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Heads up
on hard
turns
Mountain bike tips
for twisty trails
BY STEF MANzONI
¦ Once you’re off the main roads, mountain
biking up in Gatineau Park or out at Kanata
Lakes means sharp turns. And some riders
make them look easy, even at speed. But
skilled cyclists sometimes have to bail.
What is it that seems to straighten out
the turn for those who don’t end up with a
rough landing in the bushes? It’s not rocket
science. Here are some ideas for the next
time you’re in a fast corner.
For starters, focus on where you want to
go, not where you don’t. This means looking
two to three metres ahead on the trail, and
choosing your best line for the turn. If you’re
really moving fast, look even further ahead for
the lay of the land. Don’t focus on obstacles.
If you stare at a rock long enough, you’ll hit
it. Once you see a hazard, pick your best line
around or over it and keep looking where you
want to go. This works for mountain biking
in general, not just cornering.
Now that you’re focused on your line
ahead, get your body and bike in the right
position. Stop pedaling. As you enter the turn
let momentum carry you through, keeping
the outside leg fully extended with the pedal
at the bottom of the stroke. (Which is the
outside leg? On a left turn, the right leg is the
outside, and vice versa.)
This forces your inside pedal up, with the
bonus that a high inside pedal means less
chance of clipping a rock as you head into
the turn. But as you lean, keep your body and
head vertical. Do not lean your body, just the
bike beneath you. It helps to slide your butt
slightly to the outside of the saddle, but not
so much that you feel like you’re falling off.
Good arm position helps keep your body
vertical. Your outside arm will need to
straighten out somewhat as you reach to the
inside of the turn. The inside arm will bend and
your elbow should almost graze your raised
inside knee. Think “elbow to knee” as you
coast through the turn. And keep your head
up, always looking where you want to go.
www.OttawaOutdoors.ca OTTAWA >> SPRING/SUMMER 2008 7
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