Corner with Confidence: A Ladies Guide to Cornering 

A Breakdown for Ladies Learning to Corner on a Mountain Bike. 

In this article, we're diving into an essential mountain bike skill, cornering, providing you with a breakdown of key steps, helping you to be mindful of the small pieces that make up this must-know mountain biking maneuver.

What is cornering? Let's begin by reviewing the essence of cornering and uncovering the evolution of this noun into an action-packed verb. Cornering is a dynamic body positioning technique that involves the separation of your bike and body as you navigate turns successfully. 

Maybe you’re thinking, what’s the big deal with turning left or right? Surprisingly, many factors contribute to a successful turn on a mountain bike. Your bike-body alignment must adapt to variables such as speed, pitch, entry and exit points, angles, and trail features. But for our ladies just starting, we've streamlined this article to prevent you from feeling overwhelmed by the intricate details. 

Now, why should you care about mastering cornering? Picture this: the ability to finesse your bike-body positioning, maintaining or even boosting speed through turns, ensuring a ride that's not just smooth but also exhilarating. Conquering sharp turns becomes a priceless skill (this is for ALL levels!) when you can confidently corner without having to grab the brakes and work hard to regain momentum.

So let’s break down how to corner in three phases: before, during, and after. In each phase, we'll breakout key categories, providing you with the insights and techniques necessary to elevate this essential mountain biking technique. 

What Should I Do With My Body BEFORE the Turn?

• Eyes: Look at the turn, then look beyond it
• Feet: Prepare your pedals
• Body: Prepare your body positioning
• Bike: Brake before 

(Eyes) Look at the Turn, Then Look Beyond It

You want to understand the setup of the turn so you know how to position your body. Quickly assess the corner, taking note of its angle, potential obstacles like bumps or rocks, distinctive features, off-camber orientation, and if the turn is supported (berms).  This analysis allows you to identify your best line.  After you make your assessment, get ready to look up, past the corner to the next part of the trail.

You’ll hear this a lot: “Look up!” and "Look where you want to be, not where you are.”

Tip: Point your chin where you want to go. 

(Body) Prep Your Body Position

Standing out of your saddle, lean in toward your handlebars with your elbows wide and bent, like you’re starting a pushup. Maintain a slight bend in your knees and grip the handlebar lightly, with your index fingers hovering over the brakes. This stance provides stability and control as you prepare to enter the turn.

(Feet) Prepare Your Feet: Pedal Placement:

Depending on the nature of the turn, you’ll want to have either flat pedals (same level) or drop your outside foot to have one pedal high and the other low

> Flat Pedals 

• Skill Level: Beginner // Intermediate (depends on the turn)
• Pedal Position: Maintain flat pedals for equal weight distribution. Think 9 and 3 on a clock.
• Ideal Turns: Supported turns, berms, etc.
• Note: To achieve optimal foot placement, position the foot inside the turn to the back, resulting in your outside foot to be forward. This may require you to turn with the less dominant leg forward in some corners. 

> Outside Foot Down:

• Skill Level: Beginner // All levels

• Pedal Position: One pedal high, one pedal low. Think 12 and 6 on a clock. 

• Benefit: This position weights the outside foot, allowing the bike to lean, engaging the side knobs of the tires for enhanced traction. This also lowers your center of gravity, providing greater control.

• Consideration: Ideal for maximizing traction and control.

• Note: What foot do I drop? Hint: You want the pedal inside the turn high. So. . .

• Right turns = left foot dropped on the outside

• Left turns = right foot dropped on the outside
  
  

Tip: Keep your outside heel down (drop your heel) for full weighting and improved traction. This technique ensures optimal stability and control during the turn.

(Bike) Brake Before The Turn

To keep maximum traction through the corner, you’ll want to complete your breaking before. Try feathering your breaks (slowly engaging brakes vs immediately grabbing) to lower your speed before you enter the turn. 

Now that you know what to do with you head, body, pedals and brakes, you are ready to enter the turn confidently. 

What Should I Do with My Body DURING the Turn?

• Eyes: Look up to what’s next
• Feet: Push through your pedals
• Body: Point to the exit
• Bike: Brake before  

(Eyes) Look Up To What’s Next

Having already assessed the turn and identified your line, shift your focus solely to looking ahead. Keep your chin and head pointed up, absorbing information about the upcoming section of the singletrack.

(Feet) Push Through Your Pedals 

Because you’re out of the saddle with bent legs, now it’s time to push through your feet into the turn for traction. 

If your pedals are in a flat position (think 9 and 3 on that clock), use both legs to drive equal weight into both pedals. Your legs are slightly bent so you can extend them for this exact moment—push into the turn for extra grip! 

If you have dropped your outside foot, you’ll shift your weight on that foot fully, to the point where you could remove your interior foot (as an example). 

(Body) Point to the Exit

Maintaining a low and forward center of gravity is paramount. You want your core and essentially all other body to be facing the direction you want to go. Concentrate on the following body parts to achieve a cohesive and controlled riding experience:

• Core/hips: Point your belly button through the turn in the direction you want to go.
• Knees: Point your knees in the direction you want to go
• Shoulders: Point your shoulders in the direction you want to go

Are you picking up on a theme yet? 😘

• Arms/Hands:  
• Apply pressure on your handlebars to maintain traction on the front wheel. Visualize a push-up and actively push back on your bars.
• Keep the inside arm straight (lowering the bike's position) while maintaining a bent outside arm. Shift the majority of your weight onto the inside hand.
• Elbows: Keep them out in that push-up position, even as the bars move. 
• Legs: as mentioned above, push into the pedals with heels down.

Here's a great video tutorial by Kyle and April on body positioning and how bike-body separation should look.

What Should I Do With My Body AFTER the Turn? 

Congratulations! You successfully navigated the corner! Assuming the corner wasn't the final stretch of your ride, and you're still cruising along the single track, so remember to keep your chin up and look down the trail to assess what’s next.

Continue practicing on every turn, focusing on developing muscle memory for these precise movements. Over time, as you build a solid foundation, you'll be able to work on refining different elements, resulting in seamless cornering with maintained speed. 

Don't forget to practice exaggerating your body positioning, both on and off the trails. This deliberate practice will help solidify the techniques and make them second nature.

Remember! 

1. Consistent Practice for All Levels: Cornering is a skill that riders of all levels should consistently practice. This is NOT just a beginner skill. 

2. Start Early, See Improvements: Cornering can be challenging, but you don't need to be an intermediate rider to start honing proper skills. Begin practicing on your first rides and witness compound improvements over time.

3. Exaggeration Enhances Learning: Exaggerate each step of the cornering process, from keeping elbows bent and pointed up to directing knees through the turn, aligning the belly button, raising the chin, and maintaining bent legs.

4. Look Ahead for Seamless Riding: During and after the turn, focus on looking ahead, keeping your chin up, and assessing the upcoming trail. This forward-looking approach enhances anticipation and readiness for the next section of the ride.

5. Deliberate and Regular Practice: Regular and deliberate practice is essential for mastering cornering skills. The more you practice, the more confident and proficient you'll become on the trails.

You got this, babe! Get out and corner. XOX