Athletes have their jumping leg, snowboarders talk about "goofy" and "regular". In the trials scene, the terms "good" and "bad" foot have become established. This refers to the pedalling position with which you feel most comfortable. This favourite side varies from person to person and there are no rules - not even on an e-mountainbike.
Which pedal is at the front, which at the back?
So you need to find out which foot is at the front (good foot) and which is at the back (bad foot) in the basic position. It is best to roll while standing and try out both sides. One position should feel better than the other. Stefan prefers to roll with his left foot in front (as you can see in the picture above), so the left foot is Stefan's good foot.
And now it's time to get down to business: whether high steps, drops with motor support or dynamic curves - all these moves require a pedalling sequence in which the good foot is in front at the decisive moment (after the action). The choice of gear plays an important role in this pedalling sequence. The ideal gear is one in which the e-bike covers one wheel length with half a turn of the crank. To find this gear, it is best to look for a fixed point on the ground (in the pictures above: Stefan's hip bag) and try out half a turn of the pedals until you find the right gear. Depending on the terrain, this "practice gait" may not always be optimal in practice. But once you have automated the following pedalling sequence, pedal management also works with other gears.
Exercises for the correct pedalling position
And now good timing is required: the kick sequence fits when the good foot is in front shortly after the critical moment of the move. Let's take a look at the scene in the three pictures below. The aim is to place the front wheel precisely on the small rock. One wheel length before the obstacle, Stefan's bad foot (the right foot) is in front. Half a turn of the cranks later, the good foot is now in front and the front wheel touches the rock. The right timing is purely a matter of experience and requires a lot of practice. The good thing about it: you can do it on any kerb.
How to | EMTB uphill riding technique - PART 1: BASICS
How to | EMTB trail riding technique - PART 2: DOWNHILL
How to | EMTB Expert Riding Technique - PART 3: PROFITRICKS
