How to Descend on a Gravel Bike - Including Tips from Dave Zabriskie and others!
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- čas přidán 3. 08. 2024
- This is a video I've been contemplating producing since late 2014. However, it took that long for technology to catch up with the development of drone cameras and so on, in addition to capturing several years of footage from multiple gravel races and rides where descending was a factor.
In addition to JOM's demonstrations in the video, there are tips from:
Dave Zabriskie (former WorldTour Professional cyclist and 5-time USA National Time Trial Champion. Nowadays, Dave rides for fun and loves gravel. He's a partner in Floyds of Leadville and runs gravel camps out of Calabasas, California with Ryan Steers - dznuthouse.com
Karen Pritchard - Member of the Panaracer Gravel Team, 6-time Dirty Kanza 200 finisher, winner of the Women's 40+ and 50+ DK200 categories 3-times! and with a ton of real-world experience at many other gravel races and rides.
Jake Pantone - Vice President & Consumer Experience at ENVE - Jake has ridden it all, gravel, road and mountain and has descended a ton of gnarly stuff in ENVE's home base in Utah.
Remember, descending can be risky, just like with all activities related to cycling. Keep it safe, ride within your limits and always wear a helmet.
Gravel Bike Tyre / Tire Pressure Guidelines - by ENVE Composites - wp.me/p4V4se-6m3
Cover photo by Ian Matteson of ENVE Composites.
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In my opinion, the most important piece of advice for beginners is: if you aren't feeling it, then go extremely slowly, or even walk down parts you don't feel comfortable descending.
Excellent advice.
Doing my first gravel race this spring and recently went out to pre-ride some of the course. I found some of the descents really sketchy so the tips in this video will be taken to heart. Thanks for posting!
Mate, thanks for putting that together.
Even if it acts as a reminder not to be over confident or complacent it’s always good practice to never drift too far from your comfort/skill zone.
No matter what the bike, we will always run out of talent before the bike does.
Cheers Stu.
The dropper post on my gravel bike has changed my life forever.
When cornering, keep the body upright and lean the bike by pushing the inside hand down. If it’s sketchy, unclip the inside foot. If the bike slides out use that foot to keep from going down.
Before I learned that, I once took a corner too fast from pavement to gravel while leaning and clipped. I immediately smashed down on my hip and got a tennis ball sized contusion.
I take that corner almost daily. Lesson learned!
I really like this technique but noticed I can only do it on corners to the right, unclipping the right foot. Can’t seem to keep balance with the left foot unclipped and have the feeling I will topple over away from the corner. Any tips on how I could go about learning that? Thanks!
Spot on JOM! Your bike goes where your head and eyes go. Gravel riding and is like Adventure
/ Dirt motorcycle riding.
Thanks for this information!
U gave more helpful info than expected, thanks!
I met you briefly at the NAHBS show at the Bingham built booth. Hope you can attend the "Lost and Found" gravel race next year instead of Kanza. Your descending skills will be put to the test on the forest roads and the scenery is spectacular. I really enjoy your channel.
Hi Mark, I remember meeting you. Historically, Lost and Found has always fallen the same weekend as Dirty Kanza. I have not given much thought to 2020 yet but I will say I that Lost and Found has been on my radar for many years. It looks amazing. And, thanks for the kind words!
A key point of descending is keep watching end of corner. That leads me to good line. Plus, use a dropper seat post. It's fun and stable.
Great video! I definitely need more time in the drops.
If I may add one thing that has helped me especially on very taxing rides, then it’s the tip to wear gloves.
I had a number of sketchy descents in recent months once it turned warmer and my hands sweatier, where even descending in the drops didn’t help my hands from slipping sometimes, once almost ending in a crash after hitting a big rut that was covered with leaves.
Oh and when looking for gloves, look for a pair that works well with drop bars because many gloves made for mountain bikers have seams in places that you will put pressure on when in the drops.
Great video mate watch those ruts
Learn how to bunny hop. If you get your line wrong and/or happen upon an unexpected hole or rock you can just hop over it rather than hitting it.
Look where you want to go not where you want to avoid. Look ahead at least 5-6 meters but keep the scan distance long to avoid surprises and stay relaxed. Front brakes and turn on gravel = bad. I learned that the hard way ages ago. Nice video as always.
Useful. Much appreciate.
Zabriskie? Wasn't that guy a roadie, and a time-trialist at that? Those guys cruise along on 21mm tires, no? What could he possibly know? ;-)
Seriously, another good video, thanks for sharing.
Nice video, thank you. Please add more examples about how take the curves or avoid rocks in the path when you ride fast. I hope you visit Spain some day and participate in Orbea Monegros or in Talajara. Regards
Great ideas...I've been doing downhills on the hoods , because I cant shift completely from the drops , but gonna have to work around that
Good stuff here. Really, it's not too much different than descending on a road bike. The big difference being you can expect gravel to offer a few more surprises than asphalt. I think the best tip is to ride within your comfort zone. There are times when I back off on the same roads that I have ridden on dozens of times before. If something doesn't feel right, take it easy. Getting down the hill slowly is better than not getting down the hill at all.
Identify a cyclist who seems confident on the descents and wheel you can hold to trail behind with a slight gap for reactions and line adjustment if the opportunity presents itself.
Good advice. This is how I learned to descend way back in the early 1990's, albeit on the road at first.
Excellent video my 2c Wider tires give huge confidence/grip I run WTBResolute42's on Stans Crest what I may lack in speed on the ascents I more than make up on the descents.
Those Resolutes are so good on descents... I'm with you on the lack of speed during ascending :) Descending is the fun part!
I rather push on uphills and take it easy on downhills, never go over 25 mph as I hate donating skin cells to gravel.
Totally understood! The descents are one of the places I can make up lost ground... on the climbs, I lose a wee bit of time!
Going tomorrow to visit your friends at James brothers bike in Opelika
Nice! Hopefully you manage a ride, there are some really nice roads in the area. Also, Red Clay Brewing Company :)
I can find no fault with your disclaimer :) Cheers Mate
Haha, onya Dan!
What is the black bike, with which you are just starting the video?
That is the 2019 3T Exploro LTD with SRAM Red eTap AXS 12-speed. It is one of three bikes I am currently reviewing.
Thanks.
@@GravelCyclist awaiting your full review on the Exploro! It sure looks good in the video in Matt black. Not crazy about the other paint jobs it comes in.
@@GravelCyclist I love my Exploro. Interested to see the eTap 12 speed review
Do I use my front or rear brake on descending? Or both?
Mostly rear brake or you can use both when it's needed. Never just use the front especially if you have hydrologic disc brakes you'll fly over your bars 😅
the enve guy said the most important thing.You have to use ur drops
Just like me in the cover photo.
@@GravelCyclist Just like you sir.
But you cant trust the bike if it was bought for $100.00 at Wal-Mart. Lol
Nobody in this video is riding a bike like you describe.
@@GravelCyclist lol. I am aware and was just messing around. Have a good day!
Ride past your limits not at your limits. I know you want to be safe but if you're riding competitively or if you're riding to see how far you can take your skill, you're going to have to crash a few times,
You don't want to be like the guy at the skatepark who wants to drop in but never does but always talks about it. "I don't want to fall" pfft