We think that Brian's tips can help you get down the toughest hills too.

HARDTAIL SETUP SECRETS

 Some riders find descending difficult because of how their bikes are set up. Brian has some tips for adjusting a bike so it descends better. "I put on a shorter stem with more rise and upright bars. I also drop my seat and put on downhill tires. Downhill tires have heavier casings. They're thicker, so they have better pinch-flat resistance. I like the IRC Kujos. Heavier tubes help, too. Buy a thick, thorn-resistant tube," says Brian.

 HOW MUCH FORK TRAVEL IS BEST

 In the fork department, even on a hardtail, longer-travel forks make descending easier. He suggests about four inches of travel for a hardtail descender. "I have a Rock Shox Hydracoil on my slalom bike. I'm really happy with it. I haven't done anything to it, and it's really nice and plush."
 As a general rule, though, Brian recommends setting your fork up stiffer for downhill riding than for cross-country. "You may not want the fork set up really soft. Set it up stiffer because you'll be hitting things at greater speed."

 DRESS FOR THE CRASH, NOT THE RIDE

 When he's practicing on his downhill race bike, Brian wears full-protective gear, including Dainese upper-body armor, a full-face helmet, and Fox knee and shin guards. Even on a fun ride, though, Brian wears knee and elbow pads along with his helmet and gloves. He's ridden long enough to know that no matter how good a rider gets, he still crashes. Brian strongly urges that you always ride with friends (a good safety measure) and keep a first-aid kit in your car.

 STAYING OFF THE FRONT BRAKES

 When you're faced with a steep descent, Brian says, "Put your seat low and get over the back of the bike. Your front brakes give you most of your stopping power, but stay off them in the steep parts. Slow down beforehand, if you can. If you get caught in a rain rut, stay off your front brakes and use your back brakes and ride it out."

 SCRUBBING OFF CORNER SPEED

 "Turns are another place where you have to be careful about using your front brakes. You'll learn from your mistakes about when you can and can't use your front brakes." As a general rule, Brian says, "If you're entering turns, stay away from the front brake unless you're slowing down fast on a safe surface; if you're on rocks or roots, you're asking for trouble."

 PLAN AHEAD & LOOK AHEAD

 When riding downhill, stopping distances are greater, so you need to see trouble spots earlier. "Look ahead," Brian advises. "Don't look directly in front of your wheel. If you're going really fast, look farther ahead, because stuff is coming up quickly."

 STAND UP & FLOW

 As a general rule, stand up on descents. Brian advises, "Stand up when riding a hardtail_unless you're on a gradual descent or a smooth turn_to get some weight over the rear wheel."

 HOLD ON & PRAY

 "People say, `Don't hold on too tight,' but I don't recommend holding on too loosely," says Brian. "If you hit a sudden bump, you don't want to lose control, so I'd recommend holding on pretty tight."

 USE THE SEAT & YOUR LEGS

 When you're standing, you can brace your legs against the seat to help control the bike. "Use pressure on the seat to balance and bring the rear end around," Brian suggests. "Learn to use the seat to get a better center of gravity and better traction from the wheels to the ground. I run a big seat, and that allows me to shift my body weight around more. It gives me a better range of balance."

 DON'T ALWAYS USE THE BRAKES

 When you find yourself coming fast into a section of loose dirt, Brian has familiar advice: "Stay off the front brake. Stay off both brakes if possible. Keep your weight off the front wheel and keep the wheel pointed as straight as possible."
 TO JUMP OR NOT TO JUMP
 "Most of the time," Brian says, "try to keep your wheels on the ground, but there'll be times when it's faster to jump a set of rocks or roots."

 WET STUFF

 "Riding in wet conditions is the most difficult thing in mountain biking," Brian says. "It's the hardest to predict, and your balance has to be on. Over rocks and roots, you need to unweight your bike to minimize sliding. The biggest thing is learning when to use your brakes. You have to learn where to touch your front brakes and where to let off. It all depends on the terrain of the turns and how fast you're going. You have to learn that through experience."