While racing, competitors must contend with a great variety of terrain. This can range from steep climbs, winding descents, and cobblestones.

Cobblestones:

This type of riding is rare, but a part of the most prestigious races. Cobblestones are very bumpy and are notoriously tricky to ride. The pros share some insight into riding cobbles in Hindenbrand’s article. “Faster is better”, says one pro cyclist while telling that the faster one rides the smother it is (hindenbrand). Also a key to riding cobbles is keeping up momentum. If you begin to slow down you need ever more force to try and regain it. That combined with the increased bumpiness of slow speed cobbles make for poor racing if one lets their momentum drop.

Descents:

While flying down mountain roads racers are opting to be the fastest but are also in fear of falling. When taking the corners at speeds around 40mph one has to be sure the friction between their tire and the road will hold them. The force friction becomes much less if it is a rainy day or if their super grip road treads ware thin.

While descending bikers also try to lower their center of gravity as much as possible. By lowering them self low on the petals and below the seat just over the frame cyclists lower their center of gravity allowing for more control around sharper turns.

Steep Climbs:

This element of bike racing is often seen as the hardest. It requires a great deal of fitness, and to be blunt is painful. Climbs can reach a grade of over 20% in some races, and this is when it is important to carry as little weight up as you can. More information on lightweight bike design can be found on the Perfect machine page. Racers are on very light bikes, but they also employ some other ways of lightening them selves before a climb. Riders will throw there water bottles to the ground before a climb just to loose a little extra weight, and reduce the work needed to reach the top.