A beginner's guide to descending confidently

Descending is one of the most thrilling aspects of road cycling. Flying down a mountain pass or a steep hill can make you feel like a pro, if you do it right.

There's almost something poetic about the way the likes of Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel, and Tom Pidcock thunder down a French Alp during the Tour de France. It all looks so effortless, smooth, and fast. But the reality is that descending is a skill that takes practice and confidence to master. And some cojones, too (pardon my French).

I started cycling at 20 years old when my knee injury sidelined me from playing football at a competitive level ever again. I've never ridden in a club setting, so I had to teach myself everything through trial and error. It took several years before I finally 'got it' and understood how to control my bike and my body to feel comfortable going downhill at high speeds.

1. Relax

This is the best and least usable tip one can give you, granted, but it's also the most important one. It's not something you can just do, it takes practice and confidence to master, and only then will you feel comfortable on the bike.

Tension is your enemy. A tight grip on the bars or stiff shoulders will make the bike harder to control. Instead, keep your upper body relaxed. Maintain a firm but gentle grip on the bars. Let the bike move slightly beneath you, especially on rougher roads.

2. Look ahead

It's a lesson a ski instructor taught me on my first and only skiing trip. I had no clue how to slow down on the slopes and found that the only solution was to crash into the snow. I couldn't figure out the zig-zag technique as I kept on focusing on the problem (steep slope) instead of the solution (the next turn).

The solution the instructor provided me couldn't be any simpler: Where your eyes go, your body and your bike follow. Just look where you're going and you're halfway there already; somehow your body will automatically pivot and your bike just seems to follow.

When cornering, look through the turn, not at the ground or the massive drop. Anticipate the road ahead and plan your line.

3. Get in the right position

The position of your body on the bike is crucial for descending comfortably. Here are some key points to remember:

• - Ride in the drops for better control and brake leverage. Always keep your fingers ready at the brakes.
• - Lower your torso.
• - Shift your weight back slightly to keep the rear wheel planted.
• - Drop your heels and bend your elbows to absorb road vibrations.
• - Keep some pressure on the pedals and don't put all your weight on the saddle. Stay nimble and lift your butt ever so slightly when cornering.

4. Brake before the corner

One of the most common beginner mistakes is braking in the middle of a turn. Instead, do all your hard braking before entering the corner. Feather the brakes if necessary while turning, but avoid grabbing a handful. Use both brakes, more front than rear, but be gentle.

5. Corner with confidence

Use the "outside foot down" technique: Shift your weight to the outside pedal at 6 o'clock. Lean the bike, not your body, into the corner. Keep your inside knee pointed toward the turn to help with balance.

Tom Pidcock's crazy Red Bull videos show beautifully how he does this. I think he overdoes it a bit, and it's certainly not recommended you do it like he does, but it does show very clearly all the key elements of descending with confidence.

What works for me is to tilt my head slightly into the turn, as if I want to know what's around the corner. This automatically shifts my weight to the outside pedal and helps me lean the bike into the corner.

Also, keep your elbows bent and your hands in the drops, with more pressure on your arm on the inside of the turn, and almost no pressure on the arm on the outside of the turn.

Let's bring it all together. If you're turning left, do this:

1. Your left arm should sort of push your bike into the corner. Your right arm and shoulder should be relaxed; just sort of let them hang loose in the drops.

2. Your body should lean slightly into the turn, with your left knee pointing toward the corner, and your right leg should push slightly inward. Don't stretch your right leg all the way - keep it slightly bent. Don't hang your body over your bike like motorbikes, keep it nicely aligned with the frame of the bike.

3. Your head should tilt slightly into the turn, as if you want to see around the corner. What works to keep my body in the correct position is to keep my head low and above the right handlebar.

6. Use the whole lane (when safe)

If traffic and road rules allow, use the full width of the road or lane to create a smoother, more manageable curve: Start wide, apex the turn, then exit wide. This "racing line" reduces the sharpness of the corner and increases speed safely.

Again, only do this when you're absolutely sure it's safe to do so.

7. Use your bike computer

People do silly things on the road all the time. Many drivers aren't quite comfortable on mountain roads and tend to be unpredictable. Some drivers think it's a good idea to take over somebody in a blind corner.

A shepherd may be crossing the road, mountain goats may have caused rocks to drop on the road, marmots may be relaxing on the warm tarmac, a farmer may have dropped part of his load on the road: anything can (and will) happen.

One of the best things you can do is use a bike computer to know how to approach the next bend. Plan accordingly and be ready for a plan B in case something unexpected happens. That means you should never go flat out until you're absolutely convinced you're in the clear.

8. Service your bike

It's so obvious that it's almost too silly to mention.

I'm a mechanical dummy and wouldn't trust myself servicing my bike, so I take it to the bike shop more often than necessary. It's one of my ways to stay relaxed, because I know a professional recently checked my bike, so it's unlikely my bike will give up on me. Sure, it costs quite a bit, but it's definitely worth the price.

9. Practice makes smooth

The best way to improve your descending is by doing it, consciously.

Practice braking drills and cornering on quiet roads that you know inside out. Ride behind more experienced cyclists and observe their lines and habits. Review your performance and learn from each ride.

Don't try to follow them if you're not comfortable. A great way to end up in the scenery is to be overly confident. It's just not worth it, so let them go if they're going faster than you. No big deal.

Sure enough, little by little, you'll get better at it, as it does with almost everything when you practice enough. Your reward is that you'll be feeling confident as you glide as smooth as an eel through the bends of high mountain passes.