CONTROL ON STEEP TERRAIN

MAINTAINING CONTROL ON STEEP TERRAIN

UPRIGHT BRAKING POSITION

This section extends the braking work into steep terrain,where the rider must maintain enough grip on the front wheel to control speed effectively.

In my experience, this concept is highly unfamiliar to most clients. Standing upright and weighting the handlebars on steep terrain feels counterintuitive, as steep slopes are often where riders are most inclined to lean back.

 

OPTIONAL STATIC DRILL - FEELING FRONT WHEEL ENGAGEMENT
Depending on the client's curiosity or fear around weighting the handlebars, this drill can be introduced early to allow them to feel the correct position without moving.

Place the bike on the steepest slope available. Help the client to climb onto the bike using the pedals as steps. Once they are on the bike with level feet, they will almost always be positioned too far back. Demonstrate this by gently wiggling the bike underneath them. They will immediately feel how unstable the bike is.

Next ask them to:

A. Stand up tall

B. Gradually adjust forward until you see the fork and front wheel visably “engage” as weight comes onto them.

Wiggle the bike again so they can feel the improved stability. Then ask them to move back aand forward a few times to clearly feel the contrast, alowing them to locate the “sweet spot” where the bike feels safest and most stable.

Once they understand the position, allow them to roll out.

 

DRILL SET 4 OF LESSON - STEEP TERRAIN – UPRIGHT BRAKING POSITION

Ensure at some point in the lesson, the client has the opportunity to practice riding SLOWLY down a steep section.

 

Key requirements:

• The terrain must be SMOOTH & STRAIGHT

• The drill must be done at LOW SPEED

 

At normal speed, the rider will feel very little — velocity masks the sensation of added traction. To learn the skill, it must be practised slowly. Once mastered, it can later be repeated at higher speed if appropriate.

Demonstrate the drill yourself by rolling down the slope. You may demonstrate using both brakes, or — if appropriate — briefly demonstrate using predominantly the front brake. This is not to show ideal trail technique, but to highlight:

 

• Which brake the rider is fearful of

• Why that fear exists

• How control is achieved

 

Common Responses to Look For

 

During this drill, you may see:

• Dropping a foot or standing unevenly on the pedals

• Leaning back

• Standing on tiptoes

• Crouching low

 

These are all physical signals that the rider is uncomfortable weighting the front wheel and lacks confidence in controlling the front brake on steep terrain.

Depending on what you observe, repeat the drill — always filming — until the rider can:

• Stand tall

• Weight the handlebars

• Drag the brakes smoothly (predominantly the front)

• Maintain control all the way down the slope

 

For advanced riders, this control should extend to being able to slow to a near stop, or even stop completely mid-slope while remaining stable. At its extreme, this position closely resembles a track stand on a steep incline, with controlled front-wheel grip.

 

Why this drill matters:

It resolves fear at its source

It reinforces front-wheel trust

It integrates braking, balance, and leverage

It directly transfers to steep corner entries

 

On steep terrain, control comes from standing tall and trusting the front wheel.