Conference noted::bicycle

    Try these for size:-
    
    Uphill
    
    Stay seated for as long as possible as this will give you better
    traction (ie your weight is over the rear wheel) however the trick
    is to get down somewhat like a jockey to try to hold the front down
    an weight the back at the same time (yes it is as difficult as it
    sounds). Also always bend your elbows and tuck them in - this makes
    for better breathing and more efficient climbing (but don't ask
    me why). As for standing use it as a last resort because you tend
    to lose traction - I like to attack the hill in what I assume to
    be the right gear (experience and personal preference define the
    'right gear') and sit until I lose RPM then stal for about 8-12
    strokes, change down and sit again. I repeat this proceedure until
    I run out of gears, crash or die.
    
    Down hill
    
    Get your weight back as far as poss. (some people lower the seat
    to allow them to hang off the back) grip the seat between your thighs
    and hold the bars as lightly as possible. The main thing is to RELAX
    if you can't relax you are going too fast.......
    I like to have two fingers on the brakes and I strongly recomend
    toe clips on rough downhills.
    
    Any other ideas ????
    
    
    Paul

    re .1	On steep climbs, especially where traction is poor,
    it is also VERY IMPORTANT to maintain as smooth a power circle as
    possible, i.e. try to avoid power strokes as these will often break
    traction or loft the front wheel.
    
    	In deep water....
    
    
    
    
    
    				SWIM
    

When going downhill, shift into as high a gear as possible.
This puts tension on the chain from the derailleur position
and springs so that the chain is less likely to flop around
because of all the bouncing around on the descent. The chain
can fall off the chain wheels or get hung up on the rear brakes

Get a Vetta Gel saddle, ~$24.00 at Nashbar.  It sure made a
difference to my tender old butt.  I can ride longer, harder
and faster now.  

When you bail out on a steep hill go back down and try again
and again and again until you make it or juat can't stand it 
any more.  You really start learning after the 3rd or 4th attempt.

    Re .-1
    
    Try the chain on the large chain wheel and the largest cog on the
    freewheel - this puts the chain at its taughtest (?) and
    eliminates chain slap - dont try pedaling to much like this though
    it will destroy your drivetrain eventually......
                                                        
    Paul

    One thing to watch out for screaming down a bumpy hill is bouncing
    on your seat. If you try to stay seated, and really cant, or are
    just barely above the seat, you'll bounce up and down on your seat.
    
    This isn't a good thing to do..I've broken 2 seat's and a seatpost
    doing this.  (Those 3 rides weren't as much fun after that)
    
    Robb

    This is just a reminder to people going down hill. If it's steep
    enough that it requires you to slide back on the saddle, be careful
    about your braking heavy rear braking and light or pumping of the
    front this keeps you from doing curb endos.

    Gravitational pull theorem #1:
    
    When your bike falls down, relax - don't fight it, and let yourself
    fall away from your bucking machine.  At least that worked when I went 
    down on a patch of ice that had me grounded before I knew what was 
    happening.  The clipless pedals released automatically too.

    -1 i think you nailed it when you said "your on the ground before 
    you know it". the opportunity to present a fight hardly ever presents
    itself.
    
    i hate that! :-)