David P Swain Wellness Institute and Research Center, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529. The primary forces a cyclist must overcome are air resistance and gravity.
Air resistance increases exponentially with speed.
In the transition from cycling on a flat road to climbing a hill, the decreased speed reduces air resistance to the point where drafting other riders provides little benefit. Climbing ability can be enhanced by minimizing weight, and also by pedaling at a consistently high cadence. Large cyclists can achieve greater downhill speeds, but on hilly courses smaller cyclists still have an advantage. On steep descents it is necessary to pedal only at the start and when coming out of turns to achieve terminal velocity quickly. Downhill Pacing References Cycling is a complex sport in which competitors must contend with a variety of strategies employed by opponents as well as many environmental factors.