Riding Downhill

[alpslapper]

Let's hear your collective wisdom and techniques for riding downhill.

Now, I'm not talking about down a slope, I'm talking about a proper sheer drop in altitude

I'm thinking about somewhere like Wrynose Pass and Hardknot Pass.

The last time I rode these passes, I almost lost the bike from under me when the car in front stopped mid bend to talk to a lady cyclist.

I could feel the bike sliding down from under me with both brakes stamped on - had to roar at the cyclist to tell the car to pull in so I could get moving again.

Near the end of Hardknott, as you head into Eskdale, there's a viscious left hander that drops and turns 180 at the same time - I seriously misjudged it and almost came a cropper.

Mind it was so much fun I turned around and did it again

So, speak up riding gods, share your techniques.

I rode them on a closed throttle and the back brake, but instinctively went for fethering the clutch in some places, which is when I nearly came a cropper.

[steveR]

I'm certainly no "riding God" but managed to survive two days in the Dolomites where on some of the Passes at times, every bend seemed to be a full 180 hairpin or more! I tend to be very keen on feathering the back brake into the bend, and never touch the clutch, except to change gear either before or coming out of the bend.

The TA is I think, excellent at this sort of nadgery, wide out on the entry, gentle trailing throttle and then on the juice asap to bring the bike upright, punch through the gears and do it all again. Bliss

You can never be certain where the errant car driver will stop though...! You survived so must have been awake

[cbrpaddy]

I've ridden this road in the wet and fully loaded (2 zegas, tankbag and 60l drybag). Even in the dry the bike was sliding in first gear with both wheels locked, not nice, in the wet And that's before trying to negotiate the steps. In the wet it was definitely the most frightening thing I've done on a bike, after it tarmac hairpins are nothing But yeah, a combination of brakes on and off (fast!) and clutch keeping it on the verge of stalling while sliding got down ok - I fell twice, once having to drop it deliberately to stop sliding sideways into a wall at about 15mph, but no harm done.

[Paul-S]

Just be in the right gear at an appropriate speed and smooth on the throttle

Your main braking will still come from the front tyre so don't be afraid to load up the front but do it progressively. Move your body weight back over the rear tyre by extending your legs and squat down as you do it creating a bit more rear wheel traction enabling the rear brake to also slow you down

Hope it helps

[Warthog]

In tight down hill turns I would say that I apply the same technique as normal, just with a lighter touch...

Slow down for the corner and gently gas out: I mean gently so that the bike does not lurch, but I will say that I control it with back brake: something I don't do in faster, open bends....

I find it easier to smooth out acceleration with the rear brake than by using throttle alone...

[Bluff]

What sort of speeds are we talking here? I am familiar with the wrynose and hardknot, just picturing that steep left hander in my mind makes me think of about 10mph in first...... In winter????




Chicken cluck cluck

[royster]

my theory is virtually the same as everybody elses, basially wide out on entry no front brake engine and rear brake to get round and when 1/2 way throttle to pull it round and upright

cbrpaddy - where is that road it looks good to try?

[Rick of Pendle]

cbrpaddy - where is that road it looks good to try?

I subscribe to the following and its done me ok over the years.
A low gear, both brakes prior to the bend making sure you have the right speed for it, ease off the front and only the rear to stop it running away.

Come on paddy where's your road.
It looks to be on the Burren.

[digitalcaptive]

I'm thinking about somewhere like Wrynose Pass and Hardknot Pass.

I came a cropper going up Wrynose

[stuart]

I came a cropper going up Wrynose

fancy you falling of Digi