How Can I Improve My Ability to Process Information and Make Decisions While Descending?

Question

There are moments when I feel overwhelmed with information when descending on the bike that I can't process quickly enough. What can I do to improve this performance aspect?

Answer 1

As the descent progresses, it becomes necessary to sharpen information scanning and hazard anticipation. In this initial level identify a distance of 25 to 50 m in front of the road while approaching before the turns to check whether the road is clear, the turn would be acute or not and what obstructions do present themselves. Gradually, you are sharpening your decision making abilities that will help you pick the speed and the desired line to cross around the corners.

Comments

Descending is nice when roads are properly maintained - a thin sand film on the road is often enough to make you slip.

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Thank you!
I had a crash recently, fortunately my body got only a few scratches, but my self confidence got totally broken. I find myself now breaking before all the turns. It‘s time to go to basics and renew the skill.

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By the way, only way to go downhill safely is going slow, doesn't matter how skill or confident you are, the faster you go the riskier it is, tires may slip, a rock may be there, a hole, you making a mistake etc

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I find descending more difficult than ascents. I'm fine with up to 10% gradient uphill, but even 5% downhill gives you lot's of speed, and I don't yet have skills to tackle the corners at high speed efficiently.
Securing the visibility of the exit, aiming for the late apex, unless the turn is clearly visible, doing all the braking before the turn help, but it's still scary af.

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Rule #64  // Cornering confidence increases with time and experience. This pattern continues until it falls sharply and suddenly (Velominati)

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I can just never gauge how much grip I can get out of my bike.. In my head I'm guessing it's plenty, but out on the road I always shit it quite a bit and just slow down lots. I'm on 30mm tyres at 60psi so there's gotta be loads.

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I am a skilled descender, but I rarely (almost never) use the drops while descending. This could be because that's how I learned it, bike fit issues, or flexibility in my back. I would likely benefit from a bike fit. What can information can you give us on riding in the drops vs. on the bar tops?