Basics of Downhill Mountain Biking

Downhill mountain biking is a type of mountain biking event that entails racing against an opponent or racing against the time cycling down a steep incline. In most cases, gravity plays a huge role in getting the cyclists down but some downhill mountain biking enthusiasts pedal to gain more speed. Pedaling gives the cyclists more speed to accelerate. This is the thrill and adrenaline rush that many downhill mountain bike riders love.

What You Need For Downhill Mountain Biking

Downhill mountain biking is more dangerous than cross country mountain biking because of the speed involved. This is the reason why responsible downhillers don protective gear in case they take a spill on their way down. Protective gear for downhill mountain biking includes a helmet (full face is recommended and preferred), body armor and gloves. These are the basic gear needed to help protect bikers from potential injury. All are made of lightweight material to accompany the lightweight downhill bikes that are usually used in these events.

A full face helmet is a mountain biking helmet that is highly similar to a motorcycle helmet that covers the person's entire head. Due to the speed and velocity that downhillers experience along with the rough ground and terrain where they might fall, protecting the head is of utmost importance. Body armor includes, shin guards, arm guards and a body armor to protect the chest and spine. Downhill mountain biking usually have narrow trails that are called technical trails which can have some obstacles on the trail itself or at the sides.

Gloves for downhill mountain biking are similar to other kinds of mountain biking gloves but are usually full fingered with protection or padding in the palm and sometimes even the knuckles. Protecting the hands is important because these are usually the first ones we instinctively put up when we fall. A downhill mountain biking enthusiast also can not ride well if his hands or fingers are painful due to scratches or wounds.

Downhill Bike

The downhill bike is different from the cross country mountain bike in the sense that the front suspension has longer travel than the cross country bike. Downhill mountain biking also requires larger brakes (usually hydraulic) to help control the descent of the cyclist. The lighter bikes have a distinct advantage over heavy more clunky bikes. The material used for these lighter bikes are also special because they have to be durable and at the same time light enough.