5 Cycling Descending Mistakes To Avoid | GCN Pro Tips
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 30. 07. 2024
- Matt Stephens gives you 5 mistakes to avoid when riding downhill.
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Let us know your mistakes to avoid when descending in the comments below đ
A grand tour rider, former national champion and Olympian, Ex-Professional cyclist Matt Stephens certainly knows plenty about descending.
Here are 5 mistakes you should avoid to have better, faster and safer descending.
- Looking Down - Look upwards and forwards, at the road ahead. You need to be aware of what is coming up so that you can prepare for it.
- Braking Hard - Braking correctly allows you to control the bike better, of particular importance when cornering.
- Taking Hands Off The Bars - You will not be stable and you are vulnerable to any outside influences such as sudden gusts of wind, animals, etc.
- Riding Too Close - Don't ride to close to riders in front, especially on technical or very fast descents. This will allow you to take action if needed.
- Taking The Racing Line - Cutting corners is a big no no! It is VERY dangerous. Stick to your side of the road when riding through a blind bend.
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Watch more on GCN...
Cycling Descending Made Easy | GCN Cycling Tips đč gcn.eu/7j
How To Descend Faster | GCN's Pro Cycling Tips đč gcn.eu/1RNgvXj
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Light Years - Bustin' Loose
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Leave us a comment below! - Sport
Let us know your mistakes to avoid when descending in the comments below đ
Global Cycling Network does Matt have GcN shoes?
Dont try to go in front of someone if youre not sure you cant go faster than them and you keep making them go slower than they can...
i lost my confidence to descent, how can i get back, i feel too tense and is not a good feeling to enjoy
if turning left, keep your left foot/pedal at the top of the crank to prevent it from catching on the tarmac. going downhill means great speed and usually more lean angle.
Grease your bearing beforehand. I've had mine explode at the end of a race. Thankfully not during the descent. Also, pump the brakes. Don't drag. I've done it before and melt the blocks to the rim, making the box sections even worse.
Descending is dangerous, I lost my dad 2 weeks ago while on a cycling trip down in Nice. He must have gone round a corner too fast so he ended up falling over the barrier and down a steep mountain. Any small mistake can have big consequences so be careful. Ride safe everyone!!
I feel sorry for youđą
So sorry to hear that.
RIP đ
Did you find him yet?
@@ytwos1 he is died
Also don't forget that some car drivers will try to overtake even if you ride close to the speed limit
Youssef GHERMANI my computer says 25, speed limit is 25, cars overtake at 35. What's that about?
Most drivers don't want a bike in front of them on the downhill. Cyclist does not want to be tailgated either, also she-he can't stay on a road shoulder during descend usually.
Youssef GHERMANI I agree on that I have been passed around blind corners just to watch the car have to slow down for the car in front
Where I live cars will pass even when I'm doing 2mph over the speed limit.
like lisapet said theres something psychological to most people about having a bike in front of them. but its no bueno when they pass on a double yellow blind curve as if they see a car once they are passing do you think they are going to hit the car? no they will most likely turn right on top of the cyclist . I ride mostly far over on the right since we have crap shoulders by me most times its on the white line or a tiny bit off it. but during a decent the tiny shoulders they have is not enough . but such is life i guess
2:43 Matt takes his hand off the bars to emphasize the importance of keeping both hands on the bars.
Yeah, and nearly biffed it!
I feel Matt learned these the hard way
a few probably yeah! Jon
Knowing Matt from this channel that statement is definitely true
Yeah took his right hand off the bar on a turn when the van came around!!!
#6. Crashing into a snowbank on the third to last stage of the Giro.
Niels Heldens i was just getting over it.. thanks for the reminder
As a long time motorbike rider, I use the same concepts for cycling when it comes to cornering. One of the biggest is staying wide until you can see the exit. If you cut into a corner too early, you will run wide on the exit, and that's when panic braking will get you into real trouble as you run out of road edge...or worse..on the other side of the road into oncoming traffic. Look at any video of any vehicle that runs too wide on an exit, an you will see that most have started the turn well before they have seen the exit. I myself have done that, and ended up over the hood of a car in a head-on. And most definitely the 60/40 split for front/rear braking is the most effective balance...and takes practice. Do it on a flat road with lots of space where you can always release the brakes if you lock up. Listen to what your tyres are doing.
Yup, exactly right. Iâm a life long motorcycle rider so it comes naturally but these are skills cyclists probably donât have if they havenât been on motorcycles
Mistake n. 6: Trying to pull off a Froomey.
Mistake n. 7: Braking too late and falling off a cliff.
I see.
Even though Mohoric first invented the technique, Froomey is the cyclist that popularized it.
Happened to me.. Crashing at 50km/h wasn't much fun...
Try to avoid white lines on the road in corners..especially when the road is wet..
or..
learn it the hard way :/
Stay safe guys, TdF Hype!
Same is true for motorcycles
SAME hahahahaha
Learnt that one the hard way. No yellow, no white xD
You should have asked the GMBN guys to help with this video. It's easier to learn the right cornering technique on a mountain bike, but the learnings apply to road bikes to a great extent. Having that said, here are a few additions:
1. The point of looking ahead is not to see things earlier. It's to stay in balance. You tend to ride where you look at so don't stare at the pothole in front of you, but the exit of the turn.
2. Weight on the feet, not the bars. Pressure on outside foot.
3. Brake before the turn, not in the turn.
Great point about cutting corners, save it for the race track
Yes, even in bicycles only roads, let's not forget that you share the road with other bicycles.
@man0z It's very hard to be a cyclist here in Turkey especially in Istanbul. Roads are bad. Drivers are disrespectful.
Thanks for the tips! An additional safety tip of mine is to do a more conservative run through a descent (if of course you will be riding in that area more than once) the first time you ride it, so next time you have a better idea of any pot holes, hairpin turns, etc.
"Things happen a lot faster at higher speeds..." Such sage wisdom #ThankYouCaptainObvious
Looking down saved my life just today. A simple pebble can kill you in a high speed bend. I saw that pebble today and I avoided it. If I had been looking ahead, my mother would be looking for a coffin right now.
True that. Always need to check for debris and potholes. They can send you over the handlebars.
Nice to see clipping in is getting easier, so true regarding the rear brake I have now adjusted my rear brake now to be a little less responsive due to locking up a couple of times and coming off. No shame if your not enjoying yourself to ease off the speed, after the fitness is in the climbing! Thanks for another helpful and great video. All the best Andy
I have had a friend in chasing those high speed thrills descending had a head-on collision with a bus was in trauma recovery for month made me humble enough to always respect the descents of a hill or a mountain!!!
Thanks for the help GCN. I need it on descending
Hi Matt ...anybody doing decending frequently, particualary on familiar terrain, knows about the car vs bike speed differentials... basicly we cyclists are faster ! But they brake a lot better ... if you are unawarely coming to close that rapidly becomes a very scarry experience as usually the only option is to take the risk and overtake ... guess you can inmagine the picture during tourist season ... have seen this happen more than once ... other recommendation is check tires ... specifically if you ride tubes gentleman !
loved that bit at the beginning, he managed to clip in at the first time!
And he's so proud of himself; didn't you hear it in his voice!
:D
They cut off 7 previous attempts. :-)
that was the third take
Chris Froome recently ran afoul of the mistake #3. I really wanted to see him in this yearâs TDF. Hope to see him returning to the Tour in 2020.
Another excellent video! Thanks for sharing the expertise!
#6 Another mistake to avoid is to descend on the hoods. It's much safer to descend in the drops, as you won't bounce off as easily when you hit a pothole.
#7 To avoid: keeping the inner foot down. Always keep the outer foot down in a corner, thus the inner foot is up, thereby giving more leeway to 'hang into the corner'.
Just had an accident while descending on the hoods. I agree with you
I was looking for #7. Thanks for answering
@@janmartjanea1113 i just had an accident wearing no helmet smashing into my brothers back tire and getting knocked out and a couple road rashes but nothing serious thankfully
Here are some things to avoid:
1. Stay in your comfort zone, don't push your speed where you're out of control.
2. If you don't feel confident and are not feeling the descent, go much slower than usual.
3. If you can't clearly see what's on the exit of a corner, make sure you can deal with a hidden immovable object blocking the whole road.
-ilan
This! It is my one rule. It you are not confident it is because you know deep down you lack the skills. Donât push it too hard, the skills will come.
Tremendous advice. I crashed on a descent last year - took an off-camber corner too fast, applied too much front brake, and laid the bike down. Broke my collarbone and two ribs, ending my riding season. It could have been worse, as it was a blind corner. Someone coming behind me could have easily run over me as I was lying in the road. This was a tough way to learn a lesson.
So sorry, glad you survived. I'm working on a hill in my neighborhood atm. Laid down my bike twice this month, but thankfully only nursing some scrapes on my arms.
It's made me tense up going down hills now, even in cars. Still want to conqurer the turn off on that hill.
Best of luck on your recovery
@@maxreed369 Thanks! I'm back in business. Between the trainer and the road, I logged about 3,000 miles in 2023. It was great.
thanks for the tips
Top tips, thanks Matt.
Great video. For some reason I am often "surprised" to see cars coming around blind corners and instant reaction is to brake though i don't need to, especially in Europe with the cars on the "wrong" side of the road. I guess i need to practise descending more in Europe or the US!
Brilliant videođđthanks for this
Very intuitive. Thank You. đđđâ€ïžđ
I once over applied the rear brakes because I feared flying forward, I ended up with a dovetail instead. 60 40 is indeed good advice.
Surprised he didn't talk about trail braking. Goin' in too fast? Rear brake ONLY!
Great video ! Could you please share with us your opinion about the Canyon bike you are riding.
Thanks
Wish this video came out on Monday before my crash. 2, 3 could've saved me. Haha!
Nice one Matt
Solid advice
Good video. Greetings from Romania.
would make comment about gcn repeating videos, but the gcn lads just make the so damn good
May I add, that when riding with others, agree to always pass to the outside. This is important, so that if the rider up front wants to look back to see if you are coming around, they only have to look over their left shoulder. I had a harrowing experience bumping wheels at 50 miles an hour, when my mate looked to the inside for me, and kept moving over (towards me) when he could not see me behind him. I was next to him! Fortunately, we stayed upright.
Are there any tips for sharp turn after gradually descending from not so steep but long slope?
I fell down on that sharp turn, simply because i miscalculated the range and such. Are there any tips of how to do it smoothly?
#torqueback Anything to watch out for when you are overtaking others on a descent? Being rather heavy, I often catch up to other riders and then get stuck for quite a while, having to brake almost constantly.
60% front 40% back.. pulls the right lever more than the left.. In Britain event the bikes have the steering wheel on the right side. Check which leaver is which before going downhill(happened to me in NZ with a borrowed bike)
Thank you for the advice. Very useful for the beginner. I crashed today. It was too fast and beyond my control. When I found it, my bike hit the corner in the next second...
My descending techniques comes from years of racing motorcycles. Brake before turning in, take a wide entry to a late apex, and drag your knee to measure lean angle correctly.
I just slow down ,to be in control ,nearly came off hitting some cracked road ,I took my lesson ,and just slow down
exactly. Why die out there? no point in going crazy fast.
Didn't heard a word that you said... distracted... the topography where you video tape is absolutely spectacular! ... BTW, What's a "hill". I ride in South Florida. :-) Thanks for the information.
Hi !!! I 'm of a mind to get off the saddle a little bit and let my body be a flexible shock absorber for the road. I alaways try to avoid the "death grip" and guide the bike trough a line. I don't see that mentioned in any of your descending videos....am I doing something wrong. (It works for me so far and I have some very interesting descents in my 'hood...not curvey, but long and fast.
#5 is exactly the mistake i made when i hit the ground (hardest). Read the road like it was empty, meaning i hit the corner with too much speed (along with the road surface suddenly becoming shitty, maybe a bit of #1 was mixed in there). Didn't cut the line of course, but because i was too fast, i was drawn to the outside edge of the road where all the gravel gets kicked to - as soon as i touched it, it was game over.
My helmet did its job that day, glad it cracked instead of my skull.
fortunately, i was able to get back on the bike. unfortunately, i then had to climb back up the bloody WALL i was descending to get treatment.
lesson - don't get too hyped up on blazing down hills you've never hit before.
also, the c word you were looking for matt, was consequences.
Please address pros and cons of riding the hoods v. the drops on the decent.
Talking about the racing line, I was in a race, on the front of the bunch going into a blind 90 degree turn, as soon as i pitched in a couple normal riders appeared going the opposite way... No time to react and collided
did not feel good when going 60kph :/
Just wondering how many takes did Matt do to clip in first time?
classic maratona road. my usual hotel - boe - there too.
sweet bike!!!
How about posture? Do we have to adjust the centre of gravity slightly backwards?
6. Avoid filming segments on safe descending whilst descending. The urge to gesticulate with your front brake hand could lead you to be unable to arrest your progress in front of obstacles.
there's me looking down with me hands of the bars grabbing the brakes 2mm from the rider in front accelerating when i notice the road is wet ............. jesus where would I be without these experts :)
You guys be safe on your rides while filming đ
What was the Canyon Matt was using please guys? Bloody gorgeous!
Idea for a video: I normally commute the 5 miles home on my road bike, but the other day I decided to run home. It was much much harder and took me far longer. The question, how bad does your bike have to be to equalise running / cycling the same distance?!
"Far more serious circumstances"?! Are you sure about that Matt?
@GlobalCyclingNetwork what model Canyon bike is that?
You know what the sight of Matt does to me? It triggers the immediate thought: where's your "how to clip in" video? :D
It is refreshing to hear an English man refer to staying on the right side, and he actually was. Thanks for a great video
3:30 this effect is so cool
how is your leg poking out when you are falling around a corner?
A video just in time after a crash i had 3 days ago on a descent. Short story, ouch.
I would add that you should be familiar with the concept of countersteering.
I need to start using my front brakes more. Slowing down for the curves is always a task for me.
Use your body as a wind brake. It helps tootsie the edge off.
Is that Dan at 2:38?
perfect video, perfect timing
please guys do a video climbing mur de peguere
Whatâs likely to be the cause of speed wobbles ?
Tip #6: "Pre-load" your brake levers by half-pressing them just at the threshold when your brakes are about to engage, this reduces milliseconds in your reaction time. Think of it like keeping your finger on the trigger vs resting your finger on the trigger guard.
Someone who just bought bike after a decade no of cycling here ... in mountainous city. I look up this vid and others tips because my first test on the road was almost disaster ... unable to stop while descending on a long stretch of downhill. Mistakes #3 give nervous laugh/laugh-otherwise-crying thing. Because holy moly, i was fortunately able to avoid any accident, but I can't imagine letting go handle bar while descending on speed like that. Who's on the right mind do such thing!??
Ah well, thanks for the tips. Hopefully my next test will be more sucessfull.
Mistake to avoid, pushing a fast descent with strong crosswinds. Very tricky
Well gcn is based on uk and in uk they ride left right?
stunning scenery! where was this video shot?
Hi Phaidrus, it's in Alta Badia, great place to ride!
i still do not understand at a descent we still have 60/40 on front vs. rear. I modulate my rear more and when i can feel the control then modulate the front. My personal experience at a descent following a curb, get your brakes controlled before that curb so you can lean already , since I skid but got it to recovered
@2:39 Could this be Si climbing? And I assume hes also doing a GCN video that time.
Learn to control slides of the backwheel. Don't freak out when it happens and ease off the backbrake slowly. Easiest to control if you stand up from the saddle. Seated down works too but it's harder balance-wise. The harder you push on the front brake, the less weight on the backwheel and easier to lock it up.
Don't push yourself backwards when braking with the front wheel. Because you are taking weight away from front wheel and if there's ANY sand, rocks, dampness on the road, you just might lock up your front wheel and down you go.
MrPunkassfuck I get speed wobble when I descend out of the saddle.
If you are breaking, there will always be lots if weight on the front, despite how far back you are.
1) I nearly got bounced off the bike when only having one hand on the handlebars. I hit a dip in the tarmac and it launched me off the bike. Luckily I managed to gain control just in time before the next bend. It scared me silly!
2) Mountain Tunnels are really dangerous. You can't see the tarmac so can easily hit debris/pothole in the road. So slow down. Also make sure you can see the exit on entry. If you can't then my advice is to just pull over and stop and fit or take a light in, try and make sure there's no traffic around too. It's lethal to enter a tunnel when you can't see the exit. You'll either barrel into the tunnel wall or collide with a car.
Tip number 4 is what i needed. Here after hitting someones back tire and hitting head on the road no helmet and getting knockedout and scaring my knees đ·
Why do passo road signs have a lot of stickers on them? What do they mean? #torqueback
Does this come with pedals?
Side note for #3:
Aerobars should only be used in certain circumstances when descending. Having your hands away from the brakes is not exactly ideal, especially at high speeds on a public road.
Side note for #4:
I try to maintain a 2-3 second gap between myself and other riders. I find this much easier to judge than distance.
Haha "...far more serious circumstances"?? Good England!!
If only you guys could give advice for someone whose scared to death of descents. I've over come my fear of heights at least as far as going up but coming down it's slow going. I'm pretty much on the brakes all the way down.
A few recommendations: Ride in the drops. The sense of control and stability is much better (as well as braking control). If you are not comfortable riding descents in the drops, get used to the position by riding exclusively in the drops for a couple of weeks on flat terrain. Lastly, practice a lot. Over time you will get used to the speed and be less tense, increasing your confidence level.
Get a bike without drop handles. You will have far more control for starters. Lower your seat so if you crash you ain't getting launched over your handlbars head first. Los eteh clip in pedals so you cna foot down and practiec skidding down a hill ona wet road. Oh and wear jeans, not silly cycling shorts, they will save your legs.
always thought a good show idea would be to have Phil and/or Paul on for a segment. Talk about bikes, riders, races, food, beer, anything.
Any tips for going down on MUCH STEEPER HILLS on a road bike? I mean in our country, some mountain roads have 20 - 25% grade sections that's about a 300m long before it comes to 15% grade. It's really very daunting because it can double your speed in seconds, and with 28c tires it's too scary! Brake feathering did overheat my rotors. I'm not even thinking of using rim brakes!
Same thing ... I find the steep descents the worst
at 2:38, is that another rider in GCN kit? Chocolate voice John doing some last minute training perhaps?
Adding to point 1, always look where you want to go, not where you are not supposed to be (target fixation)
Additional point . MASTER counter steering.
WHat shifter hoods are those? they seem huge.
I have little bit of big cycle what should I do?
On a side note, anyone know what shades these are? Been for some that don't make you look like an insect.
Is it ok to yell weeeeee on a fast descent?đ
absolutely
Couple things about brakes. You should be able to control your bike with the rear brake locked up. Is it a good stopping technique? No. But you should be skilled enough to keep control if your back brake locks up. Also, mechanical disk brakes are pretty junk (at least the ones I have experience with are). I have them on my Specialized road bike and I wish I'd gone hydro, or rim instead.
37 here trying to learn cycling. Managed to ride within 30mins. Got over confident and went downhill which had a turn in the middle. Crashed and scrapped my knee pretty good. That was 2 weeks ago and still waiting for the wound to heal.
Rest up! Hopefully see you out on the road soon đŻ We've got some great rest and recovery tips here đ gcn.eu/7Ij
Damn I wish Iâd watched this before I shattered two ribs
Watching this after landing on my face while descending. I loss control after trying to move my hands down into the drops. Then i panicked and braked too hard. Flew over the bars and landed right on my face.
I recently flipped over my handlebars braking lightly during a very routine descent, now my confidence is completely shot. Any tips for regaining confidence after a nasty crash?
Practice endo's at different speeds. Basically snap on your brake and kick up the back end of your bike. You will find a balance point and if you go over you can practice bailing forward to your feet. Do it on grass at first for safety.
Its a relaly good way of testing teh limits of your bikes brakes and yourself. It also builds control and your confidence.
As a heavy rider descending is fun :D
It sure is... way more than climbing ! I've seen many people arguing on the fact that a heavy rider could go faster on a descent but I'm still not conviced. #torqueback ?
In a vacuum? No -
Under normal conditions? Slightly
If you roll without pedaling that is
Not for your brake pads...
well putting straight Physics in. F = M * G, F = Pulling force (but on a hill only a fraction with sinus and degress and all) M is your Mass and G is the gravitational mass. So straightforward, More mass is more Force. People get their head messed around because they think about the vacuum experiment. But with the drag being the same for both riders the heavier rider would be in advantage.
don't jerk or move eradicable front wheel. I like all the tips and I love cutting corner, but don't most of the timr