Flights of steps...

Northwind

OK, this'll sound daft, but I've barely ridden down any more than a couple of steps at a time since I was about 16, and back then the accepted approach was "Charge, then lock the rear brake and skid down them, and hope the steps finish before you fall off". I was riding about the other night and approached an old flight of steps (about 8 or 9) that I used to just bomb down with no technique (on a raleigh marauder made of lead and chewing gum), but as soon as I started thinking about it- moving my weight back etc as if descending a drop-off off road- I totally bottled it, and ended up having to walk it :oops: I can do them fine by the old approach- just charge and hope I survive- but not with any finesse at all or any real control.

So... What's the right way for descending flights of steps in control? I can do it fast, but not with any real speed control, which is very sketchy on longer flights. I think partly it's the front fork that's putting me off, I'm still finding that sometimes old rigid fork reflexes/expectations kick in and the suspension freaks me out. Not because it's not helping, but just because it's not what I expect.

Any suggestions?

Alex-nutsaboutbiking

put your body weight back, go easy on the brakes (dont skid) and just like anything else practice makes perfect

hucking_fell

Bunnyhop before the stairs so that you are landing front wheel first onto the first stair. That way you are on the stairs top to bottom and not landing half way down them or to flat. I think this may be called pre-jumping?

Of course once you get confident you can intentionally land a fair way down the stairs or completely clear the first set and land on the second set. Stair gap.

Northwind

Ah, well, I was just figuring on rolling them till I get my mojo back Funny, I'll happily go down steeper, rough slops offroad but for some reason steps are just freaking me out

dave_hill

Fast and smooth, weight well back and lay off the brakes.

If you approach a flight of steps too slowly you've more chance of the front wheel twisting to one side and pitching you over the bars (keep completely OFF the front brake in any case).

Make sure you've got a good run out too. And practice makes perfect - start with three or four, move onto 5 or six and so on.

dirtbiker100

not being silly here - but go fast. I've ridden down a steep 20 set on a bmx and the 2nd half was actually bearable. keep the speed up and you'll skim across the tops of the steps and it'll be lovely and smooth. go slow and you'll be bouncing up and down every single step, quite possibly loosing balance. keep right off the brakes to the bottom and obviously do the whole weight back stance.

Northwind

Ahhhh... So my childhood approach was actually better than my adult one! Cool, I'll try that

dirtbiker100

yeah, weight back, fastish, straight line and only use the brakes once you're on the flat ground at the bottom.

andyturner28

Try riding up them again If you get into a good rythem it's good fun, and good practice for technical climbs out on the singletrack with roots and rocks etc. Going down, as the others said, bomb it down teenager stylie

dav1

I tend to think of them like a steep slope like those on the way into a bombhole, just with bumps. The method to getting the bike under control is much the same.

Northwind

I've never been able to ride up steps. Well, 2 steps I could do, essentially by ramming them :roll:

cheehee

Ride over H first.........

andyturner28

cheehee wrote:

Ride over H first.........

What :?:

jayson

andyturner28 wrote:

cheehee wrote:

Ride over H first.........

What :?:

H, that annoying little welsh man from the teenie bopper group Steps.

grantway

Now and again on a weekend I do Urban riding in Central London etc
When it comes to getting off the bridges and down to the bottom

I would not bunny hop then land next level then down again
has I find these short landings nearly just the length of the bike.

I normally roll off if unsure of people coming up
If safe then get over fast and blast down But at
all times cover the brakes.

Best thing is to always look ahead and not the front of the bike
has you proberly more to mess things up.

If you look on you tube under urban downhill mountain biking

andyturner28

grantway wrote:

Now and again on a weekend I do Urban riding in Central London etc
When it comes to getting off the bridges and down to the bottom

I would not bunny hop then land next level then down again
has I find these short landings nearly just the length of the bike.

I normally roll off if unsure of people coming up
If safe then get over fast and blast down But at
all times cover the brakes.

Best thing is to always look ahead and not the front of the bike
has you proberly more to mess things up.

If you look on you tube under urban downhill mountain biking

Can anyone translate? No offence mate but that is mostly giberish, i had to read it 3 times.

Belv

grantway wrote:

Now and again on a weekend I do Urban riding in Central London etc
When it comes to getting off the bridges and down to the bottom

I would not bunny hop then land next level then down again
has I find these short landings nearly just the length of the bike.

I normally roll off if unsure of people coming up
If safe then get over fast and blast down But at
all times cover the brakes.

Best thing is to always look ahead and not the front of the bike
has you proberly more to mess things up.

If you look on you tube under urban downhill mountain biking

Just done this.
Wow. :shock:

Belv

I was so impressed, i double-posted. Oops! :oops:

passout

As Yoda would say, 'don't think, do'. Yep, no brakes is best but a ittle rear brake is acceptable if necessary.

DHO Dude

andyturner28 wrote:

grantway wrote:

Now and again on a weekend I do Urban riding in Central London etc
When it comes to getting off the bridges and down to the bottom

I would not bunny hop then land next level then down again
has I find these short landings nearly just the length of the bike.

I normally roll off if unsure of people coming up
If safe then get over fast and blast down But at
all times cover the brakes.

Best thing is to always look ahead and not the front of the bike
has you proberly more to mess things up.

If you look on you tube under urban downhill mountain biking

Can anyone translate? No offence mate but that is mostly giberish, i had to read it 3 times.

I think its a Haiku