Whether you're a beginner or an expert,
downhills can be trouble. Even three-time downhill champion Brian Lopes admits
(especially the ones with wet, slippery rocks and roots). All the same, Brian has learned how
to ride down just about everything he finds_and do it at top speed. The MBA wrecking crew sat
down with Brian to try and raise our level of expertise. We think that Brian's tips can help you
get down the toughest hills too.
HARDTAIL SETUP SECRETS
Some riders find descending
difficult because of how their bikes are set up. Brian has some tips for adjusting a bike so it
descends better. "I put on a shorter stem with more rise and upright bars. I also drop my
seat and put on downhill tires. Downhill tires have heavier casings. They're thicker, so they have
better pinch-flat resistance. I like the IRC Kujos. Heavier tubes help, too. Buy a thick,
thorn-resistant tube," says Brian.
HOW MUCH FORK
TRAVEL IS BEST
In the fork
department, even on a hardtail, longer-travel forks make descending easier. He suggests about
four inches of travel for a hardtail descender. "I have a Rock Shox Hydracoil on my
slalom bike. I'm really happy with it. I haven't done anything to it, and it's really nice
and plush."
As a general rule, though, Brian recommends setting your fork up stiffer
for downhill riding than for cross-country. "You may not want the fork set up really
soft. Set it up stiffer because you'll be hitting things at greater speed."
DRESS
FOR THE CRASH, NOT THE RIDE
When he's practicing on his downhill race bike, Brian wears
full-protective gear, including Dainese upper-body armor, a full-face helmet, and Fox knee
and shin guards. Even on a fun ride, though, Brian wears knee and elbow pads along with his
helmet and gloves. He's ridden long enough to know that no matter how good a rider gets,
he still crashes. Brian strongly urges that you always ride with friends (a good safety
measure) and keep a first-aid kit in your car.
STAYING OFF THE
FRONT BRAKES
When you're faced with a steep descent, Brian says, "Put your seat low and get over
the back of the bike. Your front brakes give you most of your stopping power, but stay
off them in the steep parts. Slow down beforehand, if you can. If you get caught in a rain
rut, stay off your front brakes and use your back brakes and ride it out."
SCRUBBING OFF
CORNER SPEED
"Turns are another place where you have to be
careful about using your front brakes. You'll learn from your mistakes about when you
can and can't use your front brakes." As a general rule, Brian says, "I
f you're entering turns, stay away from the front brake unless you're slowing down
fast on a safe surface; if you're on rocks or roots, you're asking for trouble.
"
PLAN AHEAD & LOOK AHEAD
When riding downhill, stopping
distances are greater, so you need to see trouble spots earlier. "Look ahead,
" Brian advises. "Don't look directly in front of your wheel. If you're
going really fast, look farther ahead, because stuff is coming up quickly."
STAND UP & FLOW
As a general rule, stand up on descents. Brian
advises, "Stand up when riding a hardtail_unless you're on a gradual descent
or a smooth turn_to get some weight over the rear wheel."
HOLD ON &
PRAY
"People say, `Don't hold on too tight,' but I don't recommend holding
on too loosely," says Brian. "If you hit a sudden bump, you don't want
to lose control, so I'd recommend holding on pretty tight."
USE THE
SEAT & YOUR LEGS
When you're standing, you can brace your legs against the
seat to help control the bike. "Use pressure on the seat to balance and bring
the rear end around," Brian suggests. "Learn to use the seat to get a
better center of gravity and better traction from the wheels to the ground.
I run a big seat, and that allows me to shift my body weight around more. It
gives me a better range of balance."
DON'T ALWAYS USE
THE BRAKES
When you find yourself coming fast into a section of loose dirt, Brian has
familiar advice: "Stay off the front brake. Stay off both brakes if possible.
Keep your weight off the front wheel and keep the wheel pointed as straight as
possible."
TO JUMP OR NOT TO JUMP
"Most of the time," Brian
says, "try to keep your wheels on the ground, but there'll be times when
it's faster to jump a set of rocks or roots."
WET STUFF
"
Riding in wet conditions is the most difficult thing in mountain biking,"
Brian says. "It's the hardest to predict, and your balance has to be on.
Over rocks and roots, you need to unweight your bike to minimize sliding. T
he biggest thing is learning when to use your brakes. You have to learn wh
ere to touch your front brakes and where to let off. It all depends on the
terrain of the turns and how fast you're going. You have to learn that
through experience."
Adopted from MBA
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