Clipping out up a steep hill?

[ny biker]

Thanks Oak - that is what I do - feather my breaks. But I took some heat on my team for applying them during a decent. I didn't care what they said, I felt safer using them.

They saw a woman crash spectacularly because she lost control on a descent, but they still think you're not supposed to brake on a descent?

Go ahead and use your brakes. Oak's advice is spot-on.