These six simple beginner mountain biking cornering tips will help you corner faster on a mountain bike. Once you’ve nailed them, follow the link at the bottom for the advanced mountain biking technique that will teach you how to corner on a mountain bike faster still.
But be warned. There are no shortcuts to speed. Make sure you get these mountain bike cornering basics right first, then you’ll have a solid foundation on which to build with the advanced mountain bike cornering tips.
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He’s fast…
We’ve all seen a fast mountain biker who just doesn’t look fast. “He makes that look so easy…” everybody says. That’s because his technique is so smooth and he flows ‘with the bike’ so well that it doesn’t even look like he’s trying.
What can we learn from that fast mountain biker? Don’t try too hard and make sure you…
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Keep relaxed to keep the flow
Sure it’s hard to relax when you’re learning something new and don’t want to crash your bike, but relaxing really is the key. And it starts with relaxing your mind.
- avoid thinking too much about what to do
- only think about the six mountain bike cornering tips each time to approach a corner
- avoid tensing your body on the bike as this tension in your muscles will only slow you thoughts and your reactions
- enjoy the corner
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The six parts to basic mountain bike cornering technique:
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1. Set your speed
Set your corner speed before the corner begins – no skidding or late braking around the turn! Skidding or braking on the turn reduces your control
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2. Change gears
If you’re not going to pedal around the corner, before going into it, shift to the gear you want to use for pedaling out of the corner. This way you’ll be in the right gear to pedal back up to speed after the corner is done
Lead the bike with your eyes
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3. Look ahead
Look ahead into the corner, quickly scan the corner with your eyes, then shoot your eyes to the exit as you ride the turn
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4. Relax your hold
Keep a firm, but relaxed hold of the handlebar and drop your shoulders so that you’re not shrugging them
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5. Position your body
Put most of your weight through the seat and / or the pedals
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6. Push on the outside
If you’re not pedaling the corner, push your outside foot down on the pedal as you turn. This technique works like magic to help ground the tires, particularly on off-camber corners!
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This is the BIG one! Lead your bike forward by looking ahead and around the corner. Follow the golden rule of mountain biking and look where you want to go, rather than looking at what you want to miss
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Cornering Even Better
Once you get comfortable with the basics of cornering on a mountain bike, take the next step and check out how to Corner Like You’re on Rails’ in the advanced mountain biking tips section. It will teach you how to corner on a mountain bike even faster still.
And remember, the right bike tires make a huge difference. They’re one of the most important upgrades you can make on your bike.
Just like on race cars and motorbikes, good quality tires that are suited to the terrain you ride will provide far better cornering grip, and give you better bike control and speed than some cheap and nasty worn out mountain bike tires. So make sure your tires are up to the task, otherwise you might keep struggling in those corners.
