Learning to go downhill on tri-bike = scary

Really? What is your standard bike? Do you let it fly or ride the brakes on your standard bike?

Maybe because I used clipon aerobars on my road bike for many years prior to getting a tri bike it didn't seem like much of a difference.

I have an old road bike as my other bike.  I don't ride the brakes but at least they are close at hand if I need them!

Also the old bike does not go nearly as fast.

You will get more comfortable as you practice, but remember there is no rule that says you have to stay tucked.  There are few hills around here that if I stayed in aero on I'd be hitting 40+.  It's huge risk with zero training benefit.

Ride the down hills on the bull horns if you feel more comfortable.

I love riding down hill as fast as possible but my daughter is cautious going down hills. I encourage her to take the speed with what feels comfortable and not push it.

It will get better in time by riding hills more.

I haven't encountered a long enough steep descent to get scared yet.  Done a bit over 40mph.  Hardly any hills around here long enough to spin out on, especially since I changed my cassette to one with an 11 instead of a 12.

There's something satisfying about hearing cars have to speed up to pass you on a downhill, though I don't understand why they think they need too.  I'm still waiting for the day some jerk speeds up to pass me when I'm pushing the speed limit already and gets pulled over.  I'd slow down as much as necessary to give 'em a nice big wave.
 

And given the extra weight, my old hybrid was probably just as likely to hit the higher speeds if not more.  On tri-bikes you are more aero with possibly faster wheels but weigh a bit less so it might be a wash on descent speeds.

Completely agree with this. A tri bike can descend quite quickly - that's the whole point of having a more aero rig.

I am a weenie on the descents, especially since a bad crash last year, and I was terrified when first descending in the aerobars. Practicing on steadier/straighter descents with good visibility helped me a lot. The key was learning a sense of how quickly I would be able to get to the brakes if needed. I'm still not good, but a lot more comfortable than I was at first.

Just thinking about descents gets me keyed up.  My fastest so far was 57Kph (35mph) and that was scary enough so I ride the brakes on my descents. 

I do believe I will get faster with practice and other more skilled BTer's assure me that if I relax on the bike I'll get more comfortable with it. 

Descending fast on a bike is one of the few great, legal thrills for adults.  Assuming a clear road, dry pavement, etc. the bike can handle it, the question is 'can the pilot?' 

For triathlon, look at your heart rate data or power data after a training ride.  You have to really push on the downhills to keep a uniform heart rate or power output.  In my opinion this is one of the small hidden pockets of "free speed".  The corollary is you have to go really easy on the climbs not to spike your heart rate.

There's a long, not too steep hill on my weekly group ride.  The descent has a long curve near the bottom.  It took me 10+ tries to do it on my road bike without touching the brakes.  It's not THAT steep - coasting at 30-32 mph.  A guy in the group, who is an avid motorcyclist, said 'keep your eyes focused on the inside of the curve'.  Now I never use the brakes.  In the last month before my IM I rode tri bike.  The second week I was able to take that descent, on the aerobars, no brakes, at 33-35 mph.  I envisioned myself as a tucked in downhill snow skier.  ZOOM.  Thrilling.

No question fast descents (>35-40mph) with tri bike can be trickier, especially if less experienced on that bike.  I enjoy a fast downhill as much as anybody, HOWEVER......

Please, PLEASE ride smart, maintain situational awareness, & keep it under control.  Bad things can happen FAST at those speeds & you need to look further down the road for hazards.  Just last month we had a tragic crash near here involving 3 cyclists in terrain with many short (<0.5mi) steep (>10% grade) hills & a few curves with limited sight distances.  Two descending riders were hit head-on by another rider who had just come down another hill.  Apparently none of the involved riders noticed the oncoming rider(s) until it was too late. One of the injured was left paralyzed from chest down. 

Live to ride, but ride to live.

Hmm, I really dont know about the "zero benifit" idea. While it wont physically benifit you it certainly can help in the mental aspect AND gain you a lot of speed. If you limit your speed to 50km/h on a down hill and I were to pass you at 70km/h I would obviously be further ahead by the bottom of the hill, more importantly I could coast, or pedal lightly (or heavily) UP the hill furthering my lead as I would be carrying more speed. Repeat this over and over again on a rolling hilly course and the difference could be significant.

I dont think you should haul yourself up to the top of a ski hill and hurl yourself down but I do think you can work to slowly increase your speed and confidence. I see down hills as "free speed". In a sport where people spend thousands to be more aero and lighter in the quest for speed  I think it only makes sense to maximize your "free speed". (its also fun once you get used to it)

How to ride hills - Or at least how I ride hills - Stay loose, elbows and knees bent to absorb the small bumps, look well ahead focusing on where you want to go NOT on the nasty crack or pot hole. Carefully watch other riders looking for hints that they might be pulling out to pass and be sure to mind your back that others may be coming up and passing you. Be ready to gradually reduce speed if needed.

I know it isn't anything like Colorado, but, come on over to the IM Wisconsin loop or the Horribly Hilly Hundreds bike course - you'll have some fun!

Doesn't everybody ride downhill in aero.  Maybe I'm just nuts.  I've even cornered at the bottom of a hill.  I won't do that again.