How to Ride Tight Downhill Switchbacks?

[Stretch]

..and please excuse Zac, it seems he's used to low-level flying straight out the the start gate..

 

( ) watching you..

 

Ha ha - i do a slide every now and then for fun in fact, for those that did sani - on the last day, just after you went through the vernon crooks fence to leave the reserve there was a short downhill with sharp left - who didnt slide into that

[SeaBee]

Slow down before the turn, rear (feathered) during the turn. Front always either pulls you out of a turn or pitch you over. And look where you want to go, not where the roots lay in front of you!

 

Best thing I did recently was to go to a skills course - you get plenty repetition of exactly this! Will advise it to anybody. Did not know above beforehand and my switchbacks (well, most turns!) were disasters - because I kept slowing down in the with the front brake.

[Bike Mob]

Weight distribution is also key.

 

Enter on the brakes with your ass hanging over the rear wheel, and just as you transition from front brake to rear brake you'll want to match that with body movement (but opposite), as you let the front brakes go move your centre of gravity forwards to let the front wheel have more weight and traction (you will also load your front suspension and effectively sharpen the steering up too)

 

Lightening up the rear wheel will also let your rear slide a bit easier if you need to quickly lock it and whip round. I don't advocate a massive skiddy through the whole turn, but a short jab is enough to turn your bike a fair few degrees to straighten you out for the exit.

 

Technical switchbacks like the Tokai decent needs feather braking and braking in small bites sometimes. Practise as much as possible.

[kosmonooit]

Modulate brakes as necessary ... generally if the wheels lock / skid you are loosing traction: Not good but there is a technique for sharp turns by skidding out the back wheel for an abrupt turn, however skidding is not great for the trail in terms of erosion.

[RockCoach]

Some really good advice in this here thread.

 

Most braking strategies have been covered but I'm sure the OP needs advice on how to survive switchbacks - not about coming in hot with the back wheel off the ground and then flicking the tail around.

 

What I usually do with newbies is take them to a steep grassy downhill slope and practice braking drills because half the problem is getting your body in the correct position. Basically rotating your body backwards to drive your weight through the pedals. Then trying to find your max braking force without locking up. This helps them to discover that the front brake gives you most of your stopping force but should be applied gradually. If you snatch the front you won't be able to rotate back fast enough and you will exit via the front door.

 

Then to expand on what TheV said about choosing the right line. Once you have reduced speed to something more manageable for the tight corner, let go the brakes and steer your front wheel in an arc around the outside line of the singletrack. Also look for any ruts caused by those skidding the rear that you can use as mini berms. If you haven't braked enough you will find yourself having to feather the brakes in order to stay on the trail. That isn't a good idea as patches explained but better cornering technique will help you to stay in line.

 

That is to concentrate on leaning the bike over more than your body. To do this you should be standing on the pedals in the attack position, body low, elbows out, outside pedal down and then just lean the bike over while you stay fairly upright and centered over the bike. The tighter the corner, the more the lean. As you approach the exit, turn your upper body asif aiming your chest towards the corner exit as you look through it.

 

It is easier to practise this on easy trails rather than the next time you encounter a difficult switchback.

[rattlesnake]

I went down the Umkomaas at Sani this year without back brakes..... yikes, cr@pped myself for the first half then realised that front brakes are your friend...... had to pull a few mini stoppies in the braking zone of the switchbacks, but kept it on two wheels.

 

I agree with some of the other posts, your real stopping power is on the front, and the back helps you mid corner to get through. Leave the front brakes alone mid corner though - unless you feel like eating dirt.

[flymango]

Some really good replies. Thanks. Bottom line - front brakes are your friend when used correctly and using only back brakes could be challenging.

[ThePubSA]

When in doubt Barel out

 

[RockCoach]

When in doubt Barel out

 

Nice.

 

Perfect examples of staying low, leaning the bike more than your body and turning your upper body towards the exit. Keeps you well balanced.

[patches]

Here's a back-brake only way to take corners fast

 

https://vimeo.com/43883301

[flymango]

Here's a back-brake only way to take corners fast

 

https://vimeo.com/43883301

 

mmmm .... maybe my queston should've been even more specific! 350 degree switchback with a 2 meter drop off between entry and exit ....????

[wesley_r]

I am no expert, but I don't touch my front brakes IN a corner - no matter how steep / tight it is. I TRY get my braking done before the corner (using front and back) and then use the back in the corner if I need to... my reasoning? If the back locks, it's going to drag a bit - no biggy - in the corner I am focussed on planting the front and guiding it through... however if I lock the front, it's going to ignore my inputs and try to "sit up", so I'm either going to lose my line or end up in the bushes... for this reason I leave the front altogether once I've started turning.

 

Like I said, I'm no expert, but since I've been riding motorcycles for a few years this is what's natural to me. Your front has lots of stopping power, but I don't like using it unless I'm going in a fairly straight line...

[wesley_r]

O yeah and watch the Fabien Barel video - check his body position - weight on the outside pedal, inside pedal up, body nice and loose, etc - line choice, and proper weight distribution will go far to aid in taking switchbacks safely and easily.

[patches]

mmmm .... maybe my queston should've been even more specific! 350 degree switchback with a 2 meter drop off between entry and exit ....????

 

huh 350deg!? Are you turning almost completely around and facing only 10deg difference from entry, when exiting? Does the trail loop under itself? Sorry, I'm a little lost haha

 

but yeah I understand that the berm taken in that clip is different from the specific corner you have in mind. And although that clip is not illustrating a switchback as such... the berm railing principle is the same.

 

Off the brakes!

Outside foot down

Lean the bike more that your body

Countersteer (you'll notice the fromt wheel isn't turning in... it's straight,even slightly outwards at times)

and the hardest part of all... commit

Edited June 12, 2012 by patches

[J0KER]

Seems like certain people have watched the free Fabien Barel DVD that came with the MBUK a few months ago?

[Cal Naughton Jr.]

Belly-button above the BB, brake as late as possible and grab a crap-load of Shimano Rear Break. Try to slide your back wheel, but if that's not your thing, just avoid too much front-break. Pulling too much of the front break actually makes it harder to turn