Mountain Descents

[makbike]

I signed up for the 3State3Mountain ride on May 3rd. Initially I was concerned about the climbing involved given I had never climbed a mountain on my bike. However, my concerns of recent have centered around the descents - how does one handle these? I've been down some big hills but never a mountain not to mention one that may have switchbacks or really long run outs. I don't want to cause an accident nor do I wish to be involved in one while coming down one of the three mountains involved in this ride. Is it best to feather the brakes? Use the back brakes more than the front? A combination of the the two? So many questions, sorry!

[Pedal Wench]

Marcie,

I'll be there too. If I remember from last year, the descents aren't too bad. The very last one from Lookout Mountain into town is the only one that you really have to watch your speed. I tend to let others pass so I can choose my own line down the hill, don't make sudden moves, and take the lane if you want to make sure you can pick the line YOU want.

If I remember correctly, there is one sharp turn on one of the earlier descents, but they had a course marshal warning folks to slow it down.

[maillotpois]

The Cliff Notes: Feather the brakes. Use both brakes. Remember 80% or close of your stopping power is in the front brake. Do NOT ever only use the rear brake (well, ok rarely). Keep your weight low, hands in the drops, butt back far in the saddle. Practice. Never let your speed get greater than you are comfortable. Look where you want to go, not where you're afraid you'll end up.

[Susan126]

Great cliff notes maillotpois!

Makbike have fun and like maillotpois said, never let your speed get greater than you are comfortable with!

I can't wait to hear all about your 3 State 3 Mountain ride!

Pedal On!

Sue

[chicago]

wow!!, sounds like fun! We wouldn't have such a thing in Chicago:rolleyes:

Too bad you couldn't clip a camera on your helmet:D, I bet the view of the descents are going to be amazing:)

[bouncybouncy]

I am a major downhill-wuss...and I ride nothing but these mountains. I do use my rear brakes but only on the straight sections, saving my front brakes for the turns (I am usually on my brakes for the entire descent!)

Relax! Hold your line! and yes...NO sudden moves! Go YOUR speed! Relax!

Have Fun! I have pondered doing that ride but have too many mtbike commitments...be sure and give us a report please!!!

[PscyclePath]

I am a major downhill-wuss...and I ride nothing but these mountains. I do use my rear brakes but only on the straight sections, saving my front brakes for the turns (I am usually on my brakes for the entire descent!)

Relax! Hold your line! and yes...NO sudden moves! Go YOUR speed! Relax!




Don't brake in the turns, since that causes your bike to want to straighten out (resulting in an undesired exit from the trail). Feather your brakes to bleed off excess speed before you roll into the turn, let off the brakes and put the outside pedal down and weight it as you rail thru, then hit the gas again as you come out of the curve.

Brian Lopes has a nice, lavishly illustrated handbook out these days, Mastering Mountain Bike Skills, that does a good job explaining cornering on downhill, XC, and 4-cross courses. It's a good read, and I've picked up a lot more from it than some of the older books...

[Thorn]

Major downhill weenie here. Just a perspective from someone who has managed to up her comfortable downhill speed a couple of mph....the best advice I ever got was look down the road at where you want to go, not immediately in front of you. Intuitively that makes sense, but when scardycats like me get on the road, the front wheel becomes the focus and I have to slow down. Look down the road and I'm more comfortable and brake action becomes more natural.

Unfortunately, I live in flat land country so I only get to practice on vacations, but I'm getting better.

[bouncybouncy]

Don't brake in the turns, since that causes your bike to want to straighten out (resulting in an undesired exit from the trail). Feather your brakes to bleed off excess speed before you roll into the turn, let off the brakes and put the outside pedal down and weight it as you rail thru, then hit the gas again as you come out of the curve.

Brian Lopes has a nice, lavishly illustrated handbook out these days, Mastering Mountain Bike Skills, that does a good job explaining cornering on downhill, XC, and 4-cross courses. It's a good read, and I've picked up a lot more from it than some of the older books...


I guess I should have been more specific...ooops! I do feather the brakes but that was mentioned so I failed to say that when I am using mine it is in a feathery manner. Also the intensity of the turn also makes a difference of how I brake...PsyclePath did explain much better than I can...although I am repeating such instruction in my head for an entire descent. Many rides I am on consist of 5-10 miles of constant downhill...tough on a hill weenie!

For no explicable reason whatsoever I manage to descend on a mtbike with much more confidence and skill...someday I will be able to transfer these traits to my road bike!!!!:confused:

[SadieKate]

For no explicable reason whatsoever I manage to descend on a mtbike with much more confidence and skill...someday I will be able to transfer these traits to my road bike!!!!:confused:You aren't alone! I'm getting better. For no explicable reason I tend to not look around the turn on the road while I do on the mtb. Absolutely critical for tight turns/switchbacks.

[Veronica]

Don't out ride your sight lines. That's my mantra. And don't be afraid to take the lane.

V.

[Zen]

Never let your speed get greater than you are comfortable.

Heh.
Which is why I walked down the switchback with the gravelly shoulder last Saturday.

[PscyclePath]

Don't out ride your sight lines. That's my mantra. And don't be afraid to take the lane.

V.

A nice way to say it is "don't ride faster than your guardian angel can fly."

:D

And yeah, to share a secret... I'm a downhill weenie too, road or MTB

[Veronica]

If you're going to ride up and then ride down what you just rode up, pay attention to road conditions for the downhill. Things I really look for are dirty corners and potholes. Doesn't work if you're not going down the same way of course. :p

V.

[jennrod12]

Try this - pick one local hill (preferably one you can climb in a few minutes) and descend it over and over again in one session. Try out different techniques. What happens if I weight the outside pedal? What happens if I hug the inside of the curve, or the outside of the curve, or pick a line that varies? How about if I throw my inside knee to the outside, or hug it to the top tube? Brake early, brake late, try everything!

First of all, you'll become very comfortable with that hill, and this will increase your confidence. Second of all, you'll learn which techniques work best for you.

When you get more comfortable with the hill, bring along someone you know who descends well and try to follow their line down the hill and see what that feels like.

Good luck!

Jenn

[OakLeaf]

What happens if you hug the outside of the curve, is that you're right in the path of any car that happens to run a little wide on the oncoming side.

Try a lot of things, but please don't try that.

[RoadRaven]

You have loads of good advice...
I used to be a down-hill weenie, and still can't keep up with some of the others when I race...

But I descend in the drops, I choose a big gear so my legs don't spin, and when I brake, I feather the brakes - not hold them tight.

It takes practice to increase your confidence. But better that way than being over-confident and going too fast...

And yes, what OakLeaf says, hug curves but only on your side of the road, stay to your corners and inside the white line - always.

[jennrod12]

What happens if you hug the outside of the curve, is that you're right in the path of any car that happens to run a little wide on the oncoming side.

Try a lot of things, but please don't try that.

Good point, you have to go with what makes sense under the conditions. For me, I usually don't want to go more than about 3/4 of the way towards the outside of the lane for just that reason. It somewhat depends on visibility (and hearing if it's on a lightly traveled road, which, hopefully it would be).

Or to put it another way, each rider defines "outside of the curve" to her own comfort level. Some people will cross a double yellow line, others may only go halfway into their own lane. Traffic conditions help dictate what makes sense in any given situation.

The point is to see the difference in how you can take the turns depending on where you are in the lane. If you always hug the inside of the lane, your descending is not likely to improve to it's full potential.

Jenn