Roll in

When entering steeper slopes try to keep your weight centred over the cranks by extending your arms and pushing the bike into the descent whilst moving your body back and down in one smooth motion. Maintain your ideal 'loose hands' riding position with your weight over the cranks as you continue down the slope.

Stay over the cranks

If you go any further back and hang off the bars you are taking too much weight off the front wheel which will result in poor steering and unpredictable braking. Too far forward and the rear wheel may lift sending you over the bars.

Drop both you heels and use your leading foot to help brace against any forward movement.

Braking downhill

Try not to drag your brakes all the way down a long descent. Brake firmly on smoother, less steep sections of trail allowing the bike to roll through rougher and steep sections if possible.

When descending, bear in mind takes much longer to slow down downhill so ride accordingly by braking earlier than you would on the flatl.

When braking, anticipate the extra push forward on your body as you would on the flat moving even further back and down to avoid putting too much weight on the front end. Remember to bring your weight back forward when you release the brakes again.

At the bottom

As you approach the bottom of the slopecheck to see how quickly it levels off. You will need to adjust your riding position bringing your weight forward as the trail levels off to make sure you don't loop out off the back of the bike.

Move your weight slowly if the trail transitions from downhill to level over a long distance and quicker if it has a short transition. The aim is to keep your weight over the cranks.

At faster exit speeds you will feel your body being pushed down into the trail. This is called G-out. Try to compensate for G-out evenly with your arms and legs without moving your bodyweight backwards. This will require a little weight on your handlebars.

If you try to compensate just with your legs it will put your weight too far towards the rear of the bike again leading to a possible trip off the back of the bike.

I want to personally invite everyone who visits this site who owns or is interested in owning a Sette to join and post in our forum. I know the forum is a bit slow, but that's why we need you the lurker to join and post a question or a comment. It doesn't have to be about Sette either, you could post just about anything in the General Section.  So why not join? Its free for 1. You get a chance to interact with other Sette enthusiasts. You can win some great prizes in our Sette of the Month. Sette Experience could use your support in making this site, a fun, relaxing, and over all good place to interact, unlike some other forums that can not be mentioned. So please join, post, relax, and have some fun.

Until 2/15/2010 all Sette Torx Tools are on sale with 10% off. This makes this month a very good time to think about doing your own bike maintenance or even starting a project for the 6 weeks of winter we have left. 

Sette Experience is proud to present our "Ride today rest tomorrow" gear. Everyone should go check it out and some of it is reasonably priced, and all the profits go to supporting the hosting of this site.

We didn't forget those woman out there.

The link to this store is www.cafepress.com/SetteExperienc2

A lot of the items come in multiple colors, your not limited to just black and white.

New Sette Experience Shirts starting at only $10.79. Available is sizes Small to 4X-Large. Click the T-shirt to go directly to the store, or the link to Cafe Press in the left side bar.