand this, but it could be part of the problem.

exmechanic89

If the heavier riders are staying with you on the climbs, then keep training until you're dropping them on the climbs. Use you're weight to your advantage when going up.

colnago62

datlas 

I have same problems. Aero wheels and getting more comfy in a deep tuck help some. But just as these big guys may get dropped by your skinny ass on a long climb, you may lose their wheels on some descents. That's life.

DannoXYZ 

Lighter guys can corner faster, take advantage of that. I weight anywhere from 140-180 lbs during my racing career, so I've experienced both sides. Some tips (i'm assuming you're already fully tucked)::

1. try to get away near end of climb so you go over peak a minute or more earlier than them.

2. DRAFT on downhills, learn to maintain constant 3-5ft distance depending upon speed, brake when they brake, but less

3. when entering turn, learn late-apex technique so you can leave corner faster

4. don't brake as much, go around corner faster than them. So just as you're about to rear-end them, instead of braking, cut to inside (late-apex) and get past them, 40-50 lbs lighter means you can easily go 5-10mph faster than them around corners. At least get even with them so they see you.

5. leaving corner, learn to start pedaling earlier so you can get speed earlier on straights. You're already even with or ahead of them. So if you're going faster, they have to work harder to go faster in order just to catch you.

Hmmm, at downhill speeds... 40-60mph, you should actually be able to draft and make up for their stronger gravity pull...

CliffordK

Buy a 40 pound Schwinn Varsity.

FlashBazbo

Gain 40 pounds.

We heavy boys will always have an advantage when the descent is beyond a certain steepness.

But we heavy boys will always have a disadvantage on the equivalent climb. Train to drop them on the climbs, then let them try to catch you on the descents.

It all evens out.

Shimagnolo

Have a friend waiting at the summit to hand you a bottle.
Hint: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Robic

RAF M

Or you could wear a small backpack and put some weight in it — could be a tablet or some cycling essentials, food, drinks. I'm about 148 pounds and keep up with the heavy guys on their descents, thanks to my cycling backpack. I also don't have to pedal much.

HTupolev

Only do this if you're sure that you can either stay ahead for the descent, or hop on to the train when it goes past, though.

Especially relevant in rides with mixed types of bicycles. Dropping tandems or recumbents right before the crest can be a very bad idea.

rubiksoval

Stop braking late

Brake early, open up a slight gap, then get off the brakes so that you're entering the turn more quickly than the people in front of you. Then, as you're exiting the turn you're pulling right up in to their draft as they begin accelerating.

Doing the above has made an immense difference in my cornering abilities and has made a big difference in lessening fatigue from trying to close gaps out of corners.

RShantz

Thanks. I'll give this a try next time on such a ride. But will practice some myself first. Sounds like this and trying to get as aero as possible are my only options.

RShantz

There's no tandems or recumbents around here that can stay in the lead group on these events - at least not around here.

bruce19

Nachos and beer.

f4rrest

What's the hurry?

DrIsotope

One thirty five? That's what I weigh... from like the belly button up.

kbarch

I have a similar problem - and a very bad habit of braking too much on turns, especially on roads of questionable quality. It's a kind of target fixation, maybe; I keep squeezing the brakes and focusing closer and closer - descents on rough roads are painfully stressful. Also, even on roads where I'm familiar with the shape, not clearly seeing the corner exit (and being sure of it) can really throw me off. Meanwhile, as others have pointed out, getting a good start is invaluable. If you can hammer over the crest, it can be a mile before the big guys catch up.

Racing Dan

True. You should accelerate out of a turn, not brake.

mpath

+1. Way more satisfaction to pass people going up.

As the OP mentioned charity rides, it's already sketchy enough as it is drafting or riding in a pack on level ground; I've found it's even worse descending as most don't know the proper line, brake suddenly, get too close, have no idea about apexes, etc. etc. IOW, I don't "race" on charity rides.

DannoXYZ 

What helps with this is to start & enter the corner wide. Start at far left of road on right turn, far right of road on left turn. This lets you see as far around corner as possible. Also lets you pick out late-apex.

Don't have to see around entire corner to do it well. Just need to connect the dots. First is braking-marker, where you start-braking. Once you hit that look for apex, let off brakes and turn in. When you get near apex look for exit point. You really only need to see about 1/3rd of the corner at a time to connect the dots.