Return to Fitness by Bill Katovsky

Author:Bill Katovsky
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Published: 2010-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

Cornering is where most cyclists run into a brick wall of terror. “It’s the biggest mistake people make descending,” continues Stieda. “They wait until they’re in the middle of a turn to brake. If you have to brake in the turn, you didn’t slow enough to begin with. Then, push your outside pedal down (right turn, left foot down) with pressure on that foot. To initiate the turn, lean the bike—not your body—into the turn (right turn, lean bike right). The faster and sharper the turn, the more you’ll lean the bike. This action is similar to downhill skiing.”

Descending hills on a mountain bike offers challenges of a different sort. Just like with road cycling, choose a line. Unfortunately, tree roots and deep ruts can snag a wheel. Hence you need to have good braking skills—but go easy on the front brake, since too much pressure will catapult you right over the handlebars.

For correct body English, keep your butt back to help balance the bike. Stay low, or maintain your body close to the bike. You don’t want to be sitting upright. And while front or rear suspension systems may absorb the bumps and bounces, you can use your legs and arms as shock absorbers.

Personally, I’d rather prove my courage and mettle on uphills rather than downhills. (I obviously belong to the cautious camp.) There is nothing wrong with this preference. Speed was something I cherished during my younger riding days. I remember once getting up to forty-six miles per hour on a mile-long descent in Berkeley’s Tilden Park. The front end of my road bike shimmied and went all squirrelly, but I pumped my legs harder. I wanted to go even faster and hit fifty. I loved the rush, the scary dance on danger’s tightrope. Fortunately, I never took a spill during these solo road-warrior contests. Now that I was biking again, I knew that I wouldn’t tempt fate like that on my rides. My goals changed. I rode slower, saner, more carefully. I was just happy to be riding—and I didn’t want anything to interfere with this newfound feeling.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.