QUESTION: Am I really the only rider out here with enough self-preservation instinct to be afraid of going fast downhill? I’m a (shudder) descentophobic! Can you help? — Alice C. RBR REPLIES: Don’t feel bad. Lots of cyclists feel apprehensive on fast descents. It’s not paranoia because bad things really can happen if you fall off…
Question: I have trouble shifting when I start a steep climb after a fast descent. I pedal hard as the hill begins, but when I shift to an easier gear, the chain grinds. Sometimes the shift from the big to the small chainring doesn’t even happen. How can I shift smoothly and not lose momentum?…
Question: I’ve always been told to hold the brake hoods during out-of-saddle climbing. They say this makes it easier to breathe. But I see many pros climbing with their hands on the handlebar drops as if they were sprinting. What made the old advice obsolete? —Stan M.
Question: On a long climb, is it better to sit and spin or stand and crank? I can spin faster seated, but it feels better to stand from time to time. Which is better? — Art S. RBR Replies: This sounds like a simple question, but the answer is complicated. It depends!
Question: I climb a lot better when I’m sitting. If I stand even for 30 seconds, my cadence slows, I lose momentum, and I get winded. Should I try to learn how to stand or just stay in the saddle? I’m 5-foot-10 and 168 pounds with about 10 percent body fat. — Curt P. Coach…
