| Steep switchbacks are an increasingly common | | | | point is to allow your front wheel to go higher or wider |
| occurrence on our trails. | | | | than the back. On steep switchbacks, your back |
| Dictated by the steep terrain they're built on, | | | | wheel may not even leave the main line, but as long as |
| switchbacks often seem pretty intimidating obstacles, | | | | the front is wide you'll be able to get around even the |
| with narrow exits and precipitous drops on one side. | | | | tightest of bends. Speed can also dictate this part. If |
| Although it's not usually too difficult to negotiate them | | | | you're coming in really slow, there won't be enough |
| slowly, carrying speed and staying in balance is often a | | | | speed to get your whole bike onto the high line. So just |
| real challenge. A lack of rider confidence is often the | | | | let the front go for it and relax. |
| biggest mistake. So, these five steps will show you a | | | | |
| few simple tips to use next time you're tackling one | | | | GETTING GRIPPY |
| head-on. | | | | Once your front wheel is sufficiently wide, look down |
| | | | | into the corner, let go of the brakes and start |
| THE APPROACH | | | | transferring your weight on to the other leg. In this |
| This is the part you really want to get right. Keep your | | | | case, the weight goes from the right leg to the left. As |
| head up and have a look at the trail ahead. In our | | | | the bike starts to accelerate off the bank, put more |
| sequence, you can see the right hand turn looks quite | | | | weight onto your outside pedal (don't brake!) to keep |
| far away. But by spotting it from a few metres back, | | | | the grip coming. You'll probably find that the steeper |
| you should be able to get yourself over to the outside | | | | and tighter the corner is, the further down your outside |
| of the trail, ready for the corner. This is the opposite | | | | foot is. |
| side to what you might think! Most of your braking | | | | |
| should be done now. | | | | LOOK TO THE FINISH |
| | | | | With the boost in speed you'll have, keep looking to the |
| GETTING HIGH | | | | exit. The exit is the point where things often go wrong. |
| Now that you are on the outside, you can start your | | | | Don't worry about the drop off the edge of the trail. |
| switchback. To get up the bank easily, think of it as an | | | | Instead, focus your attention on where you want to |
| off camber section. It's always easier to go up rather | | | | end up. Just by looking where you want to go, and not |
| than along an off-camber, and by starting on the | | | | over the edge, you’ll probably find that your |
| outside of the trail, you're in the perfect place to look | | | | confidence to stay off the brakes and keep all that |
| left and head straight up. If the bank is steep, drop your | | | | speed you just made wi1l grow. |
| outside (downhill) foot to get more pressure on the | | | | |
| edge of the lyres. | | | | TOP TIP |
| | | | | Practice steep switchbacks with firmer suspension up |
| LEAD FROM THE FRONT | | | | front to build your confidence. |
| Your front wheel will lead the way. A great tip at this | | | | |