Descending Skills

[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]

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.