Mastering hairpin bends without turning the rear wheel - it's like eating spaghetti with a knife and fork. It fulfils its purpose to some extent, but is neither efficient nor elegant.
Particularly tight hairpin bends can only be conquered if you turn the rear wheel - as BIKE reader Robert Schmid (36) knows. Although Robert can be described as an ambitious mountain biker, he still needs to fine-tune his technique. Up to now, our test rider has avoided shifting the rear wheel on tight hairpin bends, preferring instead to jerk around corners at a snail's pace - and hoping that his rear wheel doesn't get stuck anywhere. He now wants to change this for two reasons. Firstly: hairpin bends separate the wheat from the chaff - and Robert wants to be one of the wheat. And secondly: Robert wants to pass his trainer exam as a bike guide in the autumn. He speculates that he will have to demonstrate this manoeuvre in the exam. The online call for an individual seminar with riding technique expert Stefan Herrmann therefore came as ordered for Robert.
On a BMX track near Munich, Stefan is waiting with a climbing rope and traffic cones. He wants to use these to teach Robert the movement pattern today - only then will he take to the trail for the "sharp" bend. Stefan wants to get him fit for the hairpin bend with three exercises. But what is that? Before we really get going, Robert's brakes rebel. The pressure point is bitching. "Classic", acknowledges Stefan. 50 per cent of his riding technique participants' bikes have technical faults. Without a defined pressure point on the brake, even professionals have difficulties with this manoeuvre. Stefan tries using brake cleaner, but this only helps for a short time - new pads are needed. After the forced break, we finally get going.
Exercises for rear wheel transfer
During the first exercise is all about getting to know the pressure point of the brake. To do this, Robert runs alongside his bike and pulls the brake in such a controlled manner that the rear wheel constantly hovers in the air while his front wheel rolls on.
For the second exercise courage is required: he has to pull the brakes and lift the rear on a tarmac descent. This takes some effort at first! If you grab the front brake awkwardly and tip forwards too boldly, you risk going over the handlebars - the primal fear of every mountain biker. Robert makes rapid progress. Stefan can finally roll out his climbing rope. He uses it to simulate hairpin bends on the tarmac.
Stefan knows: The third step is the hardest. Because now everything has to fit - coordinating all three actions is the great art. Pull the front brake, bring your weight forwards and swivel your hips outwards. Many bikers reach the limits of their absorption capacity. Robert has mastered the hip swing after just under an hour.
Rear-wheel transfer for hairpin bends
Enough with the foreplay: now it's time for a real hairpin bend in the terrain. It has hardly any grip and is frighteningly steep - steeper than on the practice terrain. First Stefan shows us how it's done - to perfection, of course. Then it's Robert's turn. He starts, brakes, lifts and swings. Stefan is thrilled, Robert even more so, and we viewers secretly wish he had made a few unsuccessful attempts - just for the dramaturgy of the story, of course. Robert doesn't care. His next attempts are also successful. From now on, all he wants to do is turn tight corners. Eating spaghetti with a knife and fork - let others do that.
1. approach: Stefan starts off slowly and with his legs and arms bent. He already fixes a point where he can bring the front wheel to a standstill. Important: The rear wheel must have enough room to swivel.
2. braking and repositioning: As soon as the front wheel reaches the desired position, Stefan pulls the front brake. At the same time, his legs and arms are dynamically extended to support the forward weight shift. The result: the rear wheel lifts off. At the same time, Stefan gives the impulse to the outside of the bend by swinging his hips - the rear follows automatically.
3 Release the brake: As soon as the rear wheel has reached the desired position, Stefan releases the brake in a controlled manner - the rear wheel lowers. Free ride.
Laurin Lehner
Editor
