Bike
MTB
8 Tips to Help You Rail Corners Like a Pro
Read our step-by-step guide and you'll be flowing through corners like a pro athlete.
When it comes to trail flow, getting your cornering right can make the difference between a stop/start ride and a fast, effortless rip. There are many types of turns and as many ways to tackle them, but applying some simple rules can really help you find your rhythm on even the most technical curves. Here are some simple pointers.
1. Approach at a speed you feel comfortable with
While it may seem that the world’s fastest riders never touch their brakes, in fact one of the keys to maintaining speed and flow is to manage your entry into the turn in order to maximize speed out of it.
Do your braking well before the turn, slowing down as much as you like — control is key. Entering at a snail’s pace and nailing your line is preferable to arriving at hero speed only to blow up mid-turn. The less you have to use your brakes during the turn the better too — your wheels get more grip when they’re rolling freely and your suspension is also more effective.
2. Choose your line
Choosing a good line with a clean arc ensures that you carry speed through the turn. Ignore other people’s lines and remember that you don’t always have to follow the obvious shape of the turn. World Cup racers will often almost completely miss berms (man-made banking) out and make their own arc.
Aaron Gwin chooses his own wide line
© Nathan Hughes
As a general rule of thumb, it is best to set up as wide as possible, hit an inside apex (the edge of the track) mid-turn and exit wide. Of course, sometimes trail obstacles and following turns have to be factored in, so this is not always the case — just look for a good, clean line that you can turn into a nice smooth turning radius.
3. Look to where you want to go
If you are looking down at your front wheel you won’t be able to read the terrain ahead. Your body also naturally follows your gaze, so be sure to look up and as far ahead as is comfortable.
Ever noticed how you feel the flow when you’re following your friends? Having a moving visual reminder to look forward and far down the trail highlights the importance of predicting terrain instead of having to react when it’s too late.
4. Center your body position
A strong, central position on the bike will help deal with any turning forces and ensure that your weight is well distributed. Try to keep your head up, elbows wide, heels and wrists dipped and legs supple but extended for a strong, confident and central position on the bike.
Loïc Bruni takes a strong stance
© Jan Kasi
Grip in turns comes from a good bike setup, but even more so from weight distribution. Your tires need weight on them to be able to dig in and produce grip, so equal distribution between the two wheels is important.
5. Use all the grip you can find
The rows of knobs on the tires on the outer edges give grip in turns, so you want to roll the bike onto those in order to really corner like a pro. If you look at photos of downhill racers in flat turns you will notice their accentuated body language — outside pedal dropped down, hips over that outside pedal and upper torso pointing where they want to go. This is helping them to weight those rows of knobs and really push their tires into the dirt.
But don’t worry — to start with, just ensure that your pedals are level when you enter the turn (never have the inside pedal dropped), you are standing up and in that strong and central position. The rest will come naturally with time and practice.
6. Look for natural support in the corner
The dust flies as this rider rails this corner
© Bartek Woliński
If you are riding natural trails or there isn’t a berm to rail, look for natural support near the midpoint and exit of the turn. Natural banking or even as little as an earth-covered tree root can help you make the turn when your tires might have otherwise been struggling for grip.
7. Get the best setup
A well-balanced bike that doesn’t plunge through its suspension and tire pressures set reasonably equally (pro riders often run around 24-28psi front, and one or two psi firmer rear) will go a long way in improving your turns.
Good quality tires can also be a game changer — look for the softer durometer rubbers that can mould around small trail obstacles. Maxxis’s 3C Minion tires give a very predictable ride through turns, and a mix of rubber compounds (thus 3C – triple compound) ensures your tires still roll on the straights. Their Super Tacky tires are the softest and therefore offer the most grip, but aren’t recommended if you’re doing any pedaling.
8. And finally … don’t lock up!
Kicking up some dirt
© Miles Holden/ Red Bull Content Pool
Although it might seem cool at the time, locking up your rear wheel will only lead to a fluffed turn and minimal exit speed. Any braking you have to do in the turn should be minimal and spread between the front and rear brakes. Only skid when the GoPro is set to photo mode.
