Downhills - Do they scare you?
Naveed
Posts: 728
Had a great ride today around Dorking and Boxhill. My climbing's improved a touch after I paced myself better.
Only thing bugging me now is a fear I can't shake when it comes to tight techinical downhills. I know it sounds sad; but I find really steep downhills bloody scary, especially when they're full of roots and involve tight turns as well as low overhanging branches (my head still hurts)
When approaching a steep section I always pull the trigger on the brakes and feel like I'm going to go over the bars. Most people say leave off the brakes but then you're letting gravity take over and I need some control especially when I'm a tad scared.
Anyone got any good tips to tackling steepish downhills - the moderate DH is fine, just the really steep stuff where I feel like I'm losing control because I'm hurtling down too fast.
Only thing bugging me now is a fear I can't shake when it comes to tight techinical downhills. I know it sounds sad; but I find really steep downhills bloody scary, especially when they're full of roots and involve tight turns as well as low overhanging branches (my head still hurts)
When approaching a steep section I always pull the trigger on the brakes and feel like I'm going to go over the bars. Most people say leave off the brakes but then you're letting gravity take over and I need some control especially when I'm a tad scared.
Anyone got any good tips to tackling steepish downhills - the moderate DH is fine, just the really steep stuff where I feel like I'm losing control because I'm hurtling down too fast.
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Other than that, not sure I'm qualified to give much advice
Just remember you still need to bend your arms to steer, so don't lock your arms out. Don't lock you knees out too - if you allow your bike to 'float' underneath you, you'll be much much more in controll.
As for brakes, this is where you primarily use the back brake. You can use the front, but do so with caution!! As you say, too much, and it can pitch you over the bars with ease on the steep sections.
If I don't make any sense, let me know and I'll try to clarify.
Sick to the power of rad
Fix it 'till it's broke
the wheel, one of mans greatest achievments, will roll down a hill whether you are on it or not. let it do what it was designed for and try not to poo your pants too much.
If you are just rolling, then a wheel can devote 100% of it's grip to keeping you rolling. If you steer, it has to divide the grip between steering and rolling. And may cause you to skid out. So if you brake (the biggest mistake!!!), it has to divide it's grip between rolling and braking. If you skid out on a steep section, unless you are a skilled rider, you will most likely fall off...
So less brakes, more balls!!!
And yes, it is easier said than done!
Sick to the power of rad
Fix it 'till it's broke
the faster you go (within reason of course!) the more stable you become as physics will dictate, so try not to brake too much!!
Relax and enjoy - especially the adrenaline at the bottom of the run!!
Calling All SouthEastern Riders
I'm speaking from experience really 'cos on Saturday I attacked a steep section and when it really got steeper I kind of bottled it - seem to have this phobia that the terrain is too steep for the mtb (looks near vertical sometimes) always worried that I'm going to let gravity do the work and send me flying over the top.
Most people have said braking is the most common mistake but we don't know what's going to meet us at the bottom of the DH - In my case it was a flight of stairs which absolutley left me bricking it - Surely going down a steep section needs some braking?
Otherwise you'd just hurtle down and when the bike's going too fast, that's when we lose control.
I do need to grow some so thanks Geordiefreerider - also cheers bighazard -great advice
stairs are just a knobbly hill as far as your bike is concerned. your wheels are bigger than the gap between the steps so you will jst roll over them
Time to grow some and learn to fall, get back up ... and fall again, and learn.
shift your weight back behind but above the saddle (drop your saddle by an amount your comfortable with some peeps say 3" other 5") don't get to far back or low as you will lift all your weight of the front wheel which would not be good for traction and therefore very bad for steering.
the key to descending whether it's a steady shallow downhill or really fecking steep is...
... Commitment
stay loose and go for it, you can feather the rear brake on the straight bits to regulate your speed. Best to scrub your speed before the twisty bits. don't do anything too dramatic with your steering or braking.
Have faith in your bike it will roll through any obstacle short of trees and walls etc.
ultimately have faith in YOUR bike it's a bloody good bike that trance.
It's just about getting a feel or the terrain. Best way to do it, is keep on doing it!!
Sick to the power of rad
Fix it 'till it's broke
just what i was about to say.
Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
Look ahead, not at what your front wheel is doing.
Plan a route, but try not to get freaked if you're pushed another way.
Brake like you're racing, IE choose your braking point before the bend/obsacale Then stay off the brakes until you get there, then hard on the brakes down to the speed you want and then off then around.
And at no point should any part of your body be rigid, if it's you arms or legs you'll never absorb anything. And if it's anything else you're not concentraiting on the job in hand :twisted:
Use the back brake to scrub off the speed. If the wheel locks, momentarily let the brake off to get it rolling again. A rolling wheel is a gripping and steering wheel.
Look ahead at where you want to be going, don't fixate on a point 2 feet in front of the front wheel.
Until you get the feel for it, slow and steady is the approach. That way if you need to bail it's not going to hurt. Much.
Help for Heroes
JayPic
Drop your saddle.
Relax and stay loose with your weight towards the back of the bike.
Point your heels towards the ground and your toes upwards - this will help you get your weight back.
Lift your brake levers up - again this will help you keep your weight back. You don't need your brakes when going up hill so it makes sense to set the levers up to a position where they feel comfortable when the bike is pointing downwards.
It's OK to brake but just do it before your reach the obstacles, not as you are riding through them otherwise you will lose momentum.
If your tyres are pinging off rocks and routes, try letting some air out of them.
Stu
I wouldn't agree with that. Even when you're hanging off the back your arms and hands are pointing forwards and down. Your brake levers don't need to be at an extreme angle, but they're certainly more comfortable if they're angled downwards slightly. Check out the magazine photos to see where the pros have their levers.
You might not need your brakes going uphill but you do need them on the "along" bits so bear that in mind too...
Help for Heroes
JayPic
Other things that help with your "confidence" is padding up correctly, stuff like knee/elbow pads and some form body armour certainly takes the edge off.. often the mere thought of pain can erode one's confidence and have you reaching for the brakes
Once you realise you probably will not be hurt "if" you bail, then the speed and flow will improve, guaranteed
As lame as this may sound, the fact is do all you can to build confidence. From experience I assure you there will be a day when you have a big off and that padding will pay dividends and you will get back up and saddle up without the fall chipping too much confidence away.
The Shaker
But also, watching someone else do the section before you ride it helps give you an idea of what line to take, what speeds and generally what to expect. I also find riding closely behind a better rider extremely helpful; i have often surprised myself by how much better i ride when following a better rider- you somehow just get into the flow.
Also about the saddle, my personal preference is not to have it completely low but somewhere around the level of my thighs- not sure why.
yeah i drop the saddle by about 3 and a half inches, low enough to get it out of the way but still high enough to clamp the saddle between my thighs when i need extra control to manipulate the bike.
it can be scarry on tech dh but just relax and go with the flow!