Trails with elevation changes make it a lot more exciting, but it's not fun when you're afraid of downhills and have to slow WAY down.
You know, to a crawl speed, where you could probably walk down the hill faster than riding...
Signs You Have BAD Technique Riding Downhills On A Dirt Bike...
You might be trying to ride within your comfort zone because if you go any faster riding downhill you'll either end up:
- Crashing at the bottom of the hill because you can't control your speed
- Flying over the bars from using too much front brake
- Getting stuck or wipeout when there are roots or rocks
- Or use the rear brake and the rear end come down with the front wheel uphill
If that sounds like you, then you're probably making at least one of these mistakes:
- Relying on the rear brake to control your speed
- Looking down just past the fender to see what the bike is about to ride over
- Pulling in the clutch to prevent stalling
If you've made any of these mistakes, then you are a "Nervous Trail Rider" - but don't worry!
I was at that stage not too long ago...
My riding buddies would have to wait up for me because I was nervous about crashing on steep downhills in the woods or the mountains.
I'm not a pro rider, but I've discovered what it takes to control my bike and speed, rather than the bike controlling me, giving me the confidence to ride down steep and technical hills faster while reducing the risk to myself (and others ahead of me!).
And I want to share with you what has worked for me to become a "Confident Trail Rider" faster than trying to figure it out on my own - because it took me YEARS since I didn't have someone guiding me (and that was when I was single with more time to ride).
Why you can't control your speed on downhills in the woods
Using your rear brake is NOT the safest way to control your speed riding down steep hills.
When you're just using the rear brake, it's easy to lock up the rear wheel because there's less weight on the rear and more on the front.
When you lock it up the knobs on the tire will "pack" full of dirt, turning it into a "slick" like a street tire, causing you to slide down the hill even faster!
What if you accidentally use too much front brake and fly over the bars?!
What if you pick up too much speed and crash hard at the bottom of the hill (if you make it before sliding out)?
It hurts to crash, and no one wants to admit it when they're afraid, but that's why I want to share why these mistakes might be killing your confidence on downhills.
When you rely on using the rear brake to control your speed, you might actually be sliding down the hill faster!
Think about it...
When your bike is angled downhill, where is most of the weight?
Yep, the front end.
And when there's less weight on the rear, there's less potential rear braking power.
When the rear tire isn't getting pushed into the ground with enough weight, it's more likely to "lock-up" because the knobs can't dig in and grab the soil, and when it stops spinning, the dirt/mud "packs" into the knobs, turning it into a smooth/slick tire that won't slow you down!
As for pulling in the clutch to prevent stalling - you're asking the brakes to work even harder because the engine isn't helping you slow down.
Yes, you might prevent stalling, but you have to keep the clutch lever pulled in (can cause hand cramp) and rely on being more precise with the brakes so the tires don't lock up and slide down the hill (and hope the bike doesn't spin around on you!)
And when you're looking down just past the fender, you might see what is coming 5-10 ft. ahead, but you won't be able to anticipate anything further ahead on the trail, such as setting up for a turn or a log on the trail.
It's like driving with your headlights pointed too low...
You have to slow down or else you will "over-run" the light because you don't have enough time to react.
I hate hearing from trail riders who tell me they got injured because they rode "past their comfort zone", whether it was trying to keep up with faster riders or riding a trail that was over their skill level.
That's why I'm sharing how I've improved from a Nervous to a Confident trail rider - I want to have fun and stay safe, and I want the same for YOU!
How to confidently ride downhill without sliding down
The #1 way to safely control your speed down steep hills is by using the front brake efficiently.
But you're probably thinking: "Kelley, I'm afraid of getting thrown forward over the bars if I use the front brake!"
That's totally understandable - I hate getting thrown forward too because I can't stay in control!
My first time riding in the mountains in 2015 was a struggle when it came to steep downhills, partly because I would get fatigued very quickly - my arms and hands could barely function due to "arm pump" after just a few minutes of riding down a hill with lots of rocks.
It was frustrating because I had to slow WAY down, making my riding friends wait up for me every time we came to a technical downhill section on the trails.
After a few years of researching, testing, and discovering new techniques, I realized that I didn't have to be afraid, nor in good shape, to ride down steep hills faster with confidence.
The most important technique had to do with my body position so that I could relax my arms and ride longer - without worrying about being thrown over the bars when using the front brake!
Once I got my hips back far enough (standing just enough so that my butt is not on the seat), I could hold up my weight with my legs and feet - NOT my arms and hands because they're not made to hold up my body weight for minutes at a time.
When I shifted my weight back, this also prevented me from getting thrown forward, allowing me to use the front brake more effectively to control my speed!
Downhills "Made Easy" Troubleshooting Guide NOW Available!
Whether you're stalling, building too much speed and crashing at the bottom, slowing down to a crawl speed, or somewhere in between, my newly updated Downhills Made Easy Troubleshooting Guide will diagnose your problem and explain how to fix it quickly!
