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Taking
the Plunge
Downhilling is a drug. Pure and simple. Some mountain bikers
are so hooked that they restrict themselves to bikes that they are unable
to ride uphill, and are forced into hitching rides to the top! Ernie and
his mates have been known to shoulder their bikes for a few hours in pursuit
of an hour or two of twisted downhill singletrack. Alas for many, negotiating
a steep or tricky descent is more of a challenge than a thrill - there's
so much going on and all at a slightly quicker rate than is comfortable.
Let me share a few secrets to help discover that extra bit of confidence
when plummeting downhill.
I
Brake for Cake
Your front brakes deliver 70% of the stopping power for your
bike. When you toss out the anchor at speed, your weight and momentum
is thrown forward onto your front wheel. That leaves your rear wheel unweighted
and prone to skidding. Moving your body backwards as you brake, and using
more front brake than rear, dramatically improves your ability to slow
down in a hurry. Braking hard with your front brake does make it tricky
to change direction though, so it's best to get your speed right as you
enter a corner then ease off the front brake as you start going around.
Use enough rear brake to maintain control but not actually skid. The acceleration
you get from releasing you brakes going out of a corner gives you instant
balance and control of your bike.
Head
over Heels
To avoid being tossed over your handlebars try easing your
weight over the back of the saddle. If you're are heading straight down
a steep pitch then you can hang right over the back wheel with your chest
almost on the saddle. Just like in The Matrix, "this may feel a little
strange at first" but you can conquer unbelievably steep sections using
this technique - just keep up enough speed and therefore momentum to maintain
your balance.
Roll
your Own
Switchbacks are cool, ride these, make 'em look easy and you'll be
the envy of the chasing pack. Your rear wheel will cut a tighter line
than the front, so give yourself space by running the front wheel on the
outside edge of the bend or obstacle. If it's tight or littered with obstacles
like steps you'll need to tackle it slowly so balance is the key. Practise
by locating an easy slope and riding down it as slowly as possible. And
then again, repeatedly stopping, balancing, then starting again all the
way down. This handy exercise also helps teach you to brake in a controlled
fashion without skidding.
Line
'em up
Anticipation is everything. Look ahead - focusing on where
you're going rather than your front wheel. As you gain confidence and
travel faster you'll need to look even further ahead to be sure you find
the right line. This all takes practice. Blindly following a more experienced
rider can be a real hoot and is a great way to learn how to identify the
good lines. A couple of clues to consider:
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For wide sweeping
corners, use all the width on offer. Start at the outside of the bend
and cut across to the inside just after the apex of the corner. You've
got it right when you use all the track - exiting at the outside of
the bend.
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Deploy the 'Active
Riding Mode' (see "Stand up and be Counted").
Keep your bum out of the saddle, your cranks horizontal and stay
loose
over rocks and roots. Save your hard braking for before or after
these tricky sections.
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