Are you one of those cyclists who, at the slightest descent, cling to the brakes as if there were no tomorrow? Does the memory of a fall haunt you every time you descend a mountain pass at high speed? Do curves and speed give you that nervous feeling in your stomach? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many cyclists, even experienced ones, face these fears when going downhill on their mountain bike or road bike. And not just beginners: a clear example is Remco Evenepoel, an elite cyclist who has shown some weakness on descents, especially after his impressive crash at the 2020 Tour of Lombardy.
Fear on the bike has a magnetic power. The more we think about it, the greater the risk that something will happen to us. But the truth is that many of our fears are unfounded, and most of the time, our insecurities are the result of limiting beliefs that we can overcome. The more you focus on fear, the more likely it is to become a real problem.
Now, we’re going to share some key tips that will help you descend with more confidence, speed, and safety, especially when the slope increases and the road becomes more technical and full of curves. Because, as you know, curves are the great enemies of fearful cyclists.
Focus solely on the road
When you descend a mountain pass, you can’t think that you might have an accident. You shouldn’t visualize this circumstance in your mind. If you do, you’ll freeze up and any descent will become an unpleasant experience. There are ways to avoid this situation. For example, take curves trying to imitate a group mate who is ahead and descends confidently. That concentration chases away our fears; we simply zone out and, without realizing it, go down faster. Another limiting perception: when we descend with excessive caution, without confidence, we tend to underestimate our bike’s ability to handle curves. In these cases, the grip on the asphalt is greater than what an inexperienced person usually demands. However, we tend to freeze up, think the bike won’t hold, and make wrong decisions. That’s exactly why we can end up on the ground. Because of fear. Descending relaxed is key to increasing safety.
Prepare yourself for descents
The first thing you should do is make sure that your bike’s equipment is adequate. Check that the tires still have tread. Also pay attention to tire pressure and width. In this regard, a slightly lower front pressure than the rear can be a good idea, as it increases front traction. Remember that a rear wheel lockup or skid can be corrected; but if it happens at the front, an accident is almost certain. Lower pressures and wider tires they contribute to increasing safety. It is undeniable that the widespread use of 25 mm, and even 28 mm, favors the handling for less skilled people on descents.
One of the most addictive sensations is descending mountain passes, confidently cornering and fully enjoying the downhill.
We do not expect you to become a downhill beast. Simply, we want you to enjoy one of the best sensations a road cyclist can experience: descending mountain passes with joy and cornering with confidence.
Watch your position on the bike
Focus on your position on the bike and the distribution of your body weight on it. Lean the bike into the curves, but do not turn the handlebars. Simply, distribute the weight between the hand on the inside of the curve and the outside foot. Push down hard as if it were a counterweight. This way, the bike will turn, but your body will remain balanced.
If you see that the curve tightens more than expected, apply more pressure with your hand on the same side of the handlebar as the curve. By pure inertia, the bike will enter the curve. It is a matter of practice that you can train. Want to know how? Take a familiar slope and try to descend it each time at a higher speed. You will gain confidence. Almost without realizing it, you will take faster runs, brake less, and lean the bike further.
To train descents, take a familiar slope and try to descend it each time at a higher speed. You will gain confidence.
Descend with your hands in the drops with your arms and wrists semi-flexed, relaxed, as if they were an extension of your bike. With this position you achieve two things: you lower your center of gravity and distribute your body weight better, with special emphasis on the front wheel, increasing traction. This is the wheel that can get us into the most trouble. Both aspects influence stability and safety. A posture that can give you extra stability is sticking out the knee on the side you are turning toward. To put it simply, act as if you were a motorcyclist. Notice that many professional cyclists use this technique.
Master the technique of taking curves
Don’t go all out at first. At the beginning, leave speed aside until you gain enough confidence. First, focus on cornering smoothly, taking advantage of the full width of the road; or rather, your lane, if you are riding on open roads.
The way to proceed should be as follows:
- To enter the curve: Open up as much as you can to the outside at a controlled speed. Brake before entering, squeezing both brakes. From there, let go of them and allow the bike to glide naturally.
- To exit the turn: halfway through it, attack it from the inside, tracing a kind of tangent line, and exit by opening up again to the outside.
- The focus of your gaze is fundamental. It's important that you always look toward the exit of the curve. Just with this gesture, your body will adopt a stable posture. Never look down or right in front of the bicycle. Don't fixate your attention on objects or obstacles you want to avoid either. Your bike will go where your gaze leads. This is the only way to anticipate.
- Always brake in a straight line and avoid doing so in the middle of a turn, unless it's an emergency and with extreme gentleness. Braking abruptly in a curve is a ticket to an accident. If you see the bike speeding up and you're forced to brake firmly, shift your rearward position. This way, you'll compensate for your body's inertia to lunge forward.
Once you master this technique, you can start increasing your speed.
Anticipate danger
Keep in mind that anticipation is one of the keys to avoiding potential problems. Let's say you must interpret each curve: anticipate the presence of gravel or slippery elements (like oil or animal droppings), examine the banking, sense if it might close more than expected, pay attention to traffic signs, road lines, guardrails, etc. Of course, don't lose sight of vehicle traffic. 
In any case, relax and focus on enjoying. If suffering on the climbs is inevitable, let's avoid continuing to do so on the descents. Don’t you think? If your body is tense, it's much harder to handle your bike. Keep in mind that you are part of the suspension of your machine. Imagine your body as an extension of your bike's frame. You have to flow with it, accompany it in its reactions. Watch the professional cyclists. You can't imagine how much you can learn by watching how they handle descents. Choose your favorite cyclist and try to imitate them on your next ride. But of course, much more slowly. It's also very useful, as we mentioned earlier, to observe our more skilled group mates on the descents.
Tuvalum Team
