Drops or the Hoods when descending ?

[col]

It's called 'Counter-Steering', and your point about balance is correct...

If you push slightly, the opposite way you wish to turn, you move the centre of gravity, towards what becomes the inside of the corner, (I think this is correct!). Motorcyclists employ this much more, because their weight is so large!

I see, but just as an example and thinking out loud here, wouldnt doing that on a left turn cause a slight move out before turning?

 

[palinurus]

Yes, but it really is slight.

 

[col]

Ill be trying that out sometime, Hope I dont push too hard

 

[stoatsngroats]

Ill be trying that out sometime, Hope I dont push too hard

Well, don't push too hard then...

It works better with some speed though!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countersteering

 

[Kablinsky]

I prefer the hoods but if I'm going for it I'm on the drops for the more aero position.

Definitely find a nice wide traffic free road to practice the couter-steering on and defnitely not on blind corners in a residential road with lots of parked cars as people can get quite annoyed when you suddenly mount the pavement.

 

[ColinJ]

If the hill is not steep, I might be on the drops but that would depend on how my back felt, whether I was bothered about descending quickly, whether there was a headwind and so on.

On steep hills, I'm always on the drops for better control, better braking, but mainly to avoid that headfirst-over-the-handlebars feeling.

This hill is about 17% - drops!

And we have hills round here at 25%. I wouldn't advise riding down those on the hoods!

 

[stoatsngroats]

Drops for me too....in fact, I can't understand why anyone would come down a hill on the hoods...perhaps I'm 'old school' !

hoods = no bottle
drops = plenty of bottle or total stupidity

...that would be it then!

 

[Kablinsky]

No, total stupidty would be the one person who isn't sure what they use but it could be neither.

 

[HLaB]

If the hill is not steep, I might be on the drops but that would depend on how my back felt, whether I was bothered about descending quickly, whether there was a headwind and so on.

On steep hills, I'm always on the drops for better control, better braking, but mainly to avoid that headfirst-over-the-handlebars feeling.

This hill is about 17% - drops!




And we have hills round here at 25%. I wouldn't advise riding down those on the hoods!

That looks like a hill near me only the road in your pic is is a bit better surfaced wider and lighter. My road also goes straight onto a more major road, I use the hoods there or go the main road which falls the same distance but in 2.5 x the length.

 

[simongrant]

I like being in the drops and on the hoods but i dont like unclipping from the drops for some reason,i never feel 100% that im gonna lean to my right as thats the foot im most comfortable unclipping from,have no problems from the hoods though.

Simon

 

[jimboalee]

It has been know for Jimboalee to freewheel down Gorcot hill sat up holding his full zip jacket out like a parachute.

Lazy and cooling.

 

[jimboalee]

Its a matter of confidence.

Whether you can apply the leverage when holding on the hoods. I can.

The drop down to Speedwell cavern on the Castleton Classic ( two weeks away ) is ridden slowly with hands on hoods.

Its also a matter of how you know your brakes - experience.

There are no rules here. Do what you think is safest.

 

[Dave5N]

It has been know for Jimboalee to freewheel down Gorcot hill sat up holding his full zip jacket out like a parachute.

Lazy and cooling.

And does that stop you before you hit the dead end at the bottom?

 

[peanut]

As jimbo says the decision to use the drops on downhills is probably strongly influenced by how effectively you can apply the brakes from the hoods ..or not as the case may be.

I have large strong hands and Shimano STi brakes and I can do an emergency stop from 35mph with just two fingers on the brake levers from the hoods.

With total confidence in my ability to brake in any circumstance I have no need to go onto the drops, ever.

I would question any assertion that it is safer to steer in the drops. For one thing you would put considerably more weight on the steering on the drops and another thing is your hands are more remote from the steerer so there will be less direct steering effect.
I wonder if anyone has tested this.?

 

[asterix]

It's a mystery to me why people would want to make an exhilarating descent on the hoods. Down on the drops you have more control and are more aerodynamic and have a lower centre of gravity and can apply the brakes with more precision. It also feels faster as you are a bit nearer the ground!