Leave your competition in the dust and learn how to become more confident at descending on the bike with these helpful pointers.

1. Relax

If you’re nervous, breath deeply and relax your upper body. Keep a firm grip on the bars but don’t squeeze too tight. Avoid being in the aero bars unless you’re very familiar with the road.

2. Look Through the Corner

Always look at where you want to go, not where you don’t want to go. Practice looking through the corner. This will help you commit to the correct line through the corner and give you the time to adjust for any unplanned hazards or obstacles.

Printable version: 7 Descending Tips

3. Brake Before the Corner

Reduce your speed before you hit the corner, and then let off the brakes going through it. For a more in-depth description of how to brake for a corner visit this page.

4. Outside Pedal Down

Always have your outside pedal down and that leg fully extended as you ride through the corner.

5. Weight the Inside Handlebar

With your inside hand, add pressure to your inside handle bar as you go through the corner. With practice, you’ll notice that the shift will steer you through the corner.

6. Hit the Apex

“outside, inside, outside”. That means when entering the corner, setup to the outside of your lane, then turn inside towards the apex of the corner. Once you’ve passed the apex, drift to the outside of the lane and continue down the descent.

7. Follow Somebody Better Than You

Descending behind more experienced riders allow you to see the motions from start to finish. Pay special attention to the way they shift their weight throughout the ride and try to mimic it on your own turns.

Download our 7 Descending Tips here.