I like how he related this to cornering in downhill skiing. One thing he didn't seem to mention in the video, but he does it when he rides is which foot is forward when cornering level. In skiing, weight on inside edge of the outside ski is safest, easiest to turn (like foot down). For the outside ski, "pinky leads the way" so you drive your inside foot forward (pinky is on inside edge of inside ski). Then it is a matter of getting the right weight distribution. Probably many of us would do push our inside foot forward intuitively (and he does in the video), but it is an important part of the biomechanics. Awesome teacher, awesome video. Thanks for posting!
I watched this last night and practiced the skills today. It seems like these skills develop a rhythm of the body moving the bike instead of the hands steering it. I sure have some new riding habits to develop, but this is pretty exciting. I’ve been riding MTB since 2016 and this is the first time I’ve seen this taught. Thank you!!
Lee is THE BEST teacher. He is totally changed my riding for the better! Having a rip row has helped exponentially. Thank you Lee for everything and, good on the pros closet for recognizing the talent! Namastoke!
That is sheer brilliance in unpacking the unseen forces involved in turning, and how to manage them, in the most understable manner. All while combining the body language literatacy required and necessary to execute the task. Much of what I do naturally is instinctive, and as such not necessarily conducive to good bike handling technique. These podcasts of yours are changing my life🎉 thank you 🙏👍✌🐺
What do you do with your hands on the bars to lean the bike? Do you push down the inside, pull up the outside? Since your weight is on the outside foot, it fights the bike wanting to lean to the inside so it seems you have to force the bars. I've heard different ideas on that if it even matters.
I always ride outside foot forward, pedals horizontal, alternating left and right depending on which way i am turning. This puts more weight above the front tyre contact patch which gives more grip. You are demonstrating inside foot forward. Most people can only ride with either their left or right foot forward. Your method will screw people up the minute they turn the opposite direction.
@@lee_likes_bikes Funny watching you call yourself a professional instructor whilst contorting your body and locking it up at 6:10. Pull your head in and take a step forward with your outside foot and feel how much more relaxed and easier it is turn and look out of the corner at your exit with your outside foot forward. This will also put your weight more over the contact patch of your front tyre. You don't know everything just because you call yourself a professional you know. Maybe if you listened and tried something you might learn something new?
@@cunning-stunt I don't know what your background is, but I'll share a bit of mine. My approach to teaching mountain bike skills is informed by a career in information design followed by 22 years of mountain bike skills publishing and coaching. So far I've taught more than 11,000 students and trained 2,000 coaches. I've been refining the way I teach for decades. My current approach works for me and my students, but I'm still learning and refining. As a matter of fact, the way I teach today is more refined than what you see in this free video. "Free" is an important word. I only teach my current best practices in exchange for money. Hence my use of the word "professional." If you have an approach that works for you, that's great. Have fun out there! If you want to do some reading, check out the Dunning-Kruger Effect.
@@cunning-stunt The contortion that you see comes from the hip rotation. Whatever hip rotation does, the effect is small and not worth torquing the knee, IMO. On the other hand, the benefit of having the inside foot forward is that the rider can lean the bike to the inside without have to contort the hips to make room underneath the inside leg for the top tube and saddle. All riders, including all pros and instructors, who limit themselves to have the same foot forward regardless of the situation have a good cornering side and a not-so-good cornering side. And for every single one of those people, their not-so-good side is when their inside foot is back. That forces them to twist their hips to get their inside leg out of the way. In turn, they need to contort to compensate for the hip twist. I know that a lot of people think that it looks 'sick', but really, it looks dorky. Just compare the same person turning to their good side. They don't do the dork stance on their good-side turns (unless they've been recently coached to do so). BTW, this statement is wrong: "Most people can only ride with either their left or right foot forward." The correct statement is: 'Most people choose to ride with only ride with either their left or right foot forward.' Why do MTBers choose to handicap themselves?
? The best riders use a combo of feet level, outside foot down and various angles depending on the situation. But the other aspects of their form are consistent
That outside foot down seems to be more of a Euro thing to do, along with taking the inside foot off the pedal and sticking it out and forward. I don't see that much in the USA. Why do Euros do it?
No. A powder day is a powder day. It requires a different technique just like every different condition requires it's own technique. If you can't turn your skis or snowboard unless you're in powder you need to get serious before you hurt someone.
@@lee_likes_bikes Ski a steep chute at Alta or Snowbird a few weeks after the last storm. You better have a very different technique than is used to ski the same chute when has two feet of fresh, untracked powder. By the way, all comparisons between mountain biking and skiing are at best tenuous, at worst flat out wrong, and they are meaningless to non-skiers. MTB coaches should stop making skiing analogies.
I like how he related this to cornering in downhill skiing. One thing he didn't seem to mention in the video, but he does it when he rides is which foot is forward when cornering level. In skiing, weight on inside edge of the outside ski is safest, easiest to turn (like foot down). For the outside ski, "pinky leads the way" so you drive your inside foot forward (pinky is on inside edge of inside ski). Then it is a matter of getting the right weight distribution. Probably many of us would do push our inside foot forward intuitively (and he does in the video), but it is an important part of the biomechanics. Awesome teacher, awesome video. Thanks for posting!
I watched this last night and practiced the skills today. It seems like these skills develop a rhythm of the body moving the bike instead of the hands steering it. I sure have some new riding habits to develop, but this is pretty exciting. I’ve been riding MTB since 2016 and this is the first time I’ve seen this taught. Thank you!!
Lee is THE BEST teacher. He is totally changed my riding for the better! Having a rip row has helped exponentially. Thank you Lee for everything and, good on the pros closet for recognizing the talent! Namastoke!
Great to hear!
Lee makes our lives better in every way ! Namastoke
That technique of rotating your hip and not your torso is a eureka moment for me 😁
Lee IS the best teacher! Dude, you shred the teaching game!
That is sheer brilliance in unpacking the unseen forces involved in turning, and how to manage them, in the most understable manner. All while combining the body language literatacy required and necessary to execute the task. Much of what I do naturally is instinctive, and as such not necessarily conducive to good bike handling technique. These podcasts of yours are changing my life🎉 thank you 🙏👍✌🐺
Man, SO much good stuff here. Lee is really a great teacher IMHO
You are truly very good Lee
These are the best explained, solid, and useful tips in RUclips. Thanks for doing this. It is changing my MTB live.
wow. i’ve been steering manually forever, time to switch it up!
Very well done! I will be practicing this tomorrow morning.
Woohoo!
So clear - so simple - thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Master Class. Every vid.
Thanks!
Appreciate you bringing your kung fu to the Sunset trails!
Nice!!! Check speed skating dry land work out. Low hinge single leg perfection!
YES!!
I was a speed skater way back. If only I knew about hinging then …
Very good!
❤ Erie Singletrack
What do you do with your hands on the bars to lean the bike? Do you push down the inside, pull up the outside? Since your weight is on the outside foot, it fights the bike wanting to lean to the inside so it seems you have to force the bars. I've heard different ideas on that if it even matters.
Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !!!!!
7:39 hip movement when cornering
8:30 get heavy when cornering
I always ride outside foot forward, pedals horizontal, alternating left and right depending on which way i am turning.
This puts more weight above the front tyre contact patch which gives more grip.
You are demonstrating inside foot forward.
Most people can only ride with either their left or right foot forward.
Your method will screw people up the minute they turn the opposite direction.
As a professional mountain bike skills instructor I respectfully disagree. That said, do what works for you!!!
@@lee_likes_bikes Funny watching you call yourself a professional instructor whilst contorting your body and locking it up at 6:10.
Pull your head in and take a step forward with your outside foot and feel how much more relaxed and easier it is turn and look out of the corner at your exit with your outside foot forward.
This will also put your weight more over the contact patch of your front tyre.
You don't know everything just because you call yourself a professional you know.
Maybe if you listened and tried something you might learn something new?
@@cunning-stunt
I don't know what your background is, but I'll share a bit of mine.
My approach to teaching mountain bike skills is informed by a career in information design followed by 22 years of mountain bike skills publishing and coaching. So far I've taught more than 11,000 students and trained 2,000 coaches. I've been refining the way I teach for decades. My current approach works for me and my students, but I'm still learning and refining. As a matter of fact, the way I teach today is more refined than what you see in this free video. "Free" is an important word. I only teach my current best practices in exchange for money. Hence my use of the word "professional."
If you have an approach that works for you, that's great. Have fun out there!
If you want to do some reading, check out the Dunning-Kruger Effect.
@@cunning-stunt The contortion that you see comes from the hip rotation. Whatever hip rotation does, the effect is small and not worth torquing the knee, IMO. On the other hand, the benefit of having the inside foot forward is that the rider can lean the bike to the inside without have to contort the hips to make room underneath the inside leg for the top tube and saddle.
All riders, including all pros and instructors, who limit themselves to have the same foot forward regardless of the situation have a good cornering side and a not-so-good cornering side. And for every single one of those people, their not-so-good side is when their inside foot is back. That forces them to twist their hips to get their inside leg out of the way. In turn, they need to contort to compensate for the hip twist. I know that a lot of people think that it looks 'sick', but really, it looks dorky. Just compare the same person turning to their good side. They don't do the dork stance on their good-side turns (unless they've been recently coached to do so).
BTW, this statement is wrong: "Most people can only ride with either their left or right foot forward." The correct statement is: 'Most people choose to ride with only ride with either their left or right foot forward.' Why do MTBers choose to handicap themselves?
Цікаві уроки!
"No top 10 pros put their feet down"... on bermed corners can be, but of flat corners (gemerally at the bottom o the track), they do it all the time.
? The best riders use a combo of feet level, outside foot down and various angles depending on the situation. But the other aspects of their form are consistent
That outside foot down seems to be more of a Euro thing to do, along with taking the inside foot off the pedal and sticking it out and forward. I don't see that much in the USA. Why do Euros do it?
@@gatoryak7332 Maybe the turns are tighter?
No. A powder day is a powder day. It requires a different technique just like every different condition requires it's own technique. If you can't turn your skis or snowboard unless you're in powder you need to get serious before you hurt someone.
I respectfully disagree. The fundamentals of great technique are universal.
@@lee_likes_bikes So... you do agree? o.O
@@lee_likes_bikes Ski a steep chute at Alta or Snowbird a few weeks after the last storm. You better have a very different technique than is used to ski the same chute when has two feet of fresh, untracked powder. By the way, all comparisons between mountain biking and skiing are at best tenuous, at worst flat out wrong, and they are meaningless to non-skiers. MTB coaches should stop making skiing analogies.
The skiing references translate perfectly for someone (like me) ice skates or rollerblades.
@@leejames3812 If you think that skiing is analogous to ice skating and rollerblading, do yourself a favor and pay a pro ski instructor for a lesson.