Downhill Bike Riding Tips and Instruction

Steep downhill rides are a lot of fun. There is an element of fear & danger. You can fall and, depending on the size of the hill, that fall may be long. When executed correctly, a downhill can be an exhilarating stomach tingling adrenaline rush, like the first steep drop of a rollercoaster ride. Read over the tips below to give you the confidence you’ll need when riding a steep downhill so when you have one on your trail you’ll have no reason to be afraid.

Begin with safety. Before you hit the trail wear a helmet and gloves. This will protect you in case you fall.

If you are new to riding downhill and feel apprehensive, begin by practicing on the smaller, shorter hills, and build up to the larger hills before you tackle the long and steep.

When you do find a steep downhill section of trail to ride, look over the hill and plan how you’re going to ride it before you head on down. Ask yourself “what kind of terrain will I be riding on? Is it: hard pack, loose, rocks, roots, soft sand, a combination of these or other possible terrain?” Knowing what you’ll be riding on will help you to be mentally prepared for your downhill ride.

Once you begin to go down, keep your speed under control. Going too fast can lead to loss of control and falling. Going too slow can lead to loss of balance and falling to one side or the other. When riding a downhill, controlling your speed is often done by using your brakes. Ease the pressure both front and rear. Depending too heavily on your rear brakes will cause skidding and loss of control. Use of the front brakes should be kept to a minimum while on the steep downhill. Too much front brake usage could cause you to flip forward head over handlebars.

Like the bumper sticker says, “If you're not a hemorrhoid, GET OFF MY BUTT”. In driver’s education learning to drive a car, we were taught to keep one car length for every ten miles per hour between your car, and the car in front of you. The same principle is applied when cycling. Have a safe distance between your bike and the cyclist in front of you. Just as in a car crash, you don’t want to rear end the guy in front of you if he suddenly jams on the brakes and stops.

A key principle to downhill safety is your body position. When riding downhill, get up off your seat, shift your weight back and bend your knees. This position will help your bike’s rear wheel traction and will also help prevent you from flipping over the handlebars. Keep a tight grip on your handlebars. Keeping your body relaxed will help you adjust as the terrain changes.

Downhill Cornering can be tricky. Your momentum is pulling you straight down the hillside and you need to change that momentum to another direction. Professionals and serious competitors know how to stay in control and power though downhill corners. The natural tendency for a cyclist on a downhill corner, is to slow way down, make the turn and then resume pedaling into the descent. To corner with performance, slow down just enough to stay in control and not lose your traction. High performance turning is done by leaning into the turn. You can lean up to 45% on a short quick turn, but don’t over do it. The more you lean the less amount of grip your tires will have on the trail, which can lead to slipping. If your turn goes from a steep decline to a more gentler slope, use your momentum to power forward out of the turn by leaning to shift your weight into the new direction. Experienced racers have learned this is how to keep their momentum going while others slow down for too long.