One of the trickiest parts of downhill riding isn’t just pointing the bike downhill and hanging on — it’s figuring out how you’re going to deal with the chaos under your wheels.
Sometimes the trail is all jagged rocks, hidden roots, and holes that look like they were designed to eat front wheels for breakfast. That’s when you’ve got to decide: do you plow straight through or do you flow with it?
This choice makes a massive difference. Get it right, and you’re smooth, fast, and in control. Get it wrong, and you’re either losing speed, bouncing off-line, or getting pitched over the bars in a very memorable (and not fun) way.
What “Plowing” Really Means
Plowing is the bulldozer approach. You’re using speed, your bikes suspensions and body stiffness to let the bike skip over the nastiness underneath. It’s less about finesse and more about brute momentum.
When you plow, you’re not letting the trail throw your bike around. You stay centered, keep your body solid, and let inertia carry you across the mess. The faster you go, the smoother those bumps feel.
Plowing works best when:
- The obstacles are relatively small or rolling, not giant ledges
- The section only has minor direction changes, or plenty of support to turn.
- You’re already moving quickly and are able to maintain that speed
You can’t brake much if at all in sections like this. Basically, it’s point, commit, and hang on.
What “Flowing” Feels Like
Flowing is the opposite. Instead of fighting the terrain, you’re working with it. Your arms and legs become suspension, constantly moving to soak up impacts and keep the wheels glued to the dirt.
When you flow properly, it almost feels like you’re surfing over the terrain. You’re smoothing out big hits, rolling cleanly through drops, and maintaining traction
Flowing is the go-to when:
- You’re dealing with big rocks, ledges, or root webs
- The line is tight or requires precision
- The gradient changes suddenly (think drops, step-downs, or steep rolls)
Here, control matters more than raw speed. You’re not just surviving — you’re setting yourself up for the next move.
The Risk of Getting It Wrong
Here’s the thing: if you try to plow when the section demands flow, you’re in trouble. You’ll get hung up on a big obstacle, get bounced way off line and loose speed quickly.
That’s why the best riders are always reading the trail in real-time, constantly choosing between plow and flow depending on what’s coming next.
Why Plowing Takes Confidence
Absorbing & flowing through obstacles is something riders can be taught in a systematic way — using arms and legs as suspension is instinctive once you spend time on the bike. It can be done at low speed & it quickly improves control, so riders can adapt to it quickly.
Plowing, on the other hand, takes a bit more nerve. It requires carrying the right amount of speed into a section and trusting that the bike (and your body) can handle it. Too little speed, and you’ll get hung up. Too much and you can loose control.
Building the Skill
So how do you get better at knowing when to plow and when to flow?
- Ride a variety of terrain. The more types of rocks, roots, and ruts you’ve seen, the better you’ll get at reading them.
- Experiment. Try plowing through smaller rock gardens, then flowing through bigger, slower features. Compare how it feels.
- Watch faster riders. See how they approach the same section of trail — you’ll often notice they make different choices depending on speed and line.
- Start small. Don’t try to bulldoze the nastiest section on your first attempt. Build confidence gradually.
Final Thoughts
Downhill riding isn’t just about bravery — it’s about learning the rhythm of the trail. Some sections beg to be smashed through, others demand finesse. The real magic happens when you can switch between plowing and flowing instinctively, almost without thinking.
That’s when rough terrain stops feeling like an enemy and starts feeling like a dance partner.