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H O W T O R I D E F A S T E R O N T H E T R A I L
Right ladies, in the previous two editions I taught you howto get into the attack position and how to corner better! Now here are some tips on how to apply those game changing moves on the trail! The key to being fast when you are descending is that you need to ride smoothly. You ride smoothly by not to peddling unnecessarily on the trail and by braking less!
Find a non technical piece of single track that's about 1 km long which has a gentle downward gradient that you can session (session means ride numerous times!) Do each one of these tips 3 times and you will feel the fun and defiantly be smoother! First run : Ride normally. Remembering the three fundamentals of mountain biking:
1 Speed / momentum is your friend,
2: look 4 - 10 meters a head
3: Attack Position ( Pedals 50 / 50 ,heels dropped, elbows out, weight over Bottom Bracket)
Focus on turning the bike from your hips when you corner by turning your inside knee out a little! You will notice how much more stable you are when you turn your bike from your hips instead of risking over steering when your turn the bike with your handle bars. For quick turns have your feet in the fifty fifty position, but make sure all your weight is on the outside leg when you do that and that your inside knee is out.
For flat fast turns, have your outside leg down at 6 O' Clock. Be sure you have your elbows out on both occasions and Boobs2Bar - this lowers your centre of gravity around the corner and keeps you super stable! Brake before the corner and accelerate out of it! Don't come into corner too hot (fast) ladies, It is not efficient and you loose your smoothness!
Dance with your bike! As soon as you feel you are loosing speed on the descent put in two or three pedal strokes ( power strokes) and assume the attack position again and move your hips to maneuver the bike around quick corners. SO remember, the key to riding smoothly is to pedal less and brake less! Practice these 3 tips and you are sure to accomplish this and look like the smoothest chick out on the trail, you will be riding faster too, trust me!
Joanna
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