I think this topic is appropriate here.

I encounter some difficulties/find it hard riding (downhill) in loose sandy conditions. Problems concern mainly keeping speed and track.

Does anybody have some good hints for this? BTW I do not use bar ends.

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Scott CR1 - 5,5 kg - done
Santa Cruz Blur Carbon - 8,9 kg - and tuning...
Body - 60 kg and tuning...

i just can tell you what the tricks for cyclocross are.
first, look at where you want to ride. if you look at a hole 2 m in front of your wheel and you don't want to ride into that hole, you're definitely gonna ride straight into that hole.
you have to sit very loose on the bike and holding the bar loose is also important. you nearly can't ride a straight line in sand, but the one who is relaxed and not stiff on the bike will hold the speed, while the other one will get stucked into the sand and fall over the bar.
for the material: tires without knobs are better because the bike stays better in the line you want to ride. we use diamant profiles(e.g. an old clement grifo onto a 32 or 34 mm dugast) in sandy races.
the most important thing in sand is:stay cool. if you get to the point where you say yourself "i just have to ride there and there and this the line i want to ride", you will definitely fall over your bar.

I find accelerating or pushing through the sand helps keep your line.

I could try and write a full page about this, but you could also PM me and visit the best training ground there is for loose sand conditions: The "Drunese Duinen" track. I train there quite often; you are welcome to join the sand fun.

Keep your weight away from the front wheel. If you weigh it down you are just pushing it deeper into the sand making steering that much more difficult. Keep the weight back and as per simon, stay very loose on the bike. Same as riding extremely fast, rocky downhills, let the bike do it's own thing. If you find your bike is drifting, let it, there will always be a outcrop or something you can use to correct yourself. In sand, rash movements mean your wheels with broadside killing your speed. Most importantly, for me, if you are trying to get across a flat sandy patch, keep a high cadence.

I train a lot at our local woods, for which the majority is very sandy, the best tip that I can give u is let the bike move around a bit don't stay rigid on the bike. If you are riding a downhill and the corners are bermed then push into the corner this will take some practice as the bike will start to 2 wheel drift, but in loose sand on a berm u should be able to push the bike around by making your own line and the berm will stop u going over the top. JUST DON'T TOUCH THAT FRONT BRAKE TOO HARD, AS THAT WILL SEND U IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION ALTOGETHER.

use big tyres (2.35/2.40) with low presure
only use the back brake and let it roll.

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Tarmac SL2
Epic 2009

I don't think using big tyres is the key here. I think the goal should be to make sand riding as fast and efficient as possible using the bike in stock/race setup. I wouldn't put huge/heavy 2.35 tyres on just to float over a sandy patch that would amount to 5% of the course.

I am sure I'm not the best to answer this question but I have discover that i should kep my weight evenly distributed with a slight favor for the back wheel. stay loose and it doesn't hurt if you fall. stay off your brakes and keep the momentum. but i have the same trouble and always think that i will loss time but haven't yet. i use to have a training partner that was a local pro, he has the same problem but is just more confident. get comfortable in it (sand).

best of luck

if he rides where I think he ride (noordwijk?)
thats pretty sandy
Big Fastfred tires are the key with low presure!!

here (at the coast of holland and belgium are a lot of beach races
they ride with super moto´s or big apple tires

16 oct beach marathon hoek van holland-Den Helder (130 km)

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Tarmac SL2
Epic 2009

Thanks for all the replies!

@dlight: Your true, you have to get comfy with it. Lossing time, or falling (again) is something I just dont like, but after all, you have to practice...

@biky: Noordwijk it is (Schoorl as well), problem is that during summer conditions are very sandy, but a single shower can change the track in mud. Difficult to choose the appropriate tires. But I agree with others, that I should try something wider (less knobbed) than my NBX Lite 2.0's.

@JK: I keep that in mind, thanks offering!

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Scott CR1 - 5,5 kg - done
Santa Cruz Blur Carbon - 8,9 kg - and tuning...
Body - 60 kg and tuning...

track record is ridden on super moto´s 32,08 min.

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Tarmac SL2
Epic 2009

Ride this bike:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2005/tech/shows/interbike05/?id=interbike052/DSCN0130

I read the article, very useful for me... I am afraid these tires wont suit my SID... at least I can try of course!

_________________
Scott CR1 - 5,5 kg - done
Santa Cruz Blur Carbon - 8,9 kg - and tuning...
Body - 60 kg and tuning...