Ok, help me out. On the barren flatlands, or at least here, where the hills barely exceed 300 feet of elevation gain... Im not passed that often on descents. Ive been called "dense" which ...I "hope" is in reference to my body type which allows me to descend at sea level pretty well.

Anyway, as I was white knuckling the descents in my first ride in the mtns at the Triple last saturday, I was passed quite often by locals, more brave and experienced than I. However, I was riding and following the lines of a fellow in front of me, and I hear this sound as if he dropped an allen wrench. This little ting...ting...ting... I start looking about for something bouncing on the ground with Im passed suddenly by someone on my left. That was weird... then it happened again, when I realized it was something the passing riders were doing. Is it some kind of bell? I didnt see one on their bars.

Could you guys solve this mystery?

Ok, help me out. On the barren flatlands, or at least here, where the hills barely exceed 300 feet of elevation gain... Im not passed that often on descents. Ive been called "dense" which ...I "hope" is in reference to my body type which allows me to descend at sea level pretty well.

Anyway, as I was white knuckling the descents in my first ride in the mtns at the Triple last saturday, I was passed quite often by locals, more brave and experienced than I. However, I was riding and following the lines of a fellow in front of me, and I hear this sound as if he dropped an allen wrench. This little ting...ting...ting... I start looking about for something bouncing on the ground with Im passed suddenly by someone on my left. That was weird... then it happened again, when I realized it was something the passing riders were doing. Is it some kind of bell? I didnt see one on their bars.

Could you guys solve this mystery?
It's the voices in your head again Funk. They come out when you need more oxygen. You get pretty good at descending out here because you do a lot of it. Nothing on the TBP is all that steep or twisty save for the Vail Pass section you have to slow down anyway due to the uphill riders and twists and turns. You shouldn't have to touch your brakes on Squaw or Loveland though. For practice you should try some of the local climbs in the Boulder area next time. Coming down Sunshine Canyon will give you some good experience cornering at speed. I'm pretty much a wuss and never push it too hard, but you shouldn't have to be white knuckling it. Brake before the corners and then let off and flow through them. Actually those bells you heard might be those little ones that you just flick to make them ring.

Ok, since it was the first time descending something longer than two miles and my first time in Colorado for that matter, It only took my hands to cramp once before I just realized I had to let go and let things roll. I finally started to get it... although descending at speed on the freaking bike path down the back of Vail is kinda spooky in a pack. Next time it will be easier. I will look for a flick bell.

Ok, since it was the first time descending something longer than two miles and my first time in Colorado for that matter, It only took my hands to cramp once before I just realized I had to let go and let things roll. I finally started to get it... although descending at speed on the freaking bike path down the back of Vail is kinda spooky in a pack. Next time it will be easier. I will look for a flick bell.
Probably a bell like this:

http://www.lickbike.com/productpage.asp?PART_NUM_SUB='3237-00'