[karamanolev]

1. On a fast descent I like to know what the turns coming up look like. Also, sometimes we follow the main road, sometimes we turn out at some point. If it's a 100mi ride that was planned online, even the planner doesn't know it by heart. You have to look occasionally.

2. No, you're not aware when you have to slam on your brakes. The descent can be 10 minutes long at a high speed. You don't know every single corner by heart. You look at the map.

3. The people at the front know where we're going, but sometimes they miss things. It's nice to shout things at them when they do. They also rotate. I know there's a bit of gravel on this road, but they don't. I tell them. I know because I know we're passing town X or side street Y.

4. Even in a group, I'd like to know if there's a sharp turn coming, going into the city, etc. I want to know my heart rate, power, cadence, etc. I'd like to know how long the false flat that we're on lasts or when the next climb is coming up.

[talove]

I'll also add, you might be riding brakes preparing for a turn on a descent. Under many road conditions, especially a steep descent, a road bike is much more likely to break traction than a car which can literally be fatal (sliding out into an opposing lane, barrier, or off an edge). Anybody who has descended, even at reasonably safe speeds on a road bike with a bike computer knows it is the safe thing to do.