Descending Cues
There are some basic essentials--like looking far ahead of you (look where you want to go rather than fixating on something you'd like to avoid), shifting your weight back and avoiding the temptation to grab a handful of front brake--that have been covered extensively since the inception of mountain biking. So let's skip ahead to these key pointers:
- Find the fast line through tight downhill corners. The fastest route downhill through switchbacks may not be the same one you followed going up. You still approach the corner by steering toward the outside of the trail, but then you brake before you get to the corner and steer toward the apex. Look through the turn to where you want to go; don't look at the ground right in the middle of the turn. By turning around the apex, you'll have room to move toward the outside of the trail as you exit the turn. It's a mark of superior skill if you can minimize the amount of sliding you do through these sharp corners.
- Preserve your speed. When the going gets rough, speed is your friend. The slower you go through rocks and roots, the more likely you are to get stuck, stopped or bucked right off the bike. That doesn't mean you should just close your eyes, let off the brakes and hope for the best, either. Keep your weight back, let the suspension do its job to keep your front wheel tracking over the bumps, and if you start to stall be ready to add more power with some big-gear pedal strokes to keep your momentum going.
More: Momentum Is Your Friend
Remember the Big Picture
Shakespeare was right: Discretion is the better part of valor. A planned dismount from a mountain bike is far less painful than an unexpected one, and carrying your bike up and down over a few obstacles (a rock garden, big drop-offs or big logs) will often get you to T2 more quickly than if you have to pick yourself up off the ground a few times.
More: Off-Road Cycling Drills
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