Fanylion Mountain Bike Team
Official site of the Fanylion Mountain Bike Team. Includes mountain bike ride guides, gear reviews, bike maintenance, team reports and rider profiles of the Fanylion Racing Team.
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Descending (Part 2)
Once again a shorter stem and high bars are preferable in order to move the riders weight back from the front of the bike and give more control. Big tyres will aid grip and prevent pinch flats on rocks. Long travel forks will enable you to drop off large steps and ride over obstacles that you cannot avoid.
The major, most important part of riding down steep technical descents is COMMITMENT. You have to let the bike roll, have the momentum, lean back and hang on. You must have the positive mental attitude to take on the full descent and to succeed. Often if you come off the bike (or even stop to look at the next drop) it is very difficult to get back on and start rolling again due to the steep angle the bike is positioned. The best advice is to keep going!
Be in a gear where you can pedal if necessary and that will keep your chain tight and stop it slapping your frame or coming off altogether. Have your pedals in the flat, comfortable ‘attack’ position, and roll into the section.
If at any time more momentum is required you have two options in order to gain it. Firstly the simplest: brake less. Secondly you can have a quick spin on the pedals, though simply reducing your braking normally increases speed quicker than you could imagine.
As the section steepens you will need to keep your weight back in order to stay stable. Lowering your seat will enable you to get lower and give you more room to move around the cockpit. Having the seat low will also allow you to press against the seat with your knees/thighs in order to aid changes of direction.
As the trail gets even steeper you will find it more and more difficult to steer as your weight goes further back and the front end gets light. Careful weight placement will keep your front wheel traction and keep you on the bike.
As obstacles approach you need to decide whether to drop off them or wheelie off them. If your front wheel can safely drop off the step and leave your back wheel on top of the step without snagging your chainring than this is the easiest method. Long travel forks will help here. If by letting your front wheel drop off the ledge you will go over the bars then you must either go faster to allow your rear wheel to catch your front wheel up, or wheelie off the step and let your back wheel land before your front. The methods adopted will all depend on your riding ability and courage.
If the descent is wet it will be more difficult to control the bike as your rear wheel will slide more easily and your front wheel will wash out more readily. Careful application of your brakes is needed here in order to let the bike roll and reduce skidding. Commitment needed here!
Good Luck! And remember, if you feel the back end coming up you must get your weight back to bring it down, let your front brake off to get it back in front of your rear wheel, or if all else fails, hurdle the bars and try to land on your feet and get ready to be hit in the back by your bike. If you are clipped in and can’t get your feet free quick enough or get your feet tangled up behind your bars then it is going to hurt. But if you think of that each time you do a difficult descent then you shouldn’t be out biking! Stop being so negative!! Remember the FanyLion slogan: Pain is Temporary, Glory is Forever!
Fany fact
After a wet and muddy ride you must clean and oil your chain. If you clean no other part of your bike, you must clean your chain.