LOL
Good to know I was using good technique yesterday when I was trying to push the limits of a new Panaracer Rampage I put on the front for fall. I found out how fast is too fast. Me+terra firma=thud+sore shoulder
Cornering with the outside foot down will dramatically increase your range of motion and let you lean the bike as much as needed and stay centered over the bottom bracket.
Reduce is the key word. I do not think it hinders bump absorption enough to justify the lesser traction. However, I race XC, so there are considerably fewer bumps on a typical XC trail than a backcountry trail, but at the same time all of the corners on the XC courses are fast. Therefore, I corner like a roadie on dirt. Weight on inside hand, outside foot, looking through the corner with your knee pointed out.
One tidbit that I haven't seen in this thread (although I didn't watch all of each of the vids) is raising your outside elbow up and forward can help you get around a corner. I believe it helps to get more of your weight on the inside hand, however, it feels almost like magic when you get it right.
Cornering feet level limits your range of motion so you'll end up leaning with the bike once you get to a certain point, you can get away with leaning with the bike on bermed corners. Cornering with the outside foot down will dramatically increase your range of motion and let you lean the bike as much as needed and stay centered over the bottom bracket.
Not really responding to your post b/c you make a good point & I'm sure that opinion on that issue varies - But your photo is a great illustration of another pointer my instructor gave me: Keep your weight over your outside grip. Keeps the weight over the bigger cornering lugs on the tire (vs. the center lugs) & helps you to get the bike leaned over.
One tidbit that I haven't seen in this thread (although I didn't watch all of each of the vids) is raising your outside elbow up and forward can help you get around a corner. I believe it helps to get more of your weight on the inside hand, however, it feels almost like magic when you get it right.
Thanks! I'll add that in to the mix of.
Lower outside foot
Lower heel.
Chin up near the head set.
Lay bike over between legs
look way ahead.
Rotate body toward apex.
bend elbows.
did I miss one?
Reduce is the key word. I do not think it hinders bump absorption enough to justify the lesser traction. However, I race XC, so there are considerably fewer bumps on a typical XC trail than a backcountry trail, but at the same time all of the corners on the XC courses are fast. Therefore, I corner like a roadie on dirt. Weight on inside hand, outside foot, looking through the corner with your knee pointed out.
I'll give you that outer foot down is usually the way to go in fast and smooth corners. In my area fast and smooth corners are really the exception. Also, with my proportions, having a foot down leaves very little bend in the knee, so it really does hinder bump absorbtion... and if I cannot absorb bumps, I don't have traction either.
Whatever works for you in a particular corner. There is no one single way that works in all cases.
I would agree, but not dramatically. When I drop my outside foot my leg is not straight and I do have the ability to absorb shock. Most bumps in a corner are at the entrance due to improper breaking, I would be feet level in this area and wouldn't drop my foot until after. If the corner's rough throughout it may be necessary to be feet level through the whole corner, but with my feet level my bike lean is limited and therefore would not be able to go as fast. One thing I've learned is there's never an always in MTBing.
Also, with my proportions, having a foot down leaves very little bend in the knee, so it really does hinder bump absorbtion... and if I cannot absorb bumps, I don't have traction
No. And I'm not planning to get one. A couple of reasons: I like simplicity in my bikes, and the ups and downs in my area are so short that I prefer to take whatever comes with one setup.
When I was using adjustable height or ETA (remember that?) forks, I tended to forget changing the setting for the trail
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