Panoramic

I can't seem to allow myself to take those descents that are too steep to brake on. When I know that I won't be able to slow myself down, I give up at the start of the hill. Any suggestions to either build my confidence, or increase my braking power threshold? Thanks

Maelstrom 

Just do it...

NO POWER. Its all about modulation. Simply roll up slowly to the top, pick your line down AND rollout. Roll it without brakes and then brake at the bottom. If you must brake on the hill, modulate, feather...DO NOT lock them.

For confidence, start small...4 ft 60 degree angle for example...then work up to the steep stuff...Practice feathering the brakes and try not to lock them. Then work to a high hill...a little steeper...oh and

just do it...seriously...most things can be rolled out if they can't or you are worried...get a piece of plywood and lean it against the bottom and create a 'wussy tranny' until you get used to it.

Xtreme Biker

Hi Y'all, it's been awhile since my last visit......


My best advice would be to get off that seat! Simply hang your butt off the back of your seat while heading down those really steep decents & you'll pretty well be able to go down anything w/o going over the bars....

There's a few trails I occasionally hit that are so steep I slide over 150' before lettin' it go. It's a rush to say the least!

Once you do a hill that you're skeered of, it'll be no problem from then on, trust me....

Enjoy your ride :}

seely

B2T (butt to tire) works well in some situations though I find that RARELY I need more than just wrapping my knees around the seat and pushing my butt back behind the seat. Use your rear brake until you get more confidence... less chance of endoing and it won't completely stop you most likely. I used to be the same way but with practice my techniques improved to the point where I can stop dead on a steep hill with just the front brake with 100% confidence.

sm266

Yep. Just throw your @ss over the back tire and feather the rear brake. In the beginning, I would stop and repeat things over and over. Once, I went over my bars 3 times on the same problem, but finally I made it. Eventually, you body will get tired of falling and things will click. Just do it, what's the worse that can happen? Crashes don't hurt that bad...well..usually.

Maelstrom 

The only downfall to mentioning butt over wheel is that might put him out of position. It needs to be pretty dang steep for your ass to NEED to be over the wheel. You can usually get away with a pretty centred body on most descents (seely described it best with knees and ass position). Which is definately ideal. Idealy keep your body centred on the bottom bracket based on the angle of the steep....but guess what...your body/bike will likely do it naturally.

sm266

You're right, as usual. I guess I don't think about it now until it NEEDs to be over the wheel.

Xtreme Biker

Maybe my ideal of "steep" is actually steep.... I suppose he could be talking about a slope. If I'm on something that I consider "steep", you can bet your hind end that my hind end is practically on the rear tire.... I live in the mountains, and what I call steep is really hard to stand up on. On the otherhand, a gentle slope could "seem" steep to a Flatlander.

Maelstrom 

Thats my ideal of steep too...I just find talking to other people when I say steep...they think 60 degrees or so...I have had that happen a few times ...I just personally find body position pretty natural. My body moves based on the bike I ride...

Now braking...that takes training usually...to many people panic and lock...

FoX Rider

Well heres my 2 cents. When going down steep stuff. (My idea of steep is right up there with Mael's.) Maybe even a little more extreme. Transfer your weight to the back of the bike. Not totally over the rear (I agree with the knees to the seat thing.) but just try to stay balanced. Everyone says no brakes. I feel uncomfortable riding down steep stuff without some control over my speed. Granted I do go a little faster then I should. I've been DHing a few times and from my experience. It's 75% front brake 25% rear. If you go all rear you'll skid out (I learned the hard way) Don't slam on the front breaks either. Endo's on steep stuff will throw you over the bars. Feather the fronts like said before.

It does take some practice and no one is ever good at it the first time. All the tips mentioned so far are very helpful. Just try to remember them when you are rolling down your next steep section.

If you are riding singletrack pick your lines carefully. The ones with too many roots and loose rocks aren't easy to maintain control over.

Maelstrom 

Doubt it...

FoX Rider

Is that a threat?

Maelstrom 

Nope...I just doubt it...

Maelstrom 

If it was a threat I would have gotten all internet gangsta on your ass...

FoX Rider

Not that. Anything but that. 60 degrees is pretty steep. I dunno though. You have to agree its tough to really get a good idea when your bombing down those steep sections like we do? Am I right or what?

Maelstrom 

60 degrees isn't steep. I was using it as an example...60 degrees was something I was using to relate to above rider ...

yes it is tough. I know some sections when I was riding, felt like 90 degrees...but to go back they might be 70 or 80...definately changes (especially if I mess with the geometry of my bike and change the HA)

FoX Rider

I hate that stuff. When if you lean forward to much your rear tire isn't on the ground. Gets your heart racing.

Hopper

When the rear tire's off the ground, that't when it gets fun.

The steepest I've done would be about70-80 degrees at a place called the ***** Bowl, its about 4m down, it's fun because there is a jump at the bottom of it.

The hardest part about going down steep stuff is what goes on in your mind. Just forget about what MIGHT happen and do it, you'll be surprised, it doesn't hurt much at all when you crash. And if your still not feeling confident, just try and find somewhere open that has a steep hill and ride down it, because here there is nothing to run into.

The most common thing that happens to scared riders is they lock up their brakes, don't do this because you lose control, and that's when you may hurt yourself.

Panoramic

locking my brakes isn't a problem. The problem is knowing that at my max breaking, gravity has more control over me than the brake pad's friction. There was this 20m long ramp at hardwood hills probably at 60 degrees, and I just couldn't go over it because my brakes wouldn't do all the work (there was nothing on that ramp that would make me fall, whatsoever). But there are 70' things too which I bail out before starting.
/me considers wearing protective padding, then wonders why I'm doing things which require protective padding in the first place.

FoX Rider

Pano: What do you have for brakes?

geoduck

Hey Maelstrom...I like reading your posts, you've always got a good perspective on stuff. I must admit I'm pretty skeptical about a bike making it down a 80 degree slope that is much longer than 5-10 meters or so. Are you 'fo' real' on that? If you have access to a cheap clinometer, maybe you could double-check for us.

I mean, get out a protractor and draw 80 degree slope to flat on a page...that's pretty damn steep!

I'm just sayin'...

FoX Rider

You've never rode something that felt like 90 degrees. And 5 meters is only 15'. Which isn't much.

Maelstrom 

No worries. I don't have a climometer, computer...really nothing (I really can't say how fast/slow I go down a mountain)...

I would say some of the specialized decents (rocks dedicated to rolling down) are between 65 and 80ish..I usually stand at the side and try to visualize the slope (making a protractor in my head)...I can't give much more science than that, sorry.

FoX Rider

I never really get a chance to look back. Most of the time me and my friends race down the mountain. And looking back could cause you to loose control and crash.

Maelstrom 

Hahaha...no I mean I go back and look at it ...I spend time sessioning stuff and will sometimes walk up a section to rehit it at that moment while to try and figure out a better line