You have to ride stairs. Full stop. That's how I understand freeriding. Descending would be like a skier unbuckling his skis before hitting the mogul piste. Unthinkable.
So the other day, 7.30 in the morning, on the way to the office. A building site had cut off the road. Alternative solution: a makeshift staircase. Narrow, steep, nasty. Hardly visible from above. Just the kind of stairs that whisper to you: don't do it.
I didn't leave it.
In with a swing - and then I see him. A man climbing straight up. Any normal person would have slowed down now. Out of politeness. Out of common sense. Perhaps even out of an instinct for self-preservation.
Not me.
Stairs must be travelled.
So, brake on, into the steps. The man is startled, twitches as if energised. I swerve out of the way, even though you can't swerve there. My shoulder grazes the site fence. The handlebars get caught in the wire. And then that old friend of mine reliably comes to the rescue: gravity.
I fly.
Not elegant. More like a Hollywood stunt, but without a stuntman.
Arms forward, face somewhere between horror and panic. After four metres, first landing on wooden steps. Did I say landing? Nonsense! Impact. Hard. Merciless. Then fly on. Another four metres lower: full contact. With force into the building fence. First a clatter, then...
Silence.
My bike is on top of me. My face on the tarmac. From above, the man shouts: "Asshole!"
I stand up. Flight instinct. Get out of here quickly. Damage analysis later. A cloud of schoolchildren is already approaching in the distance.
Stairs are unpredictable.
Most of the time it goes well. Sometimes not. That's exactly why you ride them.
Nevertheless, I will now explain what you should look out for. Safe is safe
Riding technique: Riding stairs
The manoeuvre is like a steep off-road descent - only with steps.
As soon as you are on the slope, there is no more hesitation. The motto is: pull through!
The cranks are horizontal, which provides stability. If the front wheel dips over the first edge, push your weight slightly backwards. Your index fingers are ready to brake on the levers. Brake in moderation, the wheels must roll - this also provides stability.
Hold on to the handlebars, stay loose!
Your arms and legs are bent - this allows you to absorb shocks and keep control at all times. Important: Fix the handlebars. It must remain straight at all times - avoid turning at all costs. Muscle tension!
Look towards the exit of the stairs. This is called gaze control - it helps you to ride where you want to go.
70 per cent is a matter of the mind! On long, steep descents, the key is to stay relaxed, hold on to the handlebars, brake in a controlled manner and keep going right to the end.
(STEFAN HERRMANN, riding technique expert)
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
