cycling at speed

googlehead

wanted to ask, I was told yesterday that even if you are cycling down a fast hill
you should always keep your feet peddaling or when you are in a group not to stop pedalling even if are still keeping up with the group you are in, because you legs will tighten or freeze up.

if i am doing say a 80mile cycle can i free wheel for say the first 40-50miles when i get a chance and then not do it after that as my legs will be more tired,
or should i always keep my legs pedalling even from the start?

Nietzschean

if you google about there is some articles on it, your legs will actually be more tired if you free wheel, spinning under a very small load gets glycogen into the muscles faster or something, makes you feel better anyway when you get to the bottom than if you freewheel

**Timbuk2**

Freewheeling while part of a group is considered bad etiquette as people behind you get the impession that you are slowing down, and it can lead to unsteady speeds through the group.

googlehead

thanks guys, just another newbie:) i will look it up on google

cheers

SetOverSet

From Cycling Performance Tips:

"Pedaling on descents [instead of coasting] helps blood continue to circulate rapidly through your legs as muscle contraction helps clear pooled blood from the muscles and returns it back to the heart. After hard efforts, such as a climb, blood will tend to pool in your lower muscles. That blood contains a lot of lactate, so you want to circulate it back to the heart and lungs as quickly as possible.


Many times there are several hills or mountains in a row, and pedaling down the first descent can make the next climb seem a little easier. Your legs feel fresher because light to moderate pedaling downhill has helped clear out the lactic acid that accumulated during the climb. You don't get the heavy, sluggish sensation that occurs when you work hard up a climb, coast down the other side, and then try to ride hard again."

googlehead

SetOverSet wrote: »

From Cycling Performance Tips:

"Pedaling on descents [instead of coasting] helps blood continue to circulate rapidly through your legs as muscle contraction helps clear pooled blood from the muscles and returns it back to the heart. After hard efforts, such as a climb, blood will tend to pool in your lower muscles. That blood contains a lot of lactate, so you want to circulate it back to the heart and lungs as quickly as possible.


Many times there are several hills or mountains in a row, and pedaling down the first descent can make the next climb seem a little easier. Your legs feel fresher because light to moderate pedaling downhill has helped clear out the lactic acid that accumulated during the climb. You don't get the heavy, sluggish sensation that occurs when you work hard up a climb, coast down the other side, and then try to ride hard again."

good site that, thank you:)