MTB
Riding your mountain bike down a city landscape is radically different to going down a forest trail. Chilean pro rider Pedro Burns shares his advice and warns of unexpected obstacles.
If there’s anyone who knows how to race urban downhill mountain bike events like the Red Bull Cerro Abajo series, it’s Pedro Burns. The Chilean rider has been breaking records as a racer in enduro, downhill and urban downhill since kicking off his career as a junior back in 2013.
Burns has raced in the last two editions of Red Bull Valparaíso Cerro Abajo and has competed in the Red Bull Monseratte Cerro Abajo race in Columbia, making him the perfect guide into the world of urban downhill. So here are his insider tips on what to keep in mind when racing downhill in a city.
01
Banish doubt: “You need to know what you're doing”
It stands to reason that, balanced on the precipice of an almighty drop-in, you may experience some doubts about what you're about to do. Burn’s advice? Don’t worry about it.
"You have to be one hundred percent sure of what you're doing, because in urban downhill there are lots of big drops that you can't just roll down. You have to jump."
In other words, before taking your downhill racing into the city, you need to know what you’re doing. "You have to be one hundred percent convinced you can pull it off," he says. "There's no space or time for doubt. You need a lot of experience if you're racing certain tracks like Valparaiso. It's not an easy one."
02
Be aware of your environment: “Adjust your thinking”
Obviously, riding in an urban environment is different to riding down a mountain. Out in the wilderness, you may experience all types of dirt terrain, roots and rocks, depending on the weather. In the city, this is replaced with concrete, cobbles, stairs and a whole host of artificial surfaces, including wood. Knowing how to ride these is important, as it is knowing the route ahead.
"In an urban environment, you can look at the course in advance and plan a bit easier than you can in the woods. You need to take into account all of the different materials you'll encounter, like cobblestones, tarmac, wood and paving.”
It's also a case of adjusting your headspace to your environment, too. "You also need to know woods will be steeper than an urban course, so you need to adjust yourself and your thinking depending on the overall environment," says Burns.
Get an idea of just what to expect from a Red Bull Cerro Abajo series race by watching Tomáš Slavík's POV of his race run at the 2023 edition of Red Bull Valparaiso Cerro Abajo.
03
Feel the pressure: “Check your tyres“
We're not just talking about stress, but how you set up your bike, too.
"For urban downhill, you need a lot of pressure in the tyres. You need fast-rolling tyres on the streets, but you also need to appreciate that you're going to lose some grip at some points, so you need to be careful."
As always, riding urban DH is different to riding in the woods and on dirt. "For instance, if there's a turn in the woods, and you see it could be steep, you need to be careful,” Burns explains.
To combat the differing environment of an urban run, Burns suggests: "It's also worth making the bike stiffer in general – more pressure on the suspension as well – because there are big drops and you're going to go really hard, so you need the bike to be responsive at that speed and on hard stuff like concrete."
04
Keep an eye out for the dogs: “They are part of the course”
Granted, this one might not apply everywhere, but in Burns's native Chile it certainly does.
"When you're racing, you trust that no one is going to cross the street," Burns explains. So far so good. "But you have to be careful. In some races in Chile, there are lots of dogs. You have to be careful and really focused. The organisers say the dogs are part of the course. If a dog crosses in front of you, you're not able to try your run again. It's part of the game, you have to deal with it."
In non-canine related safety: "You also have to be conscious of cars and people, because you can't control that, so you have to be very aware to stay safe," Burns advises.
05
Go for it: "Don't overthink"
It's a simple one this. Or is it? Enjoyment should be at the heart of all sport, but overcoming your doubts and fears and actually just sinking into the moment? That can be hard. Still, as Burns says, it’s always best to: "Enjoy your ride. Don't overthink or stress. Just ride, enjoy, go."
