Downhill Tips and tricks
#1
Beginner Expert
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 115
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Downhill Tips and tricks
As you may of read in one of my other threds i am going a forest near by this weekend to do some cross country and down hill riding. I am not very experienced at this and would like to know if anybody has any tips or tricks about how to get around the trails faster and easier.
Here is a link to one of the trails https://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/o...pREDCycleTrail
i have done this once before and managed it but this time i would like to do it better and faster ;-)
any comments welcome
cheers
Aidan
Here is a link to one of the trails https://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/o...pREDCycleTrail
i have done this once before and managed it but this time i would like to do it better and faster ;-)
any comments welcome
cheers
Aidan
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Spain, although I'm Hungarian
Posts: 1,855
Bikes: Check signature
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by gingerbread
to take some of the shock*
#8
-- TREK RIDER --
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Sumwaresin, KY
Posts: 163
Bikes: Trek 4300
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I would think a chest protector with shoulder guards would be a very nice addition. Some elbow pads might not be a bad idea either. I"ve never done any dowhill riding but it looks like fun but a wreck is going to definitly hurt without lots of protection..
#9
Beginner Expert
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 115
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
im more scared of breaking my bike than hurting myself
i fell off on a quarter pipe a couple of months ago, hurt my elbow and twisted my ankle, but even worse bent my rear derailleur
i fell off on a quarter pipe a couple of months ago, hurt my elbow and twisted my ankle, but even worse bent my rear derailleur
#10
Local Genius
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 618
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I had a race this weekend and here is how I flow:
do the course slowly once, just to get a feel for lines and the general feel of the run, memorize your lines, pick the fastest smoothest, some rock gardens are eminant, and the best is to just keep your head up, loosen and bounce....honestly it is hard to explain, just go try some freeride trails or beginer DH and you will learn alot, the first time I tried I hated it and didnt ride the next day, BUT a few months later it is easier, still difficult, but easier, you will have a hard time but you will pick it up and then XC will seem like a ride to 7-11 the race I did this weekend was 2 mi. long and was quite tech and fun, so bring plenty o water and power bars etc. the best advice I can give is go at your own pace, dont let the dudes blasting stff make you feel like you suk, everyone started somewhere....HAVE FUN dont worry about jumps and speed just have a blast..
do the course slowly once, just to get a feel for lines and the general feel of the run, memorize your lines, pick the fastest smoothest, some rock gardens are eminant, and the best is to just keep your head up, loosen and bounce....honestly it is hard to explain, just go try some freeride trails or beginer DH and you will learn alot, the first time I tried I hated it and didnt ride the next day, BUT a few months later it is easier, still difficult, but easier, you will have a hard time but you will pick it up and then XC will seem like a ride to 7-11 the race I did this weekend was 2 mi. long and was quite tech and fun, so bring plenty o water and power bars etc. the best advice I can give is go at your own pace, dont let the dudes blasting stff make you feel like you suk, everyone started somewhere....HAVE FUN dont worry about jumps and speed just have a blast..
#11
one less horse
Originally Posted by Quadzone.com
I"ve never done any dowhill riding
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Spain, although I'm Hungarian
Posts: 1,855
Bikes: Check signature
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Quadzone.com
I would think a chest protector with shoulder guards would be a very nice addition. Some elbow pads might not be a bad idea either. I"ve never done any dowhill riding but it looks like fun but a wreck is going to definitly hurt without lots of protection..
#13
Middle-ground Communist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Isle of Wight - UK
Posts: 484
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Drunken Chicken
Well, before upper body armour I'd definately reccomend shinguards (my new Dainese Freestyle shinguards rock ).
Or of your a skin flint like me, 661 4x4 knee/shins pads are good. The brand x body armour is cheap and has constanly being getting good reviews over here, often better than more expensive suits:
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...x?ModelID=7088
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Spain, although I'm Hungarian
Posts: 1,855
Bikes: Check signature
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by gingerbread
how do you stop your back tire from losing traction when you are standing up cycleing up hill?
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 70
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by gingerbread
how do you stop your back tire from losing traction when you are standing up cycleing up hill?
#18
Elite Rep
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Melbourne - Australia
Posts: 2,096
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by gingerbread
how do you stop your back tire from losing traction when you are standing up cycleing up hill?
Last edited by blue_neon; 09-14-05 at 05:38 AM.
#19
Beginner Expert
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 115
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by thejoe
Sometimes pulling your front wheel up works. If it's really steep, I pull up almost every pedal stroke. Just a little bit.
#20
Mullet Boy!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 690
Bikes: a giant upland 03, old europia road bike or something and soon to be getting a Norco Bigfoot or something of the sort
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Get a 661 pressure suit, its got everything.
#21
Flatland hack
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Nowhere near the mountains :/
Posts: 3,228
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Try and maintain a steady momentum going up hills and try and be smooth in your pedalling. You have to act as your own traction control....if you feel yourself starting to spin, back off just a fraction. Like in a car, if you gas it too much you'll spin em....but if you accelerate just the right amount you'll get maximum speed without spinning.
Its hard to explain, but its all feeling that you'll develop as you ride more.
Its hard to explain, but its all feeling that you'll develop as you ride more.
#22
Old School Rad
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: The old Mountains
Posts: 8,206
Bikes: Blur LT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by gastro
Why on earth would you give advice on something you have no knowledge of?
__________________
Like a circus monkey on a stolen Harley......
Like a circus monkey on a stolen Harley......
#23
Te mortuo heres tibi sim?
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: East coast
Posts: 3,486
Bikes: hardtail, squishy, fixed roadie, fixed crosser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
fat tires.
lower tire pressure. (as low as you can go without pinch flatting)
drop your seat.
stay loose.
easy on the brakes.
lower tire pressure. (as low as you can go without pinch flatting)
drop your seat.
stay loose.
easy on the brakes.
#24
...is my hero!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Posts: 864
Bikes: 2008 Kink Whip, 2006 Specialized Enduro, 2006 Norco Wolverine, 2006 Iron Horse FsZ
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
One DH tip that nobaby has mentions yet is:
Try to keep your belly-button verticaly above your bottom bracket this way you dont lean to far forward or to far backward also to turn keep belly-button verticaly above your bottom bracket and lean the bike but not you it'll help you from washing out.
Try to keep your belly-button verticaly above your bottom bracket this way you dont lean to far forward or to far backward also to turn keep belly-button verticaly above your bottom bracket and lean the bike but not you it'll help you from washing out.
#25
Ride bike or bike ride?
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 1,447
Bikes: MongoosePro DH, Dart custom road bike, .243 Racing FR street bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Remember try to do all your braking before you start to corner. If for some reason you misjudge it (and you will, I even do it on my local track occasionally) don't freak out, just lean back a little bit more than usual, leave the front brake alone and drag the rear brake through the corner but don't lock it up. As yo uare in the corner lean and pull back on the handlebars a bit and throw the bike around the corner. However try to keep yourself from gettign into this situation it can get really sketchy.
Braking in general: front brake will give you more power, use it when on a straight line coming into an obstacle.
If there is an obstacle infront of you, rock, rock garden, drop, stairs......... do not hold the bars too tightly. Let your arms be able to move freely and let your legs move freely. The idea is to allow the bike to move underneath you but keeping your torso and head still. Watch all the best DHers, their heads do not jolt or move, it is steady as if they were on rails. Also try and keep your head upright, even when leaning into a corner. Finally, you go where you look! If there is a big rock onm the track, don't look at it and go, I better keep away from it. I can tell you now, you will most likely hit it, ignore what you don't want to hit.
Braking in general: front brake will give you more power, use it when on a straight line coming into an obstacle.
If there is an obstacle infront of you, rock, rock garden, drop, stairs......... do not hold the bars too tightly. Let your arms be able to move freely and let your legs move freely. The idea is to allow the bike to move underneath you but keeping your torso and head still. Watch all the best DHers, their heads do not jolt or move, it is steady as if they were on rails. Also try and keep your head upright, even when leaning into a corner. Finally, you go where you look! If there is a big rock onm the track, don't look at it and go, I better keep away from it. I can tell you now, you will most likely hit it, ignore what you don't want to hit.