Downhill Cheat Sheet

The key takeaways for beginners – attack position, brake control and bike park rules for your first season.

Protection & setup

Item	Priority	Tip
Full-face helmet	High	55% of MTB crashes go forward over the face – non-negotiable in the bike park.
Knee pads & gloves	High	The minimum alongside the helmet; back and elbow protection depending on the trail.
Sag 25–30%	High	Under your static weight the suspension should use a quarter to a third of its travel.
Tyre pressure 1.5–1.8 bar	High	Your most important contact point – far lower than on a road bike, or you lose grip.

The 3 golden technique rules

Factor 1: Attack position

Concept: Rolling over a root seated and stiff means the bike moves you, not the other way round. Tip: Out of the saddle, pedals level, knees and elbows bent, hips back – your body is the second suspension.

Factor 2: Brake with the front – early

Concept: The front brake delivers about 70% of your braking power. Grab it mid-corner and the wheel washes out. Tip: Brake with control on the straight before the corner, weight back – and off the brakes at the entry.

Factor 3: Look two seconds ahead

Concept: At speed you react too late to anything you only see under your front wheel. Tip: Anchor your eyes two to three seconds ahead, look straight to the corner exit – your body follows that line.

Your first bike park day

Blue flow line first: Rolling berms without mandatory jumps – learn position and vision here without punishment.
Scout first: Walk unknown jumps and drops: run-in, take-off, landing – then ride.
Short sessions: Tired arms are why the afternoon gets sketchy – breaks are part of technique.
Drop the seat: Drop the post all the way – otherwise it blocks every move back.

Defusing arm pump

Release the death grip: Grip only as hard as needed – forearms that pump shut cost you braking power.
Load the legs: Weight belongs on the pedals, not the hands – the bar only guides.
Set the levers right: One finger on the lever, wrist in line with the forearm – bad angles pump you up.

Bike park etiquette

Never stop in a landing: Nor behind crests or in blind spots – the rider behind sees you too late.
The rider ahead has priority: As on a ski slope, the rider behind is responsible for passing safely.
Stop when tired: Most mistakes happen exhausted – one run less is the cheapest insurance there is.

Pro tip: Ride the first run of every day at a deliberate 70 percent: same trail, half the speed, full focus on attack position and vision. That warm-up lap saves more afternoons than any upgrade.