ChrisEyles
Guru
- Location
- Devon
I recently scoped out the route for an upcoming sportive I will be entering (my first large group ride), which includes what seems to me to be a ludicrously steep descent. Going down solo was definitely as hair-raising an experience as I'd like to undergo on two wheels, and I'm not sure I feel at all comfortable about the prospect of descending in an unknown group of other riders.
At the moment I feel I have three options:
1) Get off and walk down - probably safest, but least satisfying
2) Jam on both brakes and take things as slow as I can - safe on a solo ride, but not sure about this with other riders zipping along from behind
3) Stick with the pack - simplest, but I'm not confident about this (it doesn't help that I am riding a 1960s bike with 1960s brakes)
Would be great to hear if anyone has any advice on the best way to tackle this, or if anyone's had a similar experience.
Thanks for your help!
ps - If anyone's interested, the descent in question is Peak Hill Road, heading into Sidmouth (Devon). On checking the OS map at home, it's marked with a triple(!) chevron - I haven't put the route it into any mapping software yet, but I guess it must be slightly in excess of a 20% gradient in sections, with some pretty sharp corners
At the moment I feel I have three options:
1) Get off and walk down - probably safest, but least satisfying
2) Jam on both brakes and take things as slow as I can - safe on a solo ride, but not sure about this with other riders zipping along from behind
3) Stick with the pack - simplest, but I'm not confident about this (it doesn't help that I am riding a 1960s bike with 1960s brakes)
Would be great to hear if anyone has any advice on the best way to tackle this, or if anyone's had a similar experience.
Thanks for your help!
ps - If anyone's interested, the descent in question is Peak Hill Road, heading into Sidmouth (Devon). On checking the OS map at home, it's marked with a triple(!) chevron - I haven't put the route it into any mapping software yet, but I guess it must be slightly in excess of a 20% gradient in sections, with some pretty sharp corners