Ultimate Guide to Descending with Yanto Barker | Cycling Weekly 

Also, when you're braking, get less aerodynamic, it's free deceleration without brake wear.

I remember descending my first big alpine pass Timmelsjoch in Austria. Totally high on adrenaline and way over my ability level at over 90km/h, a majestic milk cow decided to cross the narrow road about 200m in front of me. When I slammed on my breaks and just barely managed to stop in time, she turned and looked at me, almost as if to say: "now let that be a lesson to you, young man".

so weird to see ollie on cycling weekly now haha

When I was competing as a kid, nobody ever told me about proper tire pressures. I must have been about 17 years old after riding since 8 when an adult coach made a comment about it and told me that it was way too low and pumped it up to about 70-80. Turns out I was riding with like 30-40 since the beginning. And I always thought I sucked at cycling and thought I was weak. After that moment, I felt like I was flying out of the corners at first. But I could get control quite fast and found that I was actually quite a strong rider and cornering technique improved as well. Turns out that riding with super low tire pressure is a good exercise in power.

More Yanto. He always seems a decent bloke.

Outstanding! I knew that I had to play with the tyre pressures but refrained from doing so to prevent punctures!

I rode within 2 mètres of a black bear last summer in British Colombia on a gradual descent. Apparently they can run at 50 kph for up to 3 km. Fortunately it wasn't hungry & didn't decide to chase me.

Deer are the primary animal I have to look out for in the road, but I have seen Bears on rides a few time. I've seen 6 crossing the road on a ride once.

True story: I watched the vid this morning when I was still planning to tackle the hills (think absolute beginner). Looked at the weather forecast, thunder storm. Changed the plan to flat with something I call intervalls. I was just done with the last one and happy to cycle home when a hare ran towards me on the road. Directly towards me even though there were just fields on either side. At first I thought it will jump to one side, when it still kept coming at me, I started thinking if this is how hares with rabies behave and if I should pull my legs up... But yeah, before I looked even more silly than usual on my bike, it took pity on me and went into the high grass on the side of the road. - What absolutely weird timing for a wildlife encounter!

Damn, that Giant propel looks amazing.

Very useful. Like.

Are you guys going to post the in depth technique video soon? Thanks

No gloves Ollie?, i can still remember the agony as a child when picking out bits of gravel from the palms of my hands 38 years later mate.

ive always run my tryres at 60, 65 psi front, rear nvr had a flat in my lifetime of cycling

I need a special video for descending in cold asphalt

As soon as I let go the brakes speeds increases to uncomfortable levels.

olie's pre-gcn days ..

If you are doing a sportive or fondo on a lumpy course, brakes will be tested for sure and as it happens, disk brakes are not all equal. 140mm rotors and resin pads are not what you need on a big descent and will fade if you get held up in traffic. Chances are you are not going to be able to pull over to allow them to recover either. 160mm rotors and metal pads however increase the margin significantly and respond much better for the win.

Just stop breaking for a FEW MINUTES then put them back on....maybe a few seconds..definitely not minutes

what about using water to cool down your disk brakes on the move??

Gary Robbins (a professional ultramarathon runner) just posted a picture today of him having to avoid a bear on a ride. Here's the link to the strava: www.strava.com/activities/1558775298

#notificationgang

I just can't stop looking at that awful stem on your bike🙈

Ollie did you have your legs transplanted? Legs taned, arms milky white. You look like badly put together English Ken. 🤣

Somehow I'm not impressed by a pro that makes rookie mistakes... getting your necklace caught on your Garmin? Yeah idk about that.

Just some theoretical tips without any practical demonstration. I would have expected some good explanatory videos with graphical animations too see how it should be done. Poor effort for a cycling magazine.