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5 biking mistakes and how you can avoid them

BIKE Magazin

 · 18.08.2015

5 biking mistakes and how you can avoid themPhoto: Robert Niedring
5 biking mistakes and how you can avoid them
Riding errors tend to creep in, as riding technique expert Stefan Herrmann knows. But they can be avoided. Cornering, wheelie, bunny hop or steep descent: we show you how to do it right.

Cornering

Not like this! 70 per cent of all bikers struggle with lean angles when cornering. Many are afraid of losing traction - the result looks like this. The saddle is fully extended, the body position is upright and shifted backwards. The arms are stretched out and the rider has no opportunity to give his bike the necessary lean angle. The result: hardly any pressure on the front wheel - loss of control.Photo: Robert Niedring Not like this! 70 per cent of all bikers struggle with lean angles when cornering. Many are afraid of losing traction - the result looks like this. The saddle is fully extended, the body position is upright and shifted backwards. The arms are stretched out and the rider has no opportunity to give his bike the necessary lean angle. The result: hardly any pressure on the front wheel - loss of control.

Only the curves of a trail turn a ride into a surfing experience. And only those who dare to lean will get through the turn at speed.

How to do it correctly: Position your body in the centre above the bottom bracket. With the inside arm almost stretched out and the outside arm bent, you can lean the bike and ride through even tight bends at high speed. The saddle is lowered and rests against the inner thigh. This provides freedom of movement, a lower centre of gravity and guidance. The head looks into the exit of the bend and guides the entire ride. TIP! Feel your way slowly. This works best on a tarmac road with a slight incline. Simulate the cornering and memorise the important key points beforehand.Photo: Robert Niedring How to do it correctly: Position your body in the centre above the bottom bracket. With the inside arm almost stretched out and the outside arm bent, you can lean the bike and ride through even tight bends at high speed. The saddle is lowered and rests against the inner thigh. This provides freedom of movement, a lower centre of gravity and guidance. The head looks into the exit of the bend and guides the entire ride. TIP! Feel your way slowly. This works best on a tarmac road with a slight incline. Simulate the cornering and memorise the important key points beforehand.

Basics - the basic techniques

Not like this: legs bent, arms stretched. Even track sprinters quickly overload their thighs. The outstretched arms cannot react to impacts and bumps. The result: loss of control.Photo: Robert Niedring Not like this: legs bent, arms stretched. Even track sprinters quickly overload their thighs. The outstretched arms cannot react to impacts and bumps. The result: loss of control.

Basic position, saddle position, brakes: the basics have to be right, says expert Stefan Herrmann. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many bikers. You need to pay attention to this.

The correct basic position: The legs are almost straight, the arms are slightly bent and largely unloaded. Your shoulders hover over the handlebars. In this position, you can see everything on the trail, save energy by stretching your legs, have enough pressure on the front wheel and can react to bumps with your bent arms.
Photo: Robert Niedring

Departure

Wrong: Stefan Herrmann knows that many bikers are too defensive and therefore automatically adopt the wrong body position. This means: passenger instead of pilot. The centre of gravity of the body is shifted as far back as possible and the arms are stretched out. The result: hardly any pressure on the front wheel, no ability to react to bumps - no control. In addition, the main load is on the rear thigh, which tires in no time in this position.Photo: Robert Niedring Wrong: Stefan Herrmann knows that many bikers are too defensive and therefore automatically adopt the wrong body position. This means: passenger instead of pilot. The centre of gravity of the body is shifted as far back as possible and the arms are stretched out. The result: hardly any pressure on the front wheel, no ability to react to bumps - no control. In addition, the main load is on the rear thigh, which tires in no time in this position.

Speed increases on the descent. This makes the correct body position all the more important. Stefan explains why.

Correct: Only with a central body position can you maintain control on the descent. Your centre of gravity is above the bottom bracket, your legs and arms are slightly bent, you look ahead and look for bumps to which you can react better. In this position, you can allow more speed and still maintain control of your bike.Photo: Robert Niedring Correct: Only with a central body position can you maintain control on the descent. Your centre of gravity is above the bottom bracket, your legs and arms are slightly bent, you look ahead and look for bumps to which you can react better. In this position, you can allow more speed and still maintain control of your bike.

The wheelie

Wrong: It never works like that. The front wheel snaps forwards at any moment. This is because the arms are never bent during the wheelie and the saddle is lowered, making it difficult to work the legs. The most common mistakes are: using the brakes too little, centre of gravity too far forward, balancing by bending your arms.Photo: Robert Niedring Wrong: It never works like that. The front wheel snaps forwards at any moment. This is because the arms are never bent during the wheelie and the saddle is lowered, making it difficult to work the legs. The most common mistakes are: using the brakes too little, centre of gravity too far forward, balancing by bending your arms.

The wheelie is popular with bikers, but only very few master it. The expert knows: it's down to the wrong approach and too little practice.

How do you like this article?
How to wheelie correctly - 1: Select a suitable gear. One finger is on the brake during the entire ride and, if necessary, applies the brake in a controlled manner. The saddle is in a ¾ position. Now bend down dynamically in a push-up position.
Photo: Robert Niedring


TIP!
You can only learn the wheelie by practising, practising, practising. Internalise the correct approach and practise with bear paw pedals on a smooth surface, slightly uphill.

Bunny hop

Not like this: In the "pig hop", you lift off with the front and rear wheels at the same time. To do this, you go from flexion to extension. This technique is not suitable for trail riding and higher obstacles. The pig hop is only useful at high speeds and over very small obstacles. For example, on descents where you want to overcome water channels or hollows.Photo: Robert Niedring Not like this: In the "pig hop", you lift off with the front and rear wheels at the same time. To do this, you go from flexion to extension. This technique is not suitable for trail riding and higher obstacles. The pig hop is only useful at high speeds and over very small obstacles. For example, on descents where you want to overcome water channels or hollows.

Good mountain bikers master the bunny hop. This is the only way to overcome obstacles on the trail with ease.

Good mountain bikers master the bunny hop. This is the only way to overcome obstacles on the trail with ease.
Photo: Robert Niedring


TIP!
The bunny hop is made up of three main moves. The trick is to perform them fluently and with the right timing.


The most common errors
The basic prerequisite for the bunny hop is that you can lift the front wheel. This works with the
manual impulse. However, most people struggle with the timing. You have to combine the actions smoothly and at the right time. This only works with practice. Tip: Say the movement actions out loud as you approach.


You can read this riding technique from BIKE 9/2015 in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or the issue in the DK shop reorder:


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