Loose Over Hard

Loose over hard, also called loose over hardpack, is a surface where a layer of loose material such as sand, dust, gravel or small stones lies on top of firm, compacted ground. The loose layer acts like ball bearings between the tyre and the hard base, so grip is much lower than on either surface alone.

It is very common on gravel roads, dry forest tracks and worn motocross corners, and a frequent cause of front-end slides on adventure bikes.

Ride smoothly with gentle brake and throttle inputs, stand on the pegs, keep your weight forward and your upper body relaxed, and let the bike move around slightly underneath you. Tyres with closely spaced knobs and slightly lower pressure help the tyre find the hard layer.