Cornering

Get round the bend nine steps to cornering

1. Think 'smooth'
The more confident you are at cornering, the smoother and more controlled you will be. If you panic, you’re likely to tense up and lose control of the bike.

2. Look where you’re going
Be positive and look around the bend at where you want to end up; if you focus on the outside of the bend you’re likely to steer there – you need to hit the inside.

3. Look ahead for problems
Such problems can include ruts, obstacles and trail debris. Take in trail info as quickly as possible, so you have time to make line decisions and speed changes.

4. Change saddle position
If the trail is quite smooth, it’s best to stay in the saddle so that you put less weight on the front wheel. If the track is rough, you will need to stand up and bend your legs to absorb the impacts.

5. Easy on the brakes!
Do the majority of your speed scrubbing before the bend, so that once you turn you can lay off the levers. If you grab a handful of brake in the corner, the front wheel is likely to lock up and slide out, leading to problems.

6. Choose the correct gear
Before you enter the bend choose a gear that will enable you to pedal away efficiently. If you go into the corner in too high a gear, you will struggle to accelerate. If the trail is wide, move to the outside, as this will make the corner less severe

7. Keep the inside pedal up
On entering the bend, keep your inside pedal up and your outside pedal down. When the inside pedal is raised, it is less likely to catch on the ground. Leaning on the outside pedal will transfer your weight back over the centre of the tyre, increasing traction and preventing your bike from sliding out and causing you to slow down.

8. Be ready to dab
If you begin to slide or have gone into a bend too fast, a quick dab of the inside foot will keep you upright and off the floor.

9. Under pressure
To get the most from your tyres, adjust them for the terrain. If puncture risk is low, drop the pressure a bit. Experiment with pressures to see what suits you best.