[Closed] Pedals level, or dropped in corners?

Depends solely on the corner for me. If it's bermed, with lots of support there then I keep them level but the outside one naturally drops a bit, maybe to 45 degrees from horizontal.

If it's a loose, flat turn then I drop the outside foot right down.

This is an interesting one for me. After riding for a while, I spent some time being coached and was taught to have my outside foot down for cornering.

I went to Jedi for a session and he reaffirmed this with me.

Listen to what the coaches have told you....

'Level with the ground' is another way of looking with it for the level pedals side of things. As the bike goes over the inside foot would raise and the outside foot lower to keep your feet level with the ground.

Listen to what the coaches have told you....

Different coaches have different views on this.

Watch this:

I was lucky enough to do some aikido training with Shihan Joe Thambu. I remembering him saying "learn the technique, master the technique, forget the technique".

I'll leave you to ponder where in that process you are and where the riders are that you've been watching.

Coaches will help you discover what step you need to take next. Top riders will just tell you what they do.

Where as unless he drops a foot off,you'll usually (runs off to find contrary evidence) see Sam Hill (aka the bestest cornerer in the buisness) with pedals level.
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Horses for courses I say.

Top riders will just tell you what they do.

I find I can corner much better with a dropped pedal. For a few corners in quick progression I struggle to get the timing right so often leave them level. Mostly laziness and something to work on

Edit. Is he 'cornering' in that pic above? Body and bike position looks like he is going straight and its just the banked turn that's doing the cornering.

I was lucky enough to do some aikido training with Shihan Joe Thambu. I remembering him saying "learn the technique, master the technique, forget the technique".

I'll leave you to ponder where in that process you are and where the riders are that you've been watching.

Coaches will help you discover what step you need to take next. Top riders will just tell you what they do.

Yip.

So... Fabien, Jedi and the other coaches I've had all say the same thing - outside pedal down, dropped heels to push all the weight into the outside edge of the tyre to generate more grip.

Ok.

However, I definitely know some very good riders who don't do this.

Therefore, does that mean it's not an exact science, and that there is more than one way to corner very well?

Therefore, does that mean it's not an exact science, and that there is more than one way to corner very well?

I dunno....the language on this forum has gone to shit.

Therefore, does that mean it's not an exact science, and that there is more than one way to corner very well?

Depends on the corner, if you corner with the pedals level on a dead flat corner you'll have less grip, depends whether you need the grip or if you need to pump out of the corner if it's bermed, absorb some bumps or something else.

On a well worn track (i.e. any kind of race) the number of corners that develop berms is probably much higher than on a natural trail as everyone is following the same fast line,so the number of corners you could take pedals level is higher.

Outside pedal down, crank the bike over is the best way to maximise grip. However, if you don't need to maximise grip and need to be ready to take the next corner where nothing matters other than speed...

Learn to walk before you run, learn to run before you try to really run.

If it's a quick corner, maybe as part of a slalom, then level so you can pump the turns to the max - plus you wouldn't have time to switch foot positions in a fast sequence. Outside down for big corners. It's interesting watching videos of pro racers to see what they do!

With your outside foot down, your weight is trying to push the bike upright.

Feet level-ish unless it's foot out, flat out drifting.

I prefer the outside foot down inside foot flapping about in a [s]MotoX[/s] [s]Valentino Rossi[/s] shit I haven't slowed down enough style.

So... Fabien, Jedi and the other coaches I've had all say the same thing - outside pedal down, dropped heels to push all the weight into the outside edge of the tyre to generate more grip.

Ok.

However, I definitely know some very good riders who don't do this.

The journey is not the destination

The Sam Hill pic above I'd say to me is showing weight of the outside foot pushing the rear of the bike into the berm, and inside foot has dropped heal and pushing at the front for steering control. Maybe.

Learning outside foot down is simply a great way to learn to push the bike through the foot into ground to get grip on corners. The pros are at a level much beyond the likes of my humble weekend pootle skills and need control in ways I never need.

Inside foot backwards on the other hand I'd be surprised about. Any such examples with the pros?

It's also dangerous using a 'Still' photo to try to judge technique. For all we know, the pic was taken as the rider is swapping feet, lifting the pedals to miss an obstruction, getting their best foot forwards to pump, hop or simply pedal the bike out of the corner etc!

You need some ETT (Exaggerated Turning Technique).
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Also swearing is ok if it's the son of god.....

I think I am generally level unless it's a sharp loose corner, because then I've got my inside foot unclipped or unweighted ready to dab if I slide.

I used to throw the outside deal down to corner Untill I watched ed oxley who sais level pedals for cornering,I think level pedaling is better,more control and less effort to hit the pedals out of the corner.

Anywhere between level and dropped. As mentioned above, its down to the corner and conditions.

As with all bike riding its a dynamic thing too, you dont drop as quick as you can, hold, wait, level quickly again.

You just have to play with it.

Though thats really hard to teach if youre a coach and who youre teaching has no idea how it should be and why should they. I think the whole dripping a pedal is a good intro to what you need to do.

The Sam Hill pic above I'd say to me is showing weight of the outside foot pushing the rear of the bike into the berm, and inside foot has dropped heal and pushing at the front for steering control. Maybe.

You can't weight one or the other with the pedals level*, if you push one and not the other they move. That pic looks like he's pedaling to me. Not sure about pushing front/back either really as if you push forewards then something has to counter that, either an impact from the ground (hence why droped heels work for flats) or pulling back on the bars.

Having said that I tend to overthink things and I'm still rubbish.

*unless you're pushing against the chain, i.e. pedaling

I have no idea where my feet are, except on the pedals, when I'm going round a corner.. 😳

I tend to find it best to have pedals flat, outside pedal forward, forcing me to turn my hips into the corner.

I came to mountain biking quite late in life, and am also not very flexible, so find I have to do some things that force good technique. Others may find they turn their hips into a corner whatever pedal position they adopt.

Where as unless he drops a foot off,you'll usually (runs off to find contrary evidence) see Sam Hill (aka the bestest cornerer in the buisness) with pedals level.

Or... You'll find Sam Hill (aka the best cornerer in the business) with the outside pedal dropped....

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The top image looks like a berm where I believe you should keep pedals level, the image above is a flatter corner.

What works best for you?