Gravel riding is a blend of mountain biking and road biking, and borrows exciting characteristics of each of these cycling styles. In the opinion of Steven Rindner, at the heart of the gravel biking trend lies the gravel bike itself. It is a distinctive category of bicycle that combines the adaptability to conquer off-road terrains with the speed of racing bikes seamlessly. To enjoy their gravel riding experience to the fullest, one must learn and hone certain skills, including how to achieve a ready position while descending on a gravel bike.
Steven Rindner talks about how to achieve a ready position while descending on a gravel bike
How the cyclist positions their body over the bike, and where they distribute their weight, are among the important fundamentals for handling the gravel bike, particularly when the ground is constantly shifting and changing beneath. Such gravel cycling skills are critical for climbing, descending, and even while navigating rough sections of the trail that might be full of roots, rocks, and deep ruts.
The “ready” body position is among the most important body positions to get right for gravel descending. This is the position that a gravel cyclist must default to on most fast descents as it provides maximum maneuverability and stability, in case they need to change positions suddenly.
To achieve the ready position, a cyclist must follow these tips:
- The gravel cyclist must stand with their feet at equal height on the pedals, and whichever foot feels most comfortable must be in front.
- The cyclist must slightly bend their knees, and drop their heels a bit, so that their calves can relax and soak up vibrations. Their hips must hover over the saddle, and elbows must the bent.
- The eyes of the cyclist must focus on the path ahead at all times.
In the opinion of Steven Rindner, in the ready position, the cyclist must have a firm grip on the bars of the cycle, but the rest of their body should be relaxed to help absorb as much impact as possible. The better primed their body is to absorb the impact, the more stable the gravel bike will be over rough surfaces. In case the cyclist is too rigid on the gravel bike, there is a good chance that the handling will be very skittish, and they would bounce off their line after hitting an obstacle. This would make the cyclist feel a lot less stable on the grave.
The gravel biker must think of their arms and legs as their suspension or shock absorbers that help in keeping the ride more comfortable. It also makes the ride smoother and more predictable for the gravel bike. This would ultimately reduce fatigue and help maintain traction.
When it comes to the perspective of gravel cycling skills, the ready position is best used for rough, steep, or curvy surfaces. Many gravel cyclists prefer tackling rough and/or steep descents with their hands in the drops, as they can use fewer fingers to grab the brakes. This leaves more of their hand to hold onto the bars. Such an approach causes a lot less hand fatigue over the duration of a ride as opposed to descending on the hoods.
