Intentional Training for Descending Aero Position

Originally Posted by Felt_Rider

After my last crash I have been really aprehensive on fast descents. Where I was typically one of the first down on fast descents with switch backs now I am the last down even on straight sections. I should say that my past experience is not extensive, but I had no fear until my last crash did so much equipment and physical damage.

My current form (post crash) is to use the more conservative position with my hands on the drops, but now the difference I see in this position compared to an equal or better descender in a position with their chin almost on their stem and hands next to the stem or where they are sitting down on the top bar and chin down on the stem can really pick up an advantage.

Is this something I should be working on incrementally?
I do hill repeats today on a 4 lane parkway with mostly straight sections popular with cyclists in my area. It may be a good place to experiment, but the descents are pretty steep and one can typically pick up speeds in the high 40's to low 50's without trying. With low confidence now in my descending ability I am struggling on how to proceed to regain confidence and get into a fairly good aero position.

I have to say taking the conservative position with being a little less aero and being down last in my group by a few seconds I have been able to catch up, but at the expense of using additional energy. One caveat is that I do not race. This all "aggressive recreational" if there is a description to be applied so I have had thoughts that perhaps I should just stay conservative and not take the risks from this point forward.

I have talked with the veterans that I ride with and instead of advice I usually get, "you'll forget your crash in time and then get back to being more aggressive."

Originally Posted by frenchyge

I would agree that memories of the crash will fade in time and you'll become more comfortable going fast again.

That said, I really don't see a reason to be emulating the most aggressive professional descending positions on recreational rides (although I understand that many people do just that). For me it's hands on the drops, knees and elbows pulled in as tight as possible, and chin down close to the stem. That's even for the relatively straight downhills that we have here. I'm just not comfortable around some other riders without my hands near the brakes, and I'm willing to give up a small advantage unless I'm really hanging on for dear life.

Originally Posted by Felt_Rider

After my last crash I have been really aprehensive on fast descents. Where I was typically one of the first down on fast descents with switch backs now I am the last down even on straight sections. I should say that my past experience is not extensive, but I had no fear until my last crash did so much equipment and physical damage.

My current form (post crash) is to use the more conservative position with my hands on the drops, but now the difference I see in this position compared to an equal or better descender in a position with their chin almost on their stem and hands next to the stem or where they are sitting down on the top bar and chin down on the stem can really pick up an advantage.

Is this something I should be working on incrementally?
I do hill repeats today on a 4 lane parkway with mostly straight sections popular with cyclists in my area. It may be a good place to experiment, but the descents are pretty steep and one can typically pick up speeds in the high 40's to low 50's without trying. With low confidence now in my descending ability I am struggling on how to proceed to regain confidence and get into a fairly good aero position.

I have to say taking the conservative position with being a little less aero and being down last in my group by a few seconds I have been able to catch up, but at the expense of using additional energy. One caveat is that I do not race. This all "aggressive recreational" if there is a description to be applied so I have had thoughts that perhaps I should just stay conservative and not take the risks from this point forward.

I have talked with the veterans that I ride with and instead of advice I usually get, "you'll forget your crash in time and then get back to being more aggressive."

Originally Posted by jsirabella

I would like to add though "don't force it" pride can be a good thing but this is a rec ride and your paycheck does not depend on if you are doing 30 or 50 miles per hour on the descent.

-js

Originally Posted by jsirabella

One other thing..."aggressice rec"...lol...from my experience I am not sure if I have ever seen another way.

I think that describes just about every ride when you get a bunch of guys and bikes together....

-js

Originally Posted by Felt_Rider

...Is this something I should be working on incrementally?...

Originally Posted by daveryanwyoming

Personally I wouldn't put too much emphasis on the ability to go fast on a straight descent in a deep tuck. I've never ridden a road race where a straight descent decided the outcome. A technical twisty descent with lots of tight corners maybe but not the nose over stem style straight shot. Spending some time working on countersteering, good weight on the outside pedal, connecting attack points in straight line segments. That kind of stuff might make a difference on a fast technical descent but for straight shots just work them at a safe comfortable speed and get comfortable riding fast on those skinny tires again, more speed will come with time.

Good luck,
-Dave

Originally Posted by strader

I've seen guys in the middle of a cat 5 peloton go into an aggressive tuck with their chin on the bars and hands next to the stem. I was able to keep pace with them with my hands on the hoods and soft pedaling at <50 watts. I could see doing it if you are part of a small break, but in the middle of a cat 5 peloton... wtf???

Originally Posted by strader

I've seen guys in the middle of a cat 5 peloton go into an aggressive tuck with their chin on the bars and hands next to the stem. ..

Originally Posted by strader

I've seen guys in the middle of a cat 5 peloton go into an aggressive tuck with their chin on the bars and hands next to the stem. I was able to keep pace with them with my hands on the hoods and soft pedaling at <50 watts. I could see doing it if you are part of a small break, but in the middle of a cat 5 peloton... wtf???