Downhill Mountain Biking Techniques

Riding down steep slopes and might seem intimidating to beginner downhill riders. The main factor which transforms riding downhill into such an intimidation is that everything happens faster and in a more intense manner. Riding downhill is different than ordinary bike riding in many ways. One of the main differences is the bikers’ center of gravity. While riding on straight terrain, there’s no problem figuring out where your center of gravity is and maneuvering accordingly. Just like ordinary bike riding, but more so, there’s a grave importance to looking ahead and realizing what kind of terrain we’re riding on. There’s a major difference between bike riding on rocks, wet ground, or on a leafy area. Once you’ll realize ahead of time what kind of terrain you’re riding on, you’ll know how to maneuver your bike more successfully.

This post will focus on braking principles. Breaking your bike while descending downhill isn’t as simple as it seems. There are many conditions that require different techniques of breaking. If you’ll just pull on the breaks and hope for them to stop, there’s a pretty good chance you’re going to loose traction, spin and fall down. A basic technique of correct braking which is applied also in motor vehicles is to apply the brakes gently smoothly. It’s better to apply the brakes by alternated smooth movements as a posed to just clamping them. Brakes can also be used as a way to turn your bike. Applying your back brake can help you turn your bike, by pivoting.

These were only a few introductory tips. Before setting out on a downhill trail, I recommend taking a few lessons with a mountain biking instructor in order to be sure that you have the knowledge and skills required in order to cope with the challenges downhill trails pose.