Riding on steep and technical trails can be pretty treacherous at this time of year. The trails are dark, the surfaces are wet and slippery, and the grip can seem like it’s nonexistent. How do some riders keep making it look so easy despite the conditions? And where are they finding all of their control?
This month we’re going to take a closer look at how to stay composed and confident on the steepest of trails. We’ll cover some useful skills that will change the way that you think about technical or poor-weather riding, and we’ll give you a solid gameplan to stick to this winter.
ROLLING DROPS
One of the best ways of perfecting your steep trail technique is to focus on what you do on rolling drops as part of a regular, much easier ride. Ideally you should be taking your normal riding position and lowering yourself towards the bike as you get closer to the drop. This is often counterintuitive as you might be tempted to move your weight back. Be aware of this the next time you ride though and you can practise the correct technique as you go.
with your elbows and knees bent. This will open up so much more
