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Seeing as how I'm home alone all weekend and the missus is abroad, I'm thinking I might make the most of being in London - and my antipathy towards the traffic when trying to get out anywhere offroad - and pootle around town. There's some steps I've been meaning to ride for years. I'd love to say the escalator at Angel, but I'd be lying....
Thing is, I've never quite worked out the best way to ride them. I'm guessing a fair amount of speed is best (to avoid pogo-ing down), and I'm wondering about locking out my forks to avoid diving on each step. Other tips?
Just lean back and let go of the brakes.
Just lean back and let go of the brakes.
+1, wouldn't bother locking the fork (how many steps are there btw?). If you lean back and stay loose enough they shouldn't pack down.
Just apply Golden Rule No 2 - drive the middle of the bike with your feet. So anticipate being thrown forward, and don't let it happen. When you brake you get thrown forward, so either don't brake or add sufficient body movement to account for it.
lean back a bit and dont brake sharply and if on a HT keep your knees bendy to absorb the bunps 🙂
as above, and control the speed, but do not lock your front brakes.
And get that butt behind the saddle (lower it if you need to) and enjoy yourself, once you've done it once, you'll laugh to yourself how easy it was
Steps scare the bejusus out of me. NOt the regular well pitched ones, but the uneven ones like in Calderdale. The ones with timber lips which my brain tells me are slippy are even worse. Proper got a mental block with them.
If you have a clear exit and a large enough braking area after the steps then don't think about braking. If you have to brake then do as glenp says and alter your position to compensate for the forces generated by braking.
Don't hang off the back of the bike ... instead try to stay relaxed and allow the bike to move beneath you which will put you in the correct position relative to the bike.
Don't lock the forks out ... you paid good money for them so use them.
Good luck
stuart
Cheers chaps, will let you know how I get on! 🙂
Or I may get off my backside and go to Swinley...
jump down them and use the lower steps as a transition
or just ride down them as you would a little bumpy hill
just stick on some super tacky maxis and youll be able to stop halfway down, do an endo, trackstand for a bit then roll to the bottom
but yeah just relax the legs lean back and aim for the run out rather than the steps themselves
Or just take advantage of Epping being buff ;0)
Depends on the steps really - if they are even just relax. If they are all odd shapes and sizes you will need to feel your way down - relax and don't go too slow - like i'd know! 😯