Body Position Clinic

Jun 6, 2011
by James Wilson  
Being balanced on your bike comes down to one thing - body position. Without good body position you will struggle to find flow and apply other skills to your bike. However, despite the importance of it few riders really understand what good body position is, why it is so important and how to fix it.

This video covers the basic Body Position Clinic I use to show my clients how to understand and apply this all important concept. I also go over 3 essential exercise that you can use off the bike to help you fix and ingrain better movement so you can apply it to the bike. Once you get this concept down you'll find that you are much more consistent on the trail and will have an easier time applying more advanced skills, like the Cornering Drills article I posted a while back.

Enjoy, hope you find the advice helpful...

Views: 32,743    Faves: 209    Comments: 4




MTB Strength Training Systems is the world leader in integrated performance training programs for the unique demands of mountain biking. As the strength and conditioning coach for the Yeti World Cup Team and 3 National Championships, his programs have been proven at the highest levels. As a regular contributor to several popular magazines and websites, James has helped thousands of riders just like you improve their speed, endurance and skills on the trail. Visit www.bikejames.com to sign up for the free Trail Rider Fundamentals Video Mini-Course.

Author Info:
mtbstrengthcoach avatar

Member since Feb 3, 2009
59 articles

63 Comments
  • 40 7
 Always very interesting and informaive...but Please...use a throat mike or something...your accent just wasn't made for echoey spaces...it sounds like a dead eel being slapped around the walls by a drunken, blindfolded midget...
  • 4 3
 he doesnt have an accent.. silly
  • 3 1
 ha ha. yooouuuu whatt...?
  • 3 3
 ya i dont see an accent there... only for you new zealanders.
  • 6 1
 i can hear it. he just sounds like your average muscle beach california guy lol
  • 5 11
flag Itai-A (Jun 7, 2011 at 4:15) (Below Threshold)
 Full of cr*p, simply wrong !!!
By minute 3 I stopped listening after the followings:
1. Bikes center of gravity is the BB ? I really doubt that.
I think he means the body needs to be in the middle of the bike's contact points (tires touching the ground) which is roughly the wheels axels. this way you'll get about 50-50 weight distribution between the whells/susp.
2. If your body's COG (center of gravity) is in front of the bike's COG you'll be thrown - Common that's simply WRONG !
He probably meant to say that if your body's COG is past the front tilting point of the bike (which is the front wheel's axel) than you'll be flipped over the handlebars.

Man - go study some physics/rigid mechanics and then teach us body-bike position.
  • 2 3
 maybe you should to, vcause the center of gravity on a bike is the b.b. everything is set up aroiund it and it is arguably one of the most important parts of a bike frame...
  • 2 1
 @itai-a he is actually right. the cog is in the BB. i know a professional bicycling coach and he tells me and my team all the same things. so you need to study more. not him.
  • 18 4
 Hmmm, advice from James Wilson; the strength and conditioning coach for the Yeti World Cup Team?
Or... COxYDuDE?

Might listen to James aye...
  • 14 3
 haha, indeed.
I think he's forgotten that anyone can view his profile too Wink

How not to corner, by COxYDuDE: www.pinkbike.com/photo/5466395
  • 2 1
 squeeze those butt cheeks
  • 2 9
flag coxydiver (Jun 6, 2011 at 12:06) (Below Threshold)
 hahahahhahahaahh :') mate that was off like 3 years ago that really the best you got ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
  • 1 0
 hahaha 3 years ago ????? look at the date it was put on in october last year
  • 1 9
flag coxydiver (Jun 7, 2011 at 15:15) (Below Threshold)
 uploaded then ya faggot
  • 4 0
 nice post sup3rc0w haha
  • 2 0
 sup3rc0w dude yes Big Grin
  • 6 0
 Great info James, thanks for doing these videos. They are a great resource.

But PLEASE buy and use a wireless lavalier microphone!!
You have solid PRO info here but it sounds totally amateur.

These links should help:
www.tfwm.com/OMNIvsCardioid
www.microphonesystem.org/wireless_lavalier_microphone_system.html
  • 4 0
 Well not to be a physics geek , but you mean center of mass. Center of gravity is closely related and the two can coincide. Any way, the majority of weight of the bike - and therefore the CoG and the CoM would be forward of the BB - my guess would be a few inches over and up - not neceassarily a point on the bike, but more likely "inspace". Otherwise, good vid.
  • 1 2
 WTF?! haha big words
  • 4 1
 it would be interesting to see other coaching/training viewpoints or advice as well just for comparison. for example, Tomac has been coaching Gwin, right? Any insight on that kung-fu would be very appealing.
  • 1 0
 It appears that Gwin was Jame's old customer!!

www.bikejames.com/strength/arm-pump-exercises-with-aaron-gwin
  • 2 0
 Why is everyone getting so mad? Who cares if someone wants to ride differently from everyone else. Sweet that's there style. Just like in park skiing there's a proper way to slide s rail but a lot of pros add in there own body positioning so it's stylish for the way they ride. Let people do there own thing bros. Unless it directly effects you as in he hits you because of this riding position then stop freakin
  • 2 1
 On a related topic: a know a few customers who used on-line "fit" systems: Wrench Science was one of them ... they plugged in all the data these sites required, bought a bike based on what those site suggested -- rode it.... couldn't stand the "fit" --- be careful what you ask for.
  • 5 0
 can someone tell him to use a proper mic on his shirt.
  • 5 0
 I can't stand that video simply because he has no mic and the sound is awful!
  • 1 0
 The shoulder part really helps. I always ride more slouched and I've always found it to be really hard on my shoulders, I didn't know there was a way to prevent that until now
  • 1 0
 Great video, gonna video myself and check. I always thought exactly what he says but a little bit of pressure ON the hands (i.e. push) not pull... Still, gonna try this, can only get better Smile
  • 4 0
 Lost me when he said the bike's COG is the bottom bracket. Lmao.
  • 1 1
 i thought that aswell, its good he's a fitness instructer and not an engineer. but if you could make a bike with its c.o.g. at the bb then it would corner amazingly
  • 3 2
 This is exactly what I was looking for! For a long time I've been riding with slouched lower back Frown Guess I gotta strengthen that lower back!
  • 2 0
 first thing i thought when i saw this picture is perfect body position...
www.pinkbike.com/photo/6678260
  • 1 0
 really? first thing I thought was HOLY SHIT!!!!!
  • 1 0
 great work! i like watching these videos and also iam german and my english sucks i do unerstand what he was saying ! thanks
  • 1 0
 i bend my arms a litle but not like that ... i think... and dont bend my legs too much too... i think ... i never noticed im gonna see if im riding properly on my pics xD
  • 1 1
 love these videos, always provide useful information. His voice reminds me of the ski instructor in that episode of southpark where they go to aspen
  • 2 1
 Interesting opinions in this vid. I'd like to see more vids of the same ilk, but from other riders and coaches..
  • 1 0
 Brian Lopes and Lee McCormack tell the same things in their book Wink
  • 1 3
 James you need a mic my friend. I apperiecate all the info but your vids are over explained and you could cut it down a little. However I am gratefull for your informative vids. Thank you.
  • 4 1
 over explained? i strongly disagree. for anyone but a noob to get anything from this video he needs to over explain.
  • 1 0
 great info, nice and thanks!
  • 1 0
 you should use a microphone because the audio quality is really bad
  • 2 3
 Good advise but every rider has different body position, this works well for people new to the sport.
As for the rest?
I don't think so.
  • 3 2
 sick advice post more Big Grin
  • 1 1
 Ye thats gunna help my riding alot, thanx for the vid Big Grin
  • 1 1
 Good job & thanks James.
  • 2 1
 I have a bad back Frown
  • 1 2
 the guy does not need a microphone, someone needs better speakers...buy BOSE....
  • 1 1
 Good info.
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