Be relaxed, safe and fast on descents

Your fast friends go downhill in strange postures. One tucks low over the top tube and holds the handlebar close to the stem, his nose nestled between his knuckles. Another slides his hips behind the saddle and rests his stomach on it.

At speeds so fast that you're spun out in your largest gear, superior aerodynamics can add substantially to descending velocity. But it's dangerous to get low and narrow at the expense of stability.

Contortions are fine for daredevil pros. The rest of us should adopt a descending position that balances safety and speed.

On your next fast downhill, concentrate on four things:

1. Balance. Coasting with the crankarms horizontal, rest about one-third of your weight on the pedals, one-third on your hands and the rest on the saddle. To do this, you need to rise slightly -- just enough to take some of your weight off the part of the saddle where you normally sit. Pin its nose between your thighs so you can squeeze the top tube with your knees or upper calves. This adds stability by damping the vibration that can lead to frame shimmy (speed wobble).

2. Hand position. Grip the bar's forward curves (hooks) so you can easily extend your fingers to the brake levers. Forget holding the bar on top near the stem. That position may be slightly more aerodynamic, but the narrow grip makes it less stable. And it takes longer to snatch the brakes in an emergency.

3. Vision. Keep your back flat for aerodynamics and stability, but don't put your head down. At descending speeds, problems 30 yards in front will be under your wheels much faster than normal. Scanning ahead helps you anticipate and react.

4. Relaxation. The biggest descending error for most riders is unnecessary tension in the hands, arms and upper body.

Bikes are meant to be piloted with a light touch on the bar so the front wheel can move slightly back and forth for balance. Try riding a bike with a frozen headset and you'll see how difficult it is when the wheel can't swivel.

Tension starts in the face, so if relaxation is a problem for you, take a deep breath and loosen your jaw muscles before descents. Let the feeling flow down through your shoulders, arms and hands.