We have repeatedly shared some basic safety knowledge about cycling. According to statistics, however, nine out of ten cycling accidents occur during downhill sections. It’s easy to imagine that downhill usually follows an uphill climb—long-distance riding consumes significant energy on ascents, leading to complacency on the descent when riders may let go of the brakes and speed down recklessly. This is extremely dangerous. Currently, many members of our forum are cycling along the Sichuan-Tibet route. Last year, we heard about a girl who plunged off a cliff while descending Zheduo Mountain... Accidents like this are not uncommon on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. Here, we’re reposting a technical guide on downhill cycling for everyone’s reference.

1. Obey traffic rules. Don’t ride in the oncoming lane, especially when turning. Stay as close to the side as possible when safe.

2. Don’t race cars. Don’t compete with others for speed while descending, and definitely don’t race motor vehicles.

3. Maintain a safe distance. We all learned this in driving school: at 30 km/h, keep 30 meters apart. My recommendation is 50 meters. Don’t ride side by side or chat while cycling.

       4. Control your speed. On familiar roads with good conditions (like the Xin Tian Bei Line),try not to exceed 40 km/h and slow down in advance before turns.On unfamiliar roads or those with poor conditions, it’s best not to exceed 25 km/h. This way, you can maintain control if unexpected situations arise (such as oncoming vehicles, potholes, gravel, etc.).

5. Master proper braking techniques. We won’t go into too much detail here—use intermittent braking.Beginners can apply intermittent braking to both front and rear brakes.More experienced riders can use the front brake first followed by the rear, or just the front brake. Remember, the front brake is much more effective than the rear one. While braking, shift your weight backward and grip the handlebars firmly with straight arms. As long as you don’t slam the brakes, flipping over won’t be an issue.

6. Stay highly focused. Closely watch the road ahead, signs, vehicles, and more. Avoid distractions like wearing headphones while descending.

7. Don’t perform risky maneuvers. Absolutely no riding with one or both hands off the handlebars, no using or answering your phone, no looking back while turning, no waving—any actions that compromise safety. Nothing is more important than your life.

8. Always wear a helmet. I won’t elaborate too much on this—just one point: once a helmet has been in an impact, don’t use it again. It has served its purpose. Spend the money on a new one—it’s worth it compared to your life.