Downhill speeds...or: I must be getting old - Page 4

David Reuteler wrote:
>
> The Real Bev <bashley@myrealbox.com> wrote:
> > Terry Morse wrote:
> >> David Reuteler wrote:
> >>
> >> > i am under the impression that taking an 18 mile
> >> > steep mountain descent (like i have in my backyard so
> >> > to speak)
> >>
> >> Lucky bastard.

What Terry needs to do is find somebody with a pickup to
meet him at the top and drive him back down to the bottom so
he can do it again.

> > Can't you simulate the effect by using a higher gear?
> > What about using your brakes? Not that I understand your
> > affliction...
>
> what really gets ya is when you realize that going up hill
> is more fun than going down. or at least as fun in a
> different way.

That's what I meant by "affliction." Some of us find
that the difference between "flat" and "uphill" is very
small indeed.

--
Cheers, Bev
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo If
it weren't for pain, we wouldn't have any fun at all.

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 15:51:14 -0700, The Real Bev
<bashley@myrealbox.com> wrote: [quote levels all screwed up]
>> > Terry Morse wrote:
>> >> David Reuteler wrote:
>> >> > i am under the impression that taking an 18 mile
>> >> > steep mountain descent (like i have in my backyard
>> >> > so to speak)
>> >> Lucky bastard.
>
>What Terry needs to do is find somebody with a pickup to
>meet him at the top and drive him back down to the bottom
>so he can do it again.

I've got a pickup, and I only want to do the opposite run --
maybe he can ride up, and I drive up, then he drives down
and I ride down.
--
Rick Onanian

In article <20040630234744.04692.00000814@mb-m10.aol.com>,
hunrobe@aol.com (Hunrobe) wrote:

> >jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org
>
> wrote in part:
>
> >Bob Hunt writes:
>
> >30 mph ain't that fast... :-)
>
> >That depends on the road. I think you'll agree that on
> >many mountain roads, cornering at 30mph is fast and
> >faster than is comfortable to land on (or off) the
> >pavement.
>
> Hitting the pavement is always "uncomfortable" no matter
> how fast your speed but you are right, the level of speed
> apprehension does depend on the road and the rider. The OP
> referred to a nearby *hill*, not a mountain road. I inferred-
> possibly incorrectly- from his choice of words that his
> hill was like most hills I ride: fairly short, fairly
> steep, but quite often fairly straight. IOW, not
> "technical" at all just a bit daunting to a rider that
> isn't used to speeds over say 20 mph.
>
> Regards, Bob Hunt

Illinois has *hills*...?

HAND....

--
³Freedom Is a Light for Which Many Have Died in Darkness³

- Tomb of the unknown - American Revolution

The Real Bev wrote:

> Terry Morse wrote:
> >
> > David Reuteler wrote:
> >
> > > i am under the impression that taking an 18 mile steep
> > > mountain descent (like i have in my backyard so to
> > > speak)
> >
> > Lucky bastard.
>
> Can't you simulate the effect by using a higher gear? What
> about using your brakes? Not that I understand your
> affliction...

You just don't understand. It's like telling a beer drinker
that light beer tastes good.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA http://bike.terrymorse.com/

The Real Bev wrote:

> What Terry needs to do is find somebody with a pickup to
> meet him at the top and drive him back down to the bottom
> so he can do it again.

That sure would be nice on those long and cold descents.
Even nicer when it's wet. If I ever get over to Maui to do
Haleakela, I want to catch a ride down from the van that
shuttles bike riders *up* the mountain.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA http://bike.terrymorse.com/

Terry Morse wrote:
>
> The Real Bev wrote:
>
> > What Terry needs to do is find somebody with a pickup to
> > meet him at the top and drive him back down to the
> > bottom so he can do it again.
>
> That sure would be nice on those long and cold descents.
> Even nicer when it's wet. If I ever get over to Maui to do
> Haleakela, I want to catch a ride down from the van that
> shuttles bike riders *up* the mountain.

If there's any justice in the world, the van driver should
pay YOU. I think you and Rick should work out a schedule, it
sounds ideal for both of you.

So what actually bothers you about riding down? Tire wear?

--
Cheers, Bev
====================================================================== ===

If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a
small country.

The Real Bev <bashley@myrealbox.com> wrote:
> So what actually bothers you about riding down? Tire wear?

it's often F-R-E-E-Z-I-N-G for one .. esp. in the spring or
late fall. my first ride up into the hills had me at the top
at 7pm. i was shaking pretty bad coming down.

ok so i could've planned it better.

i mostly like going down, but i'm not particuliarly
good at it.
--
david reuteler reuteler@visi.com

The Real Bev wrote:

> So what actually bothers you about riding down? Tire wear?

Descending doesn't really bother me, unless it's cold and
wet (like it was today). A short descent on good pavement is
fun. It's just not riding uphill.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA http://bike.terrymorse.com/

35 mph isn't too fast. I only start biking 5 months ago and
already able to reach 32 MPH for 1-2 minutes on flat, or
25MPH for 30 minutes frequently.

"Fred Hall" <fhall1@twcny.rr.com> wrote in message
news:<7j0Ec.150584$j24.96347@twister.nyroc.rr.com>...
> Please be gentle and no laughing...looking for inputs from
> those more experienced...
>
> Background: Just started seriously road riding this year
> on a Trek 1500, after mostly trail (packed stone dust
> fairly flat) riding on a Gary Fisher hybrid. Got the road
> bike about 3 weeks ago and have been cruising around, a
> lot of flat roads, but some minor climbs and descents.
>
> Anyway, yesterday I figured I'd change up my route and
> take a certain road I knew had a pretty good hill on it.
> Not wanting to climb the hill, I made the route so it went
> down the hill. Long story short, it's a pretty good hill
> and even with a decent headwind according the the ol'
> computer I was doing about 35 mph down the hill for a good
> three plus minutes. Needless to say, the knuckles were
> white from hanging on for dear life and all I could
> picture was having a dog (or something) jump out at me, or
> getting a blow out, and me going ass over teakettle down
> the hill. Of course, I made it to the bottom with no
> incidents and went about the rest of my ride.
>
> Back when I was 11 or 12 I probably would have thought
> that was really cool and would have been pedaling all the
> way to see how much faster I could go...now that I'm 47 I
> worry more about self preservation I guess. So my question
> is, with more descents under my belt will 30+ mph
> downhills not even phase me? Or will I be a wuss the rest
> of my biking days? I know the pro racers are hitting what
> - 60 mph sometimes (or more) - so I'm not even in that
> league...watching the OLN special on Lance's 5 wins last
> night they pointed out he averaged about 33 mph during his
> time trials...which tells me he's flying at some points...
>
> Thanks for listening (reading)

rc5 wrote:

> 35 mph isn't too fast. I only start biking 5 months ago
> and already able to reach 32 MPH for 1-2 minutes on flat,
> or 25MPH for 30 minutes frequently.

You should join your local racing club. Seriously.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA http://bike.terrymorse.com/

>35 mph isn't too fast. I only start biking 5 months ago and
>already able to reach 32 MPH for 1-2 minutes on flat, or
>25MPH for 30 minutes frequently.

Well GOOD FOR YOU!

For you, just what is "too fast?"

http://members.aol.com/foxcondorsrvtns (Colorado
rental condo)

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox (Family Web Page)

With my $99 junky bicycle, on a wide road, and great
visibility, I would consider anything over 50MPH is
"too fast".

It's basically the speed when you start losing fully control
of your bike.

dnvrfox@aol.com (Denver C. Fox) wrote in message news:<20040702210637.26548.00000978@mb-
m03.aol.com>...
> >35 mph isn't too fast. I only start biking 5 months ago
> >and already able to reach 32 MPH for 1-2 minutes on flat,
> >or 25MPH for 30 minutes frequently.
>
> Well GOOD FOR YOU!
>
> For you, just what is "too fast?"
>
>
> http://members.aol.com/foxcondorsrvtns (Colorado
> rental condo)
>
> http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox (Family Web Page)

Okay, and it depends on the visibility, traffic, road
condition, etc.

Most people would agree even 10MPH could be "too far"
for cycling on icy roads full with impatient drivers
going to work.

dnvrfox@aol.com (Denver C. Fox) wrote in message news:<20040703091015.04124.00000831@mb-
m15.aol.com>...
> >With my $99 junky bicycle, on a wide road, and great
> >visibility, I would consider anything over 50MPH is
> >"too fast".
> >
> >It's basically the speed when you start losing fully
> >control of your bike.
>
> Okay - so you agree that each of us has a "too fast,"
> yours being 50, mine being 40 and someone elses being
> 30, right?
>
> I know guys whose "too fast" is 60 mph.
>
> Therefore, your statement:
>
> "35 mph isn't too fast."
>
> applies to you, but may or may not apply to someone else.
> "Too fast" is a relative term, and therefore it is not
> possible for one person to determine another's "Too fast."
>
> Incidentally, you should get a better bike and enter some
> races. You might do well.
>
>
> http://members.aol.com/foxcondorsrvtns (Colorado
> rental condo)
>
> http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox (Family Web Page)

In article <tmorse-DFEB67.17095802072004@news.covad.net>,
tmorse@spamcop.net says...
> rc5 wrote:
>
> > 35 mph isn't too fast. I only start biking 5 months ago
> > and already able to reach 32 MPH for 1-2 minutes on
> > flat, or 25MPH for 30 minutes frequently.
>
> You should join your local racing club. Seriously.

That's for sure! The Tour de France prolog was won with an average
speed of 33 mph for about 4 or 5 miles.

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In article <20040703091015.04124.00000831@mb-m15.aol.com>,
dnvrfox@aol.com says...
> >With my $99 junky bicycle, on a wide road, and great
> >visibility, I would consider anything over 50MPH is
> >"too fast".
> >
> >It's basically the speed when you start losing fully
> >control of your bike.
>
> Okay - so you agree that each of us has a "too fast,"
> yours being 50, mine being 40 and someone elses being
> 30, right?
>
> I know guys whose "too fast" is 60 mph.

I don't know what mine is; I hit 46 over the weekend on
a big hill, and was hoping for 50. It felt good, and I
felt like I was nowhere near my comfort limit. A nice
solid, stable touring frame may have something to do
with that, though.

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