GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
Never let a hill know you are afraid of it. It will tilt and you may lurch off an edge.
Descent advice for sportive
- Thread starter ChrisEyles
- Start date
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jdtate101
Ex-Fatman
- Location
- Boring Birmingham
Not sure what you're scared of, that's a nice looking descent, no real sharp corners and only a little section of steep by the house. Just watch the speed on the chicane bit in case cars are coming up, but if there aren't then take the direct line. The final part looks straight with a nice run off.
There are far worse hills out there trust me... Just keep it smooth and don't tense up, that'll only make you more likely to fall. Keep in the drops, weight back and relax...don't fight it.
There are far worse hills out there trust me... Just keep it smooth and don't tense up, that'll only make you more likely to fall. Keep in the drops, weight back and relax...don't fight it.
Try not to be in a group when you start the descent - a bit of clear space around you will let you brake when you need to and to pick your lines at a speed you are comfortable with. Try to be smooth and hold a consistent line, because there will be riders taking the descent much faster than you that you'll need to watch out for.
OP
OP
ChrisEyles
Guru
- Location
- Devon
I think this is the way it's going to go on the day. Very pleased that the pack is likely to open before whizzing down the hill!
Herzog
Swinglish Mountain Goat
- Location
- Bern, Switzerland
I'd have the bike checked by a competent mechanic before the ride; confidence comes, in part, from knowing your bike isn't going to break up at anything over 20 mph.
briantrumpet
Legendary Member
- Location
- Devon & Die
Not my favourite hill, I'll admit, to descend (I'd rather ride up it) - the two steepest/potentially fastest bits are just before twists that restrict view, and in the case of the little twist by the house, the road narrows and might have cars more in the middle of the road. In other words, I'd control your speed - just go at a speed that feels comfortable - others might belt past you, but they'll need to keep their fingers crossed, which isn't the sort of risk assessment action that I'd recommend.
Two very different views of the same descent. I suspect that the former is from Google Streetview, and the latter from real-life. Google's wide-angle lens has a distorting effect, so I know which account I would trust as being closer to reality.
jefmcg
Guru
Street view, obviously. OP you are going to have to watch out for those ladies!
briantrumpet
Legendary Member
- Location
- Devon & Die
Indeed. Once you get to the bit where you've got a better view of the road ahead, it's got junctions, people wandering around, and Sidmouth drivers, who are about as predicable as dogs on wander leads or children on scooters.
I like Skol
A Minging Manc...
- Location
- Sunny Ashton-under-Lyne
I'll come too and then I can Whizz past you while you are whizzing past the even slower riders....
And we all know what over-confidence brings...... www.cyclechat.net/threads/down-but-not-out.156989
Wrong! The riders that are going faster than the OP are the ones that need to do the watching out. If the OP is smooth, predictable and consistent then he has done his bit and if some GOON slams into him from behind or catches him when passing then it is the overtaker that is bang out of order!
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
I am a very timid descender but I usually find I descend better when there are cyclists in front, let me guage the speed of the bend and know it is clear before I reach it.
The last thing you want to do is get in a pack and slam on the brakes
The last thing you want to do is get in a pack and slam on the brakes
Herzog
Swinglish Mountain Goat
- Location
- Bern, Switzerland
That your excuse for getting dropped on the preceeding climbs... hanging back for a safe descent?
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
You obviously don't know me very wellThat your excuse for getting dropped on the preceeding climbs... hanging back for a safe descent?
Herzog
Swinglish Mountain Goat
- Location
- Bern, Switzerland
Poor quality, illogical dig.
Are you suggesting that he shouldn't get his bike checked in case he becomes too confident on it...and misjudges something...?
OP
OP
ChrisEyles
Guru
- Location
- Devon
Herzog - I was already planning on getting the bike serviced, and hopefully the brakes tuned up a little, before the event, which will indeed at least provide the peace of mind that nothing's going to rattle off the bike on the way down (hopefully not even the banana case this time). Good tip.
Briantrumpet - I know exactly the bit you mean, crazy steep followed by a tight turn. The plan is to go into this part v e r y s l o w l y! After that section, the speed is nowhere near as scary, the road opens up a little and visibility is generally good.
Think I'm going to get out there again and do a couple of hill reps (as many as my nerves on the downhill and my legs on the uphill allow, anyway!).
Thanks all again for all the useful feedback
Briantrumpet - I know exactly the bit you mean, crazy steep followed by a tight turn. The plan is to go into this part v e r y s l o w l y! After that section, the speed is nowhere near as scary, the road opens up a little and visibility is generally good.
Think I'm going to get out there again and do a couple of hill reps (as many as my nerves on the downhill and my legs on the uphill allow, anyway!).
Thanks all again for all the useful feedback
