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Top 3 Cornering Mistakes Mountain Bikers Make (And How to Fix Them)

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Cornering is a crucial skill in mountain biking that can make or break your ride. Mastering the art of cornering not only enhances your control and speed but also boosts your confidence on the trails. However, many riders, both beginners and experienced, often fall prey to common mistakes that can hinder their performance. In this blog, we’ll delve into the top three cornering mistakes mountain bikers make and how to fix them. The most simple way to fix these are with Lessons with us in Rotorua. But here are some simple things to get you thinking before the next time you are out on the trail.

1. Poor Body Position

The Mistake:

Improper body positioning is another major issue that can affect your ability to corner effectively. Leaning too far back, not shifting your weight, or being too stiff can all lead to instability and poor handling.

How to Fix It:

• Shift Your Weight: Move your weight forward, but keep your hips centered over the bike. This helps maintain traction on both wheels.
• Lean the Bike, Not Your Body: Allow the bike to lean into the corner while keeping your body more upright. This increases traction and control.
• Stay Loose: Keep your arms and legs slightly bent and relaxed. This allows your body to absorb bumps and maintain better control over the bike.

Customized Lesson: Mountain bike lesson vouchers often come in various formats, allowing you to choose the option for your gift recipient. Our vouchers offer a single session that is customized to the recipient, perfect for those wanting to dip their toes into the sport. If it is their first session then we can cover the fundamentals to lay the groundwork for their progression. Or if they have had a lesson before, it is great giving riders the opportunity to delve deeper into specific aspects of mountain biking, such as downhill riding, trail navigation, jumps and drops, or technical skills. We consider the recipient’s skill level and tailor the session to them.

2. Entering the Corner Too Fast

The Mistake:

One of the most common errors is approaching a corner with too much speed. This can cause you to lose control, drift wide, or even crash. It’s a mistake that stems from overestimating your braking power or underestimating the sharpness of the turn.

How to Fix It:

• Brake Early: Slow down before you enter the corner. Apply your brakes in a controlled manner while your bike is still upright.
• Use Both Brakes for their Intended Purpose: Distribute your braking between the front and rear brakes to maintain stability. The front brake is more powerful which is better for slowing you down, but relying on it too much can cause you to go over the handlebars or to lose traction. This is where the back brake is excellent for maintaining speed so that you don’t accelerate before you are ready to head into the next feature.
• Look Ahead: Focus on the next section of trail/feature. Not the apex, not the exit, but the next section. This helps you judge the speed you need to maintain a smooth line out of the turn and stops you from looking where you think you might not want to go.

3. Ignoring Line Choice

The Mistake:

Choosing the wrong line through a corner can lead to decreased speed and increased risk of hitting obstacles or losing traction. Many riders tend to follow the path of least resistance rather than strategically selecting the best line.

How to Fix It:

• Plan Your Line: Before you reach the corner, look ahead and choose the smoothest, most efficient path. Aim for a wide entry, tight apex, and exit already thinking about your next move.
• Practice Different Lines: Experiment with various lines on familiar trails to understand how they affect your speed and control.
• Stay Flexible: Be ready to adjust your line if conditions change or if you encounter unexpected obstacles.

In A Nut Shell

Improving your cornering skills can dramatically enhance your mountain biking experience. By avoiding these common mistakes—entering corners too fast, poor body positioning, and ignoring line choice—you’ll be able to navigate turns more smoothly and confidently. Remember, practice makes perfect. Spend time working on these techniques, and you’ll soon find yourself taking corners like a pro, making your rides safer and more enjoyable. Happy riding!

At New Zealand Mountain Biking, we also help riders build confidence and skills in our MTB and eMTB private coaching on the legendary Rotorua trails.

We are looking forward to talking bikes with you! We run some epic trips and skills sessions here in the North Island. We would love to help you progress in your riding. The riding here is some of the best in the world and are perfect for developing skills.
It would be great for you and your friends to join us for a lesson. The availability for weekends is books out really quickly so you want to get in now if you are keen.

The cost is $300 for a 1:1 private and you are welcome to bring some friends and it is $ 75 per extra person on top of that.

Here are our skills sessions. You can book an available spot there.
Here are our 3-day courses
And here are our group options

You can learn more about our trips here to book your ride today!

Check out our YouTube channel to see us ride as I chase people down all of the trails in Rotorua and NZ!