Riding Technical Descents On A Gravel Bike

Although descending on a road bike can present a number of challenges, you are unlikely to encounter very loose surfaces, rocks, or even tree routes in your path. Given the array of different surfaces that a gravel bike can be ridden on, these are all possibilities, and so knowing how to ride them safely and efficiently can really make a difference. With the right skillset, you'll find that a gravel bike can be incredibly capable, even when taking on technical descents.

Essential Skills For Technical Descents

Positioning and Balance

The first thing to get right is where you position your body on the bike, as all other skills will require you to have this down to being second nature. When riding a gravel bike downhill, you should try to position your body in a neutral position on the bike, with your elbows and knees slightly bent. This will allow you to absorb bumps with your joints, but make sure not to ride too low down as this will not allow you much room to absorb impacts.

Most gravel bikes don't have suspension forks, so having your weight too far forward can result in the front tyre suddenly stopping, throwing you over the handlebars. when things get rough, keep absorbing bigger bumps with your elbows and knees, and move your weight slightly further back to reduce the risk of going over the bars. Particularly steep descents may warrant moving your weight further back, however be careful not to move it too far or you'll lose traction on the front tyre and risk skidding.

Braking Techniques

Braking while descending on a gravel bike, particularly on a technical descent can be tricky as the surface could be loose and uneven, so braking is not necessarily done consitently. Try and apply pressure smoothly to avoid locking the wheel, and react to the wheel stopping due to a loss of grip on a loose surface by releasing the brake slightly. Once the grip has been regained, gently re-apply the brake again.

For obstacles such as rocks and roots, release the brakes as you contact them, as having the brakes applied as you impact something can cause the wheel to stop turning and send you into a crash.

The front brake will be more effective at reducing your speed, but if pulled too hard will cause the rear wheel to lift. Try not to pull the rear brake so hard that the rear wheel locks causing a skid, as you have less control and the bike will not slow as effectively as if the rear wheel is still spinning under braking.

Hydraulic disc brakes are the best option for a gravel bike as they provide consistent braking power in all conditions, and allow for more control and modulation than rim brakes. Tyres can also play a big part in the efficiency of your brakes, so consider using tubeless gravel tyres and gravel tyre inserts to improve grip.

Line Choice

Choosing a smooth line with fewer obstacles can make a technical descent much easier than trying to go straight down the middle. As gravel bikes don't often have suspension, factor this in to choosing your line, opting to miss out large obstacles that may cause a crash. Look at terrain and try to choose firm ground over boggy or loose ground.

Cornering

Cornering can cause your gravel bike tyres to lose traction as there is less of the tyre's tread in contact with the ground. You should try to keep your weight centralised and lean the bike over underneath you to maintain maximum traction. Lift your inside pedal to make sure it doesn't catch the ground as you turn, and push your weight down through your outside foot on the pedal to reduce skidding.

Hopping

Sometimes the best course of action is just to jump the obstacle, rather than try to ride over it. Mastering this technique on your gravel bike can not only make you faster, but also reduce the risk of crashing. Using clipless pedals can make it easier to hop than using flat pedals as they attach your shoe to the bike via a pedal cleat.

Begin With A Flat Bar Gravel Bike

For beginners, a flat bar gravel bike can be an excellent starting point for mastering these techniques. The flat handlebars provide better leverage and control than drop bars, which can help build confidence.

The Best Gravel Bike For Your Needs

As you progress, you may want to asses if you are on the best gravel bike for your needs. If you enjoy riding technical descents a lot, then a gravel bike made by a manufacturer that also makes mountain bikes, such as Orbea, may be better suited to you as they will likely have taken design cues from some of their hardtail mountain bikes. Things to look for are large volume tyres with plenty of tyre clearance, slack head angles on the frame, and features like dropper posts and some models even have suspension forks.