What should you do when you don't quite reach the top of a hill? In most situations, trying to get going again will prove futilewhat often happens is you simply dig a hole with your back tire and, thus, get nowhere fast. What you need is momentum, but that'll be achievable only by getting another run at the hill. In other words, you've got to head back down and take another shot at it. First, of course, is getting turned around on that hill that you've suddenly noticed is dangerously steep. So how should you get turned around when you don't make it to the top?
We asked Throttlehead.com Kawasaki racer Steve Hatch to demonstrate what he'd do. (That's not to say he gets much practice at this, because he's gone up every hill we've ever seen him point his bike at, but for the purposes of education and enlightenment, he agreed to model and provide the advice.) "Besides swear a lot," Hatch jokes, "I think the biggest key, when you're not going to make it, is to try to give up a little earlier than most people. Many try to [keep going] until it's too late, then flip over backward and end up upside down or spinning around, which is the worst. Then, if the hill's really steep, they end up going downhill at top speed, and that's when you can crash."
A. "When you realize you're not going to make it, stop the bike and jump off. I always jump [off] to the high side of the hill," Hatch begins. It's safest if you kill the engine at this point and leave it in gear.
B. "Pull in the clutch, and you can drag the front brake and kind of weasel the front wheel down and slide it around. You can release [the clutch] a little to let the [bike] roll back down, then hold it on so it doesn't take off."
C. Once you get it nearly turned around, you may have to turn the front end from side to side to get the bike pointed more downhill.
D. "Once you're under control, if it's a low enough spot, as this one is, then carefully get your leg back on and [ride] down. I see when [hills] get really steep, guys try to just make a mad dash [when getting back onto the bike] and catch their boot on the inside of the fender, then high-side or cartwheel down the hill."
E. "Once you've turned it around, make sure you're not down off the trail. Then push it back to where it's at a safe location and ride down smoothly. If I try [starting off away from the trail], I'll be in the trees or the bushes."