Question: Am I really the only rider out here with enough self-preservation instinct to be afraid of going fast downhill? I’m a (shudder) descentophobic! Can you help? — Alice C.
Coach Fred Matheny Replies: Don’t feel bad, Alice. Lots of cyclists feel apprehensive on fast descents. It’s not paranoia because bad things really can happen if you fall off while going fast.
Some riders are naturally more aggressive than others and have a very good kinesthetic sense, so they descend fast and look forward to it. Others have a highly developed sense of self-preservation, so they go more cautiously.
There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with either approach. But if you want to descend faster without sacrificing safety, here are some tips:
- Be sure your equipment is in top shape. If you’re worrying about whether your wheels are reliable or your brakes are effective, you won’t descend with confidence. Be sure your bike is safe at any speed. Never run a worn or damaged front tire because if it blows out on a descent it may be impossible to control the bike.
- Learn proper descending technique. Consult good riders, a local coach or consider going to a cycling camp where downhill skills are emphasized. The best ones I know teach countersteering, which works great for fast downhill turns.
- Follow better descenders. A huge part of descending well is picking the right line through turns. When you follow a good descender, you can trace his or herpath and get to the bottom with greater speed and safety. Stay several bike lengths back and put your wheels right where theirs have been.
- Ride off-road. Curvy singletrack with downhills will teach you a lot that carries over to the road. Speeds are slower so there’s usually less penalty for a crash — assuming you land on grass not rocks!
- Ride at the top limit of your comfort zone. That’s how your skills are continuously improve
I’m also a tentative descender. I know the technique, but that doesn’t keep the negative thoughts (bad pavement, blowing a tube, car pulling out) from taking over. Two things that have helped me:
1. Wider tires: On gravel, I’m riding 40s. On pavement, 28s. (Both tubeless.) Tubeless reduces the risk of a blowout, and those sizes don’t slow me down. When I wear out the 28s, I might jump to 30 or even 32.
2. Use a GPS device in map mode. Knowing the shape of the upcoming road (straight, gentler turns, hairpins) really helps me relax,
I also find that MTB skills help develop good road instincts. It’s saved my bacon on more than one occasion.
My tip is to know your descent.
Some can go at top speed.
But….
Other descents I go a lot slower because
-poor quality asphalt
-Sharp turns especially when the steepness has accelerated you
-dirt rocks gravel sand on the road (I have personally swept parts of certain roads)
-blind corners
-homes, driveways, lanes, and side-roads that can have a vehicle or animal coming onto the road without seeing you
The first step to descent confidence is finding a hill that is straight with no obstacles, and feeling your bike and how it is handling as speed increases. If your bike frame is sized for it, gripping the top tube between our legs helps stabilize the bike.
If you are not familiar with max-effort braking, become familiar with it. Roadbikerider should coach on this skill,
I recently took my bike computer off my bike because I was addicted to the max speed metric. I no longer chase that dragon. I’ve even begun controlling my speed on some of hills!
I’m a relatively fast descender and things that helped me to increase my confidence were: 1. Read or talk with others about descending techniques and 2. Follow another rider who is a good descender. You must have good, well-maintained equipment as indicated. Also…know your road! Do not go “screaming” down a hill when you are not familiar with the road. I learned this the hard way and lost a significant amount of skin, but fortunately, nothing more serious. I view that loss of skin as a relatively minor cost for a very important lesson well learned!