Top Tips To Descend Faster & Safer On A Bike

How to descend on a road bike...Some people have the need for speed and going downhill at pace comes naturally. If this isn't you then these are our top tips for descending. These rules apply to both mountain hairpins and your local roads. Get better at cornering, ride faster and improve your cycling technique with these top tips.

⚫️ In this video

0:00 Introduction
1:48 LET LOOSE
2:50 SET UP FOR SPEED
4:15 YOUR EYES LEAD
5:00 FLOW AND YOU'LL GO
5:33 LOWER TYRE PRESSURE + GET OFF THE ROAD
6:13 LATE ON THE BRAKES

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[hook]

+1 for pressure on the outside pedal—it's like carving a ski. It really lets you set the bike into the turn and get a feel for the grip you have on hand. Great vid, gents.

[bertdebruijn]

Before really sharp and dangerous bends, there’s usually a sign by the road. So you don’t have to brake as hard if there is no sign.

[TeoSluga]

I like this video very much, but there are a few points to consider. In this video there is a clip where rider is exiting corner far too the left (wrong side of a road). One such a mistake could be fatal. And usually these mistakes are fatal. Roads are busy and one must always assume this is a fact. Second thing: holding your hands on the drops is an option but should not be a preferable option. It's good if you want to go faster, but then you also need to brake stronger. It is easily manageable also with your hands on the hoods. At least I find it easy to ride 65km/h and make a full stop with my hands on the hoods using rim brakes... Also your visibility is much better when your body position is elevated. So hands on the drops? Yes, if I really want to go 70km/h and above... Otherwise, no need for that technique. And third thing to consider: disc brakes are more powerful than rim brakes. That is true. But it is only true in perfect conditions. When road is wet or sandy or if there are leaves on the road, you must consider the fact that your tires will not handle the stopping power of disc brakes... This could lead to a disaster. So descending faster in wet conditions with disc brakes? No, because your tires will not deliver the necessary grip needed to manage the soaked asphalt... That is the reason we see bikes winning wet races with rim brakes...