Basic Mountain Biking Body Positioning
Correct body positioning when mountain biking is one of the most basic skills, but it makes a HUGE difference! Unfortunately, many people have no idea of the right way to do it in different scenarios. Read this article so you aren’t one of them.
Correct body positioning when mountain biking is one of the most basic skills, but it makes a HUGE difference!
Unfortunately, many beginners are unaware that a proper stance makes riding easier and reduces the risk of injury.
So in this article, I'll give three mountain biking tips for maintaining stability while enjoying your ride.
MTB Body Positioning Vlog
FLAT
When riding on a flat road, remember this: light hands, heavy feet.
This basically means that you should concentrate on using your legs more and keeping your arms loose so you can react faster. Also, don’t grip the handle too tightly.
Keep your knees bent, hips back, shoulders down, and elbows behind your hands for a perfect flat riding position.
Always be mindful of your surroundings and keep your eyes on the road.
UPHILL
When riding uphill, you need to put in a lot more effort to pedal.
If possible, be sure to shift to a higher gear before starting a hill. If you try to do it halfway it will be more difficult.
Maintain your stability by moving at a steady pace and shifting your weight slightly forward. Align your chin with the stem between the handlebars.
Downhill
When riding downhill, transfer your weight slightly backward, the opposite of going uphill.
Lowering your chest and hips allows you to adjust your weight as needed when going over obstacles.
Keep your pedals level and don't slam on your brakes or you'll skid out or fall over the front bars. When you need to stop, remember to ease on the back break and start tapping on the front break if you need to stop faster.
Conclusion
Positioning is the most basic thing in mountain biking but has a huge impact when properly done.
If you want to learn more mountain biking skills, check out ‘A Complete Introduction to Mountain Biking’.
Ride safe!
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Article by Sam Fury
Sam Fury is the creator and owner of the Survival Fitness Plan.
He has had a passion for martial arts and outdoor pursuits since he was a young boy growing up in Australia.
As a young adult he joined the military and studied outdoor leadership in college. After that, to further his skills, Sam started traveling to learn from the best in the world in various fields related to the Survival Fitness Plan including various martial arts in China, SE Asia and Brazil, Parkour in Singapore, Surf Life Saving in Australia, and others.
These days, he still enjoys learning new things, traveling and sharing what he has learned via the Survival Fitness Plan.
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