Death grip

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Death Grip refers to a technique used in mountain biking whereby the rider avoids covering the brake levers. It is most often used by dirt jumpers (most especially those new to the discipline), when approaching a new, bigger, jump than they're used to, but are fairly sure they can manage. They will do this to prevent the sudden urge to brake which is experienced when the doubts about clearing the jump pop into their mind on the approach to the take-off. Very few riders relish riding 'death grip', resorting to it only after many attempts at a jump that they still cannot resist the urge to brake on.

It is also, less frequently, used by trials riders as a form of training, as it forces them to use balance more than brakes to control the bike, which improves their technique. A common way of training using death grip is where two riders practice in the same area, and each tries not to be the first to use their brakes.