Video: Advanced MTB Cornering Techniques with Christina Chappetta
With the basics of cornering out of the way, it's time for Part 2: Advanced Cornering. Join Christina as she teaches how to corner in technical terrain.
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Member since Feb 15, 2012
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We as coaches have to analyse that a central and low position has nothing to do with the ellbows out thing. My tip would be, grab your bars, concentrate on a central position (weight on the feet, light hands) and trust your natural and intuitive ellbow position. It may look different depending on the geometry, body size, bars size etc.
Greetings from Germany,
Marc
Aside from when it's useful/necessary, you're right, elbows should be natural/relaxed.
As Ra1der gets at, elbows-out aids in good bike-body separation too.
And as thustwhumber says, hinging at the hips is hugely important.
What needs to be remembered is that you should teach a step at a time, and then the whole thing as a cohesive movement, and tell people how that works.
(E.g. Elbows out. Hinging at the hips. Bike/body separation. Hip rotation. Pointing with the knee's. Combine)
"Ellbows out" was wrong, and I apologize. That position is weak, encourages you to pull and push in the wrong directions, and, it turns out, is very bad for your shoulders. I really am sorry.
Now that I know more, I suggest your elbows spend most of their time behind your grips. As you might expect, your handlebar width determines your elbow position. Elbows relaxed by the sides — not sticking way out! — and they’re behind the grips. This is strong, effective and safe.
When you pull hard, your elbows will draw inward toward your torso. When you push hard, they flare outward. This is normal. Let it happen. But your median, ready elbow position should be directly behind your hands.
You might be thinking, “This is wrong. I see lots of great riders with their elbows out.” You are correct! There are moments when their elbows are out, but these are integrated moments. Top riders like Brian Lopes and Aaron Gwin are not trying to maintain a static elbows-out position — but they’ll flare their elbows in some moments. One example: Tucking low. Another example: Preparing for a big push into a turn or off a ledge.
Also, the wider your handlebar is, the wider your elbows will be."
Source: www.llbmtb.com/members/riding-skills/row-anti-row/riding-positions
"So learn what to do with your elbows. Sorry, I was wrong about them being out all the time."
Bikes: Ragley mmmBop, Transition Sentinel, Cotic Soul, and Stanton Switch9er ti,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCkn_rsFvxI
It's because when you get older, airborne = the middle bit of a crash.
Thank you
Any feedback from a coaching perspective? I remember feeling pretty comfident in that turn, despite the slight off camber and loose dirt..
Side note: I always stipulate to people who aren't in the habit of being central on the bike that it requires some upper body strength - with weak shoulders, as soon as they get tired you revert to having your weight further back. This is why at least a little training is important.
(I've experienced this first hand while recovering from a shoulder injury, I rode hard too early, technique was good at the top of the trail and sucked at the bottom as my strength failed.)
Love watching and listening to other coaches explain stuff, it's how we continue to learn. (so keep checking the comments, I know I will be!)
Would you say that the “Now and next” element is along the same lines as picking focus points as you’re approaching, entering, negotiating and exiting a corner?
I’ve found this to be really useful, particularly in helping me to make better line choices.
Would be awesome to have a video dive into this, as well as body positioning, and the handlebar weighting.
One thing I’d love to hear your thoughts on - like many riders I have one turn that goes better than the other, in particular I tend to lean the bike on the same inner thigh for both turns. Makes me wonder how the bike turns at all on that inverted position. Anyway, the question is: do you think you can break down where the lean initiates from? As I need to correct that bad habit, I catch myself wondering if you tend to push the bars in w the outside arm, vs pulling it from the inside. Not sure I’m making any sense. Thanks at any rate for the awesome content, keep it coming pls!
Because the trails are hundreds of years old and are shared trails. Or because there is no room to build nice round corners...
It’s as much fun as railing berms.....
Foot out, flat out.
I think it‘s fun too, but in two weeks of riding in the sea to sky area I haven‘t found one corner on a trail where it would be faster or more fun to ride it like you would have to ride really tight switchbacks.