Descending Skills

[SadieKate]

Maybe we've got tips in other threads, but let's compile downhill tips and tricks here, including article links if you have any.

[maillotpois]

I've probably got some stuff on the home computer - handouts from coaching. I will look tonight.

Best thing for descending is to work one on one with a coachy type person. That's what I did last year when I was trying to get my confidence back for Death Ride, from being out of practice from not really riding my bike enough. I hired a friend who is a cycling coach to follow me and give me suggestions. It really helped a lot. Also, following someone who is a good descender can help you work on picking lines, weight shifts, etc.

[Brandy]

http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/thankyou.gif for starting this thread SadieKate. It's like you were reading my mind...I spent the morning googling for tips on this very thing.

[Eden]

1st and foremost - always descend with your hands in your drops, not on the hoods and of course never on the tops, you will have a lot more control over the bike. If you have trouble reaching your brakes in the drops you should adjust or replace your handlebars or shim your brake levers.

[SadieKate]

Working with someone really is the best approach.

Here is a basic ariticle on offroad and on-road. A lot of the same stuff applies.
http://www.rei.com/online/store/LearnShareDetailArticlesList?categoryId=Cycling&url=rei/learn/cycle/cldescendf.jsp

When MP and I were descending parts of Mines Rd, she commented that I descend like a mountainbiker. I've consciously ingrained those habits because of trail obstacles and I'm incredibly more relaxed on singletrack. However, after her comments, I'm trying to keep my butt in closer contact with the saddle and, consequently, my speed is going up as I'm able to extend my outside leg/toe more and push harder. Of course, if I crash on the trail, I'm going to blame her.:D

[SadieKate]

Skills clinics for the folks in the PNW

http://www.cycleu.com/Home/

[maillotpois]

When MP and I were descending parts of Mines Rd, she commented that I descend like a mountainbiker. I've consciously ingrained those habits because of trail obstacles and I'm incredibly more relaxed on singletrack. However, after her comments, I'm trying to keep my butt in closer contact with the saddle and, consequently, my speed is going up as I'm able to extend my outside leg/toe more and push harder. Of course, if I crash on the trail, I'm going to blame her.:D


HA! Yeah, I can tell you're a super good MTB'er, not that there's anything wrong with that ;) . But clearly there are slightly different skills here. And I shouldn't think that being good at one should necessarily make you not so good at the other. But I am the reverse of you.

I hit 47 mph at the Davis Double descending Butts Canyon. Nice swoopy turns... (MMP only hit 48). Descending Resurrection, I was all mad because I couldn't get any bite from my gears when I was trying to pedal and realized I was at 41, and I expect even a 53 wouldn't help me there! :rolleyes:

[slinkedog]

The very best thing to have as you're descending is SadieKate behind you, hollering helpful instructions. I've never had as good of a descent as I had that wonderful day last year on Fairfax-Bolinas Road. :)

But really, thanks for starting this thread. I still struggle on descents. Looking forward to reading the articles. This I wil add: counter-steering is good. ;)

[SadieKate]

HA! Yeah, I can tell you're a super good MTB'er, not that there's anything wrong with that ;) .I wouldn't call myself that! But on singletrack I can focus in and let go of the fears of the stuff I see on the road, paved or dirt. I can get frozen on a dirt road also. Funny what our minds do. My mind likes trails about 15" wide.

I got up to 38.9 on those short descents on the back side of Cardiac without any pedaling. Maybe there is hope for me.

[Grog]

Hands in the drops.

(I heard of someone whose hoods fell off during a descent... scary. and by the way, check that screw on your handlebars once in a while to make sure it's really tight. A friend of mine during a triathlon had his handlebars swing down from not being tight enough... That can cause a pretty brutal crash.)

Only feather the brakes as needed.

Look where you want to do.

Do NOT steer with the handlebars, use your body weight instead (something you should always do anyway).

Do not make any sudden moves. Stay relaxed.

Enjoy the experience and do not look at your computer.

[CR400]

Also on road descents if it is to fast to pedal or to steep. Level your pedals to three and nine, and snuggly hold the top tube with your knees. Don't hold really tight just so that you feel you have control, this will help you steer the bike by shifting your weight. Kind of like a horse you press in a little more with the direction you want to go.

Oh and if you love descending like I do:) :D get in the drops, level your pedals, knees against the top tube,crouch foreward on the nose of the saddle, pick your butt up off the seat a few inches, and then get your chin as close to the bars as you can. Now just let your bike follow the fall line of the hill. Great for speed but not if you are afraide of speed. Oh when doing this be sure to watch the road far enough ahead that you can make course corrections, or they maybe scraping your skin up off the road for a while.

[CR400]

Enjoy the experience and do not look at your computer.

So true I can't tell you how many times I've almost lost it on fast descents by looking at my computer to see how fast I was going. If its that big of a hill it will be your max speed anyway.

[DirtDiva]

The holly bushes are out to get you. Avoid eye-contact at all costs. ;)

[Dianyla]

My thoughts on descending, though I am far from being an expert:

1. Make sure your tires are properly inflated! You wouldn't want a pinch flat at high speed or an underinflated tire rolling off of the wheel due to side forces.

2. Until you know a particular road well, take it easy. Where I ride many of the good downhills have hidden blind side streets with cars or stop signs where you least expect it.

3. Hands in the drops, elbows close to the body, back flattened, butt slightly in the air so my weight is heavier on the pedals. Foot position discussed below.

4. Do not look down at the computer to see how fast I'm going. Do not stare at the front wheel either. Don't stare anywhere I don't want to go - the bike follows the eyes. During sharper hairpins look through the turn in an arc at your destination, never straight ahead.

5. Feel free to take up the whole lane to prevent a car from trying to pass you on a downhill, you're probably going as fast as they want to go anyway.

6. Don't ride the brakes all the way down - the friction heat from this can glaze your brake pads and overheat them, causing failure. Either feather the brakes lightly, or periodically clamp down firmly for a few seconds and then let up for a few seconds to let the brakes cool again.

7. Switch foot position as necessary for turns - inside foot always high to avoid scraping the pedal and crashing. Outside foot is always down and press your body weight on the outside of the bottom outside foot. E.g. if you're turning to the left, the left foot is high and left knee is pressed on the frame. the right foot is down at the bottom of the pedal stroke and consciously apply body weight to the outside edge of the right foot. I also apply more "butt weight" to the right cheek, as well. Note - you're not shifting your body weight off of the bike, simply pressing harder on the outside edges of the seat and pedals which should transfer down to the tires. I picked up this weight-shifting habit when dirtbiking, and have just carried it through to road riding.

8. Don't crash. :rolleyes:


ETA: Make sure you wear protective wraparound eyewear - otherwise you'll be blind from your eyes tearing up. And make sure any backpack/messenger bag you may be wearing is fit snugly onto your body and won't shift at high speed. If it is a long descent and you had to strip off a layer on the ascent, you might want to rest at the top and put that layer back on.

[SnappyPix]

This is really helpful, because it seems that as I get older, I lose my nerve just a little bit more with each coming year.

Downhill switchbacks are my nemesis.
I always, always forget to lean into downhill bends. I steer with my drops and then panic that I'm going to overcook the bend, and have visions of applying the brakes and my rear wheel going from under me or flying off the road (did that once, into a brick wall!).
So much of it's psychological and building confidence.
I'm good with the feet position and not afraid to assert myself in the road, but don't "feel"/read the bends properly.
I know I should be braking before the turn and leaning into it, but my brain just thinks, "$%£&, a bend! Panic! Turn/Brake! Yikes!"
To be fair, this is mostly on routes I'm not familiar with (club rides) and so I don't know what's round the corner, or how the turn plays out.
A lot of the club members I ride with don't even brake on bends! :eek: They must love getting behind me!

If it's a nice long descent, with good visibility, I love doing the tuck - hugging the frame, backside up, head down, elbows in - and I'm away! So satisfying when you sail past someone who's pedalling like buggery and you're going twice the speed! :D I did come a cropper once though when I tucked so low I bashed my chin on the handlebar stem! :o

[mellic]

You will find that the biggest weakness in most people's descending skills on the road is related to lack of bike handling skills. I have seen so many people fall off descending on the road when they come across the most minor obstacle, when a simple change in tactic might have avoided it.

If you want to improve your descending skills onroad I would recommend spending some time mountain biking offroad. Mountain biking allows you to improve the way in which you control and manuevre your bike far greater than you ever would purely riding onroad. It also helps to build up confidence.

The descending skills on both bikes are very similar (apart from different hand positions on brakes), but mountain biking requires you to shift your weight around that little bit more to avoid obstacles. The more you practice offroad the faster you get. Then when it comes to descending onroad it is easy as there are generally no obstacles to avoid, and if they were you would be a lot more comfortable making the right decision.

[SnappyPix]

If you want to improve your descending skills onroad I would recommend spending some time mountain biking offroad

Oooh, my skinny wheeled road bike wouldn't like that at all! ;)

[han-grrl]

I have SOOO much more confidence on my mtb than my road bike on descents. I find that i completely panic on the road, and i can fly down the gravel paths on my mtb (with my husband yelling at me to slow down...hahaha). i have been trying to work on my confidence, but after reading these posts, i am thinking my feelings of instability are more related to bike handling? i just feel like i am going to fly over the handlebars on my road bike, not matter how low or back my weight is (and i too, descent like a mtb-er)

[SouthernBelle]

This thread is interesting. Right now I have a little speed-fear after a crash in April. On a descent this weekend I scared myself a bit.

[Shimpie]

This is a great thread! I have the worst fear of descending. Part of it is a handling issue. I don't feel like I'd be able to control my road bike quick enough to avoid an obstacle if I were travelling at +25 mph. Just got to ride more huh?

The other part is residual fear from the last time I hit a max speed of 27 mph. I was thrilled to have bombed down a freeway overpass, only to get hit from behind at the bottom of the hill. (Long story: a runaway trailer detatched from a truck and wiped me out from behind). All my concentration goes into descending e.g, looking far ahead, braking, and freaking out. I can't even look in my mirror for cars. I feel very vulnerable in descents.