Watch: How to descend switchbacks with confidence

Develop your mountain bike skills and learn to ride through technical downhill switchbacks with coach Peter Glassford

Canadian Cycling Magazine October 27, 2018

Nothing disrupts downhill flow quite like a tight, awkward switchback corner. Making it through the turn smoothly, though, will help you carry speed on the descent. And when you have more control in the corners, you’ll have more fun during your down time on the trails. Coach Peter Glassford has the tips, tricks, and technique to help you relax and enjoy the ride when turn radius’ get tight.

Carrying speed as you descend switchbacks requires line choice, proper body position, effective breaking strategy, and the ability to adapt to different types of corners. Coach Glassford will help you develop the technique and strategy to approach corners with confidence.

After you’ve done the work to earn your turns on the climb, you want to enjoy riding on the way back down. When you practice these pointers you’ll start to feel the flow through the most awkward “Euro” corners around.

For more tips on technique from Peter Glassford, head to the Canadian Cycling Magazine YouTube channel.