[Closed] Technique: Do you stand up when cornering?

Always unless I'm at the end of a long run and my arms/legs are nackered.

'Carve' the corners in most cases so semi stood up moving the bike underneath you, Jedi will be able to help you with this.

Lots of different types of corners require different techniques and positions. Brian Lope's book is worth a read, he's quite good a getting through the twistys.

99.9% of the time.

yep, always stand

Never thought about it before until now... how odd...

Depends on many factors - speed, terrain, tightness of corner, if there's a berm to support you, bike you're riding, level of exhaustion from the ride so far, etc.

So, all you 99.9% and [i]always[/i] guys... even riding gradually uphill on a fireroad?!? 😯 😆

The only time I sit when cornering is just riding along on roads, fireroads etc. Any trail riding I'm on my feet.

Strangely this is where the skill compensation/laziness of FS affects me, when I'm on my hardtail I stand 99% of the time but on my FS it far less, matbe half the time!! This is strictly XC mind, none of that crazy stuff that requires proper skillz...

Recently I've been nticing a lot more threads etc about improving skills and it's got me thinking about my own bad habits so I reckon it's about time I booked myself on a refresher day, can anyone recommend one that's aimed at XC??

@Adam Buckland.... depends on what you want out of your skills day.

Phone around a few, and discuss how they could assist you.

Are you willing to travel?

Cannot think of a hard fast rule apart from steady non technical uphill is usually sat down. Everything else just "depends". Bit tricky downhill is probably stood up more than sat, unless I am mincing with one leg stuck out 🙂

I only sit down when I'm going uphill.

@Xiphon I guess I'm going to have to travel as I live in West Berks and I assume that most of these guys are in more geographically challeging areas??

I guess I'm going to have to travel as I live in West Berks and I assume that most of these guys are in more geographically challeging areas??

What's the point of having suspension if you stand up...I've learnt to jump sat down aswell now.

Always always stand up, what the below video

Adam - anywhere S of The Wash & E of Bristol means Jedi is the best bloke you can go and see. Some might even say you can forget the bit between "S" and "l"

psling - Member

So, all you 99.9% and always guys... even riding gradually uphill on a fireroad?!?

So, all you 99.9% and always guys... even riding gradually uphill on a fireroad?!?

I think I only rode my mtb up hill a couple of times last year 😕

Thanks for the pointer, I'll drop Jedi a line.

There's a number of very good reasons why sitting down is one of the most 'crash inducing' things you can do while riding.

What's the point of having suspension if you stand up...I've learnt to jump sat down aswell now.

Stand up and get your weight forward to get more traction off the front tyre. Watch some BMX track racing for inspiration.

simon1975 - Member

Stand up and get your weight forward to get more traction [s]off[/s] [b]on[/b] the front tyre. Watch some BMX track racing for inspiration.

simon1975 - Member

Stand up and get your weight forward to get more traction [s]off[/s] from the front tyre. Watch some BMX track racing for inspiration.

Betterer?

Much betterer!

depends on corner shurely?

I remember seeing the start of the Dalby XC world cup, a big flat grass wide radius corner. All the pros going round it sat down cornering like roadies do, leaning bike well over. Obviously weight shifted a bit on the saddle but deffo not properly stood up. 😕

If it's a downhill corner, I usually find my technique of sitting down, feet off the pedals, death grip on the bars and squealing like a 6 year old girl has served me well this far 🙂

Give me strength.

If it's a downhill corner, I usually find my technique of sitting down, feet off the pedals, death grip on the bars and squealing like a 6 year old girl has served me well this far

surely the only time feet are on pedals is when you're going uphill, anything else and you're not acting like a kid. bikes are designed so we can act like kids, MEDICAL FACT.

By the sound of things I think i've been falling into bad habits / laziness and sitting too much. I'm definitely seated at least 50% of the time on flat / rolling terrain, and only really a commited out of the seat rider when pointed downhill or over rooty and rocky sections.

I posted this question as i've been trying to establish why some of our riding group are faster than others on the local singletrack trails, and the standing/seated technique difference was something I noticed.

It certainly makes sense now I think about it.

They're faster because they pump the bike over the terrain.

Tend not to stand up in the car or on the motorbike but rarely corner seated on the MTB.

It's best to push the bike into the corner while maintaining your c-of-g and I find it difficult to do this when seated normally.

Sit down rider? I'm not having a go, but I'm guessing you didn't spend to much time on rigid bikes.

I stand 99% of the time when cornering. 1% is probably when I have run out of carbs and am half dead!

I got in early with full-suss riding so that might explain it!

Excited now about my next ride, hoping for a revelation! 😀

First thought was 99% stood up but actually it depends, if I'm pedalling hard and the speed/corner/conditions are right I'll sit down and pedal through the corner, that'll be mainly climbing but some smooth bermed trail centre stuff is perfect for powering through.

Fast/loose/rocky/hard turns/very twisty etc you should be stood up.

is this you?

Good lord some of the people in this thread must be scary to watch riding! 😯 😯

This is bad form I know,

so I'll edit it out.

Why follow him? either stop and give him a break or call out that you are coming past

Good lord some of the people in this thread must be scary to watch riding! 😯

Not scary, just lazy recently and fallen into some bad habits. I can rip it up with the best of them just lost my mojo a bit since last summer and trying to find it again 😐

They are faster 'cos they don't brake as much....

Having confidence to tackle a corner at speed is quite important!

Some will feel the need to sit, others stand..

I hover, so am in the middle. Not quite standing, not quite sitting.

Just like I do when going to the toilet.

Just like I do when going to the toilet.

😐

Go here: http://www.leelikesbikes.com/

Have a good read. Buy this:

http://www.leelikesbikes.com/mastering_mountain_bike_skills_2nd_edition

Be rad to the power of sick as you send the gnar. Braaap! 😉

(And I gather visiting this chap is excellent too - http://www.ukbikeskills.co.uk/ - I have an impending trip...)

Had a Xmas Book Token to spend.

Ordered the Brian Lopes book 😀

This thread has given me renewed faith in my ability 🙂

How exactly does one get traction on the front wheel (excluding those fancy-shmancy 2wd bikes)?

Cornering while climbing - depends on the bike and the trail
Cornering while descending - you mean you sit down descending? Are you on crack?
😀

rocketman -
Tend not to stand up in the car or on the motorbike but rarely corner seated on the MTB.

Car agreed, but Motorbike ?

I always "weight" the outside "Peg" whether the bike is Powered by an engine or a fat heffer 😉

I may look like I am still on the saddle sometimes but as much of my weight is going through the outside peg/pedal as possible, basically bum close to seat for control through thighs but not bearing any weight.
That way you drop your effective centre of gravity

Mastering mountain bike skill is a great book, buy it study it then go see a coach every 6 to 12 months, that way you get the best of both worlds.

Riding a bike is more about feeling than anything else, at first new techniques feel awkward, after your used to them they just feel natural.

as for cornering how ever you like it 😉

I have got in the habit of always standing just on the outside pedal and pushing the bike over with my hands on all types of turn.

But I have seem many edits with riders keeping their feet level, esp on quick berms. Something to work on?

But I have seem many edits with riders keeping their feet level, esp on quick berms

if the berm is supporting your tyre, otherwise the point of outside pedal down and weight over it is to put more weight through the edge of the tyre for grip.

I get off and walk round corners

But I have seem many edits with riders keeping their feet level, esp on quick berms. Something to work on?

Always stand obviously...

Keeping your pedals level, even on flat corners, is good practice too. It's counter intuitive but the bike is easier to steer and you can still weight the tyre edges, just lean the bike more.

I stand when cornering but sit down to wee...

and talk shit with your finger tips 😆

always wash your hands after cornering.. 😉

Buzz - the base of the tyre remains perpendicular to the ground, so as far as the tyres know they're not cornering Obviously standing, with weight through the pedals will still be an advantage in a bermed corner, it's just that you're not looking to load the edges.

OK. Is it faster turn-to-turn not having to swap foot position; is that the point? I'll have a go on my next visit to AC - it has several sequences of bermed corners on the Upper Quarry segment.

Is it faster turn-to-turn not having to swap foot position

Attack!

I aim to corner like danny hart, in this video, skip to about 9 minutes if you cant be bothered to watch it all

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Locals2-Part-2-2012.html