Entering the World of Downhill Mountain Biking

So you are thinking of adding a little more excitement to you mountain biking activities because maybe cross country riding is not cutting it or you have watched too many Red Bull Rampage videos and want to see what all the fuss is about. Well if you want to add some thrills to your riding experience then downhill mountain biking is the way to do it. Let's just begin this discussion by saying that in order to partake in downhill mountain biking you have to want to do it or else you will just end up hurting yourself.

Downhill mountain biking involves taking your bike and riding it fast down steep hills with obstacles such as rocks, roots and trees to avoid on your way down. Of course there are various degrees of downhill riding with events like the Red Bull Rampage on the extreme end of the spectrum. You don’t need to go down the steepest most difficult terrain to enjoy downhill riding and can work your way up to harder runs as you get more experience.

As the sport becomes more popular there are more and more downhill trails popping up as well as bike parks that offer chair lift or shuttle service to the top allowing you to save your energy for the ride down. Plus there are many unofficial downhill trails all over the place depending on where you live as well as groups of dedicated trail builders make more every year.

Like mentioned above you need to want to go fast downhill in order to succeed at it because if you don't want to do it or are afraid to do it then you most likely will end up hurting yourself when you crash… and you will crash. You will also crash even if you are not afraid of the challenge but that’s what body armor is for. But as your skills progress you will be able to take on more challenging trails with greater success.

In order to be successful at downhill mountain biking you will need the right equipment to make it to the bottom in one piece. Depending on what kind of trails you will be tackling will determine the gear you will need to get it done. Let's start with the most important piece of equipment you will need, the bike. If you think you will be taking your XC bike downhill to save the cost of getting new bike then you are in for an unpleasant surprise. Granted you may get by on some tame downhill trails or if you are a very good rider you can pull it off but for the most part it won’t cut it.

There are various levels of downhill bikes costing anywhere from $3000 up to $8000 and beyond. These bikes will come with travel ranges from 7 to 10 inches typically and many can be adjusted for the type of trail it will be ridden on. For the most part they will have coil suspension although more and more fork\shock manufacturers are coming out with downhill air suspension parts that they claim work just as good and are lighter than their coil counterparts. You will also see them in single and dual crown fork configuration with the single crowns being more for lighter downhill runs and bike park fun.

The geometry is the other factor that sets downhill bikes apart from other more light duty mountain bikes. With different wheelbases, bottom bracket heights, head tube angles and seat post angles these bikes are designed to go down steep hills without making you feel like you are going to go head first over the handlebars. These changes in geometry offer much greater control in faster, steeper trails. Plus they will also have much wider handlebars for greater control in rough situations. And when it comes to pedals expect to find grippy platform pedals rather than clipless event though there are some people who prefer to be clipped in. You will also see bigger brake rotors to help slow you down when things get going too fast and wider more knobby tires for more traction in the turns.

You will also need to make sure that you are dressed for the occasion so you don't hurt yourself, or at least hurt yourself too bad. A full face helmet is a must and it's recommended to wear elbow and knee\shin pads as well as full finger gloves. Optional equipment would include a flak jacket or at least a chest protector. Having the right type of shoes to give you the proper grip on your pedals is a good idea as well.

Now once you have all you equipment you may want to start on an easier trail and work your way up to the harder ones. If you have any downhill friends then ride with them and have them show you what you need to do for that particular trail. Keep in mind that going too slow will often cause you to crash because it makes you feel the rocks and roots more and can also throw off your balance. Also try to keep your hand off the front brake unless it's safe to use it so you don’t end up over the bars. Keeping the bike in the right gear also helps because it lets you pedal into sections that require more speed to make it through. And make sure you lean back on those drops and jumps so you don’t end up face planting on the landing. And if you are not feeling a jump, drop or other stunt then it's probably not a good idea to do it since you will have to commit to pull it off most of the time. Downhill mountain biking is just as much guts as it is skill so if you don't have the nerve then don’t push yourself past your limits. With time it will get easier and you will realize that the trails that scared you before are actually easy then all of the sudden they become much more fun.

Posted by Jim Bernstein