11 ways to descend like a demon

The testimonials on Oscar Saiz’s website speak volumes. From Thibaut Pinot: “I’ll never be the greatest descender, but Oscar’s really improved my downhill skills,” while Marianne Vos eulogises: “Oscar has the unique ability to feel where a rider’s boundaries are… and then push them that bit further, step by step.” Saiz is a former star on the mountain biking World Cup circuit, who now coaches descending skills to many WorldTour teams.

Currently working with Lidl-Trek, 50-year-old Saiz helps the world’s finest gain an edge downhill. To help you do the same, Cycling Weekly tapped into Saiz’s unique teaching talent. The Spaniard is supported in his mountainous mission by the experienced Marvin Faure, a British Cycling level-three coach who is based in the French Alps, where he runs his company Alpine Cols. With these two downhill specialists’ help, let’s break down rapid descending into its component parts for a whole lot more speed and safety.

Start out safe

We must begin, like every good personal growth journey, with a health and safety briefing. “The most important things to check on your bike before a descending session are the brakes and the tyres,” says Faure. “The brakes need to be fully functional, and the tyres should be undamaged and pumped up to the recommended pressure. Also check the steering, which should be silent and smooth when you wiggle the handlebars. Check the tightness of any bolts that may work loose, such as those between the stem and the bars.”