How To Descend Like A Pro | Cycling Downhill Speed & Safety Tips

Descending is often an afterthought, you spend time and effort into going uphill but with a few tweaks and some practise you can save time and increase enjoyment going down too. We've enrolled the help of Maya from GCN who certainly knows how to go down hills!
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Descending is often an afterthought, you spend time and effort into going fast uphill but with a few tweaks and a bit of practise you can save time and increase enjoyment going down too.
For this video Heather has enrolled the help of Maya from GCN who certainly knows how to go fast up and down hills!
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[@gtn]

What's the descent that you've hit on your bike that's made you feel a little nervous and un-confident? Approach it again with these skills in mind and let us know how you get on!

[@carlbyronrodgers]

Gran Fondo La Spezia.

[@trbeyond]

Lake Placid decent out of town. 52 mph. Felt a crosswind on my disc and almost lost my lunch !

[@francescorota2982]

From Antagnod to Champoluc on the Western Italian Alps, my brother was in front of me, we were doing 50s km/h on mtb and his front wheel exploded he fell and by pure luck I didn't hit him with my wheels, I only passed on top of his bike with my front wheel. Since then I'm so scared of going fast on descents...

[@physicsnerd02]

52 MPH down Waimea Canyon on Kauai, HI. On a rented bike. It was my first time descending, I wasn't familiar with the road or the bike, and I didn't realize how fast I was going until I hit the brakes and didn't feel like I was slowing down (something something (1/2)mv^2.) I finally slowed enough to turn literally at the edge of the road overlooking the canyon. I survived because of two things: 1) I have a lot of experience descending. Once I realized the situation I was in I was smart enough to stay calm and not try to turn too early while still hard on the brakes. 2) Pure dumb luck. 4th fastest down from the summit by Strava the first time I went down, lol. Do not recommend.

[@kaerynne]

This was so helpful, beautifully presented. I adore you riders!

[@jacqueshughes3085]

Those roads look very nice. In Somerset UK, our roads are similar to Burundi in the rainy season i.e full of giant potholes. Even if you look ahead you can't always see the potholes until it's too late. Some nice tips though. Thanks.

[@Yamaha_Bolt]

I was really hoping you would discuss eliminating speed wobble on descent. I dread going downhill now because I get this all the time now, it is extremely scary. Can you do an entire video on it please?

[@ITsupportian]

You have to counter, on turns. Your body perpendicular, putting force on pedals and putting knee to touch the frame to prevent wobble. Also get nice set of wheelset that's not to deep, to prevent side wind.

[@tomnix8194]

The best from both worlds (GCN/GTN) 😜

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks Tom, it was fun to work with GCN!

[@hombrealagua]

I met Mayalen going up the 50Km timed section in the Haute Route Mexico, it was great to see her riding here in our country! Saludos Mayalen!

[@heatherfell_oly]

Ah and did you follow her down a hill too?! She's strong on the bike.

[@hombrealagua]

@@heatherfell_oly I was trying to catch my friend's group so I didn't see her again that day until the Race Village. I finished 45 overall and I think she came some few spots behind. Thanks, Cheers!!! Come to the HR Mexico!

[@heatherfell_oly]

@@hombrealagua Well done, it sounds great and I'd love to!

[@s-ultracycling]

Great tips. Thanks for the video

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks Stoychev :)

[@kimfraser-rybinski9554]

From Stromlo to Uriarra Crossing then to Cotter Dam...keep praying my breaks hold up. Relaxing? Kidding right?

[@sercheese]

Often when I descend above 50km/h I experience speed wobble, also with my hand on drops. I ride BMC Roadmachine 02 One 2018. I've got in touch with guys from BMC. They said that while riding fast my legs start to shiver and than this vibration continues over the frame at starts speed wobble. Because of that I always have to brake, even if I'm still riding a straight line. It takes the whole pleasure from the descent....

[@mickhurley7305]

That sounds like you have a bike fit setup issue. You should go to a bike shop.

[@sercheese]

@@mickhurley7305 my bike was build after a professional bike fit

[@GunnyWombat]

Sorry but 'shivering legs', that sounds like an utter excuse. There are a number of things that can cause harmonic vibrations and most of them will be frame or wheel related. Make sure the headset is correctly installed, that the wheels are balanced as much as you can and that all components fitted are torqued to their correct settings. If after these steps the problem does still not go away, it may be worth looking at the frame and forks for damage or poor quality manufacture.

[@trbeyond]

Matt Harris I agree. Being over tense can cause issues but highly unlikely “shivering legs” is the cause of speed wobble.

[@trbeyond]

Sercheese. Listen to this podcast where they discuss speed wobble. blog.trainerroad.com/legs-vs-cardio-warming-up-speed-wobbles-and-more-ask-a-cycling-coach-215/

[@lord1999ful]

I would not suggest if you feel brave sitting on the top tube. I would suggest if you don't know what you doing yet. DON'T try descend sitting on your top tube! IT CAN BE A NOT GOOD OF DAY!!!!!!!

[@tomthelittlecat2715]

Hi nice review any advice had a recent bad fall on a new bike while coming down a hill on a folding bike with 14 inch wheels bike wouldn't slow down as I wanted it to.

[@markstacey2906]

Cool video... Spanish riders just don't touch there brakes... Just seem to be fearless..

[@heatherfell_oly]

Tell me about it ;)

[@kaerynne]

‘To brake is to admit defeat’ lol

[@jadlteif8143]

It's pretty concerning to me that you didn't talk about how to properly corner. I know corning is a skill in itself, but there is no way for you to descent without cornering. If a beginner watches this video, he'll be missing out on some serious safety tips...

[@ITsupportian]

Agreed.

[@eingast7798]

Descend on aerobars? Up to what speed?

[@heatherfell_oly]

It depends on so many factors and there are no rules, you have to feel safe and in control.

[@MegaMagicbeans]

Head down, lean in, knee out MOTO GP style and keep your eyes on where you want to exit the corner, if your eyes drift then its panic time :)

[@hank1906]

Please don’t put your knee out