Coach’s Corner — Faster Descents

How to Be the Fastest Cyclist on Straight Descents

Our Coach’s Corner series is your chance to have your biggest cycling questions answered — right from longtime cycling coach Darryl MacKenzie. In these short Q&As, Coach Darryl speaks from his 35+ years of cycling and coaching experience to help you become a stronger, smarter cyclist.

Motivated Cyclist:
Coach, my friends and I were climbing a long hill. We passed a solo rider who seemed to be older. We were faster, so we soon left him behind. But once we got to the top of the hill and started descending, we were surprised to see that he could descend so much faster than we could! He just coasted past us. Why was he so much faster than we were when descending this long straight hill?  

Coach Darryl:
Great question! The Thinking Cyclist knows that your speed when descending hills without turns is largely determined by how well you limit air resistance. The faster you’re going, the more air resistance can limit your top potential speed. 

In other words, the rider slicing cleanly through the air will descend faster than one with the air running square into their body. 

So how does that experienced cyclist who passed you descending the hill position himself to minimize air resistance while descending? The Thinking Cyclist positions their body for a fast, safe descent, starting from the bottom of the bike. 

Here’s how it’s done:
1. Your feet and pedals should be level. Place one forward and the other straight behind it (at nine and three o’clock). This keeps equal weight on each leg and evenly balances your bike from left to right. More weight on one side makes the bike much more imbalanced. (Note that other rules apply for foot positioning on descents with tight corners. We’re only talking about straight downhills here.)

2. Keep knees in contact with the top tube or each other. This keeps air from flowing between the legs to create a “parachute effect” that slows you down. Trapping air between the legs and the bike also creates turbulence, which makes the bike harder to control. 

3. Position your butt as far back on the saddle as possible. This moves your weight farther back and elongates your body, making it more streamlined and aerodynamic.

4. Lean your torso downward as low as you can. Imagine getting your belly button closer to the top tube. This lowers your center of gravity to improve stability and aerodynamics.

5. Your hands must be in the drops. If your bike has traditional hook-shaped handlebars, your hands should be in those hooks with your knuckles pointing forward to securely grasp the brakes when needed. You shouldn’t have to move the palms of your hands to operate the brakes. 

6. Keep your head low and aero. Don’t place your face at a right angle into the wind. Your forehead and hairline should be at the leading edge for better airflow.

7. Point your gaze ahead. Your eyes should be looking out of the top of the sunglasses since your face is pointing down toward the road. Keep your gaze focused far down the road to watch for road hazards. 

Until you apply these techniques, even slow climbers will be able to outpace you on the downhills. Remember, when descending a straight hill, it’s less about your size or strength and all about technique.