WATCHING THE PROS zoom down Alpine peaks is a thrilling sporting spectacle full of power, pace and precision. But descending is a skill that requires technique, cool confidence and regular practice. The ability to descend safely and quickly can deliver huge time gains in races, improve your bike-handling skills and enhance your safety in the hills. But, with most UK riders training on relatively flat roads and the joy of tackling long 20km descents often restricted to holidays abroad, it's a skill that's easy to neglect. Here's how to get started....
01Look up
Descending will feel easier if you look further down the road. It'll help you spot any hazards and give you more time to prepare for the bends ahead. "A lot of people just look straight in front of them, but if you can look through the corner to the next point it'll give you a smoother racing line," says Ineos Grenadiers rider Ben Swift. The faster you go, the further you need to look ahead in order to anticipate any changes in the surface or direction of the road. It's normally best to go onto the drops when you're descending: it lowers your centre of gravity to provide extra balance and improves your aerodynamics so you can enjoy free speed. "It feels safer because you have your thumb and forefinger pushing against the bars," adds coach David Lines. But be prepared to adapt your position to the course.
"On treacherous descents, I go on the hoods to get my weight more over my back wheel ready for any heavy braking before a bend," reveals Lines.
02 Fix your speed
Esta historia es de la edición March 2023 de Cycling Plus UK.
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Esta historia es de la edición March 2023 de Cycling Plus UK.
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GANARY A COALMINE
The James Brown tune 'It's a Man's Man's Man's World' comes on the radio, filling the coach, and does nothing for my pre-event nerves as I sit surrounded by serious-looking, wiry, tanned men in Lycra. It's 6.30am, pitch black outside and I'm feeling very out of my depth as a relative newcomer to the world of clipless pedals and hurting for fun. Last night's stress dream involved being very unprepared to get married and being handed my great-grandmother-in-law-to-be's hideous silver dress with lace trim to wear minutes before the ceremony was due to start. I'll let you psychoanalyse that one.
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