Downhill Bike Riding - Mountain Bike Zen
Shift your weight
Ok so there's riding downhill and there's downhill riding. This is really about riding downhill but does cover some basics for downhill riding.
Something that may not be an instinctive idea when riding a bike is moving your position on the bike forwards, backwards, hovering low, standing etc. etc. This is what makes mountain bike riding so much fun and much more demanding, physically and mentally than straight forward road cycling.
The main trick to riding safely downhill is shifting your weight to balance your bike safely. You need to move your butt backwards and keep it low. How far back and how low depend on how fast you are travelling, how steep the incline and how much fitness and ability you have. Start with some less severe slopes and get used to shifting your weight around and feeling the balance and stability of your bike.
Going downhill, gravity will be pushing you and the bike to go forward and go faster. The more you resist this forward motion the more gravity will want to drag you over the handlebars and throw you to the ground. You can fight back against gravity with your butt! Going very slowly down very steep declines will require the most shift in weight as in order to be going slowly you will be using your brakes and if your weight is to far forward the bike will want to throw you over the bars.
Downhill Braking
Your front brake is very handy and gives you the strongest stopping power but go easy on the downhill! It is very easy to apply to much front brake going downhill and your gone over the handlebars and on a very expensive trip to your dentist. On steep declines you want anywhere from 50/50 to 80/20 rear to front ratio on braking. Too much back brake and you will skid, as you become more advanced you will learn to use skidding to your advantage and even be able to use it to help steer the bike around objects and sharp corners. For the beginning you will probably want to avoid it. Don't try and ride downhill too fast too soon. If you do you may find your cycling trips are halted for a long time or even permanently!