The Attack Position Simplified

What you need to know about this riding stance and how it impacts your ride. 

Whether you're navigating flowy singletrack, charging down steep descents, or tackling technical obstacles, mastering the attack position is essential for every mountain biker. This fundamental riding stance gives riders the control, balance, and agility needed to navigate challenging terrain. In this guide, we'll cover what the attack position is, what it looks like, and why you should use it to elevate your riding skills.

What is the Attack Position?

The attack position, also known as the ready or neutral stance, is the default standing position.  It is the stance to be in when you’re not pedaling, so your body is ready to react to technical features or descents with confidence. 

What Does the Attack Position Look Like?

Follow these steps to perfect your attack position technique:

1. Pedals: Keep pedals level
2. Dropper Post: Put your seat down all the way
3. Body Position: Stand up. Bee your knees and elbows slightly bent, keeping your weight centered between the wheels. Maintain a straight back and engage your core muscles to stabilize your torso.
4. Arm Positioning: Relax your grip on the handlebars while keeping your elbows bent and pointed outward. 
5. Leg Positioning: Bend your knees and keep your legs in alignment from your hips, knees, to feet. Your legs should act as shock absorbers, flexing and extending to absorb impacts and maintain balance.
6. Eyes: Look ahead and scan the trail to anticipate upcoming obstacles and choose the best line. Keep your gaze focused on where you want to go, not looking down at the ground. Chin up to look up!
7. Speed: Hover your finger over the brakes to be prepared to break. Practice modulating your speed and engaging your brakes while staying in the attack position. Shift your weight slightly back when braking to prevent the front wheel from skidding.

Caution! It can be easy to slip out of attack position, so as you’re learning and imprinting your muscle memory, watch out for these shifts.  

• Don’t let your knees collapse in toward each other as you stand. Keep them in alignment with your hips and feet.
• Don’t squat down too low and crouch out of the saddle. Stand up tall with your knees bent. 
• Don’t be too stiff. Stay flexible and relaxed so you can quickly adapt to varied terrain and features.  

Check out this video from GMBN on the nuances of the attack position broken down.

Why Use the Attack Position?

Embracing the attack position offers numerous benefits for mountain bikers of all levels:

• Improved Control: By keeping your weight centered and balanced, the attack position enhances your ability to maneuver the bike precisely.
• Stability: Absorb bumps and impacts more effectively, reducing the risk of losing control.
• Better Maneuverability: You can quickly respond to changes in terrain, navigate tight turns, and negotiate technical features.
• Reduced Risk of Crashes: By staying centered and ready for anything, riders in the attack position are better equipped to react to unexpected obstacles or hazards on the trail.

By understanding why the attack position helps improve your body positioning and how it looks to get into “attack” you'll unlock new levels of confidence and skill on the trails. Practice on every ride and experiment with riding various features using the attack position.

Ready to attack, babe? Yes, yes you are. XOX.