We dealt with the basic position. We have dealt with the curves. Now there are steeps. After this video, you will be ready to go to the Enduro World Series: teams are always looking for a dishwasher!
This video is linked to that of the basic position because centrality returns to the middle: if you think about it, even on steep slopes, you are looking for centrality …… .but moving backwards! The slope of the road increases and I back up. The slope decreases and I return to the center.
So, to put it simply, CENTRALITY is the mantra of MTB: on jumps, on steeps, in political speeches. You always have to be in the right place at the right time. How do you know if you are in the right place?
I'll give you a treat that I only told my cat: when you are downhill, think: "but if I take my hands off the handlebar now, what happens?" If I feel like I can take them off, then okay, I'm passable, but if I feel completely dependent on the handlebar (hung = too far back or loaded = too forward) it's not good.
Returning to the central theme of the video, when we arrive on a steep, we need to create dynamism: the wheels are round so let's make them slide! Let's not hang on the handlebars for miles before and then do the potato sack technique: wheel that goes down and our body that is dragged and made to fall downstream, perhaps taking a nice kickback that makes you go around.
Remember the dynamism: arrive in a neutral position until the wheel starts to go down and you push the bike forward (so as to indirectly reverse) but also towards the ground (to keep the front loaded and not have a "cart wheel effect" shopping "once the wheel goes down). Because it is very important, when off-saddle, to always keep contact with the wheels. What I mean: better to sacrifice the off-seat position a little, then take it a little less extreme, but it remains low in center of gravity and with wide elbows, so you can ride the bike and not be at the mercy of it (See the ScuolaMTB video). At the end of the offending section comes perhaps the most difficult part: always returning to the center for the principle of centrality. It makes no sense to be out of the saddle on the flat after the steep: you risk planting an unwanted manual which, I assure you, is really bad to see, especially if you have friends or relatives to see you in that stretch.
COMMON ERRORS
As in life, even in off-saddle you don't have to have short arms, petacchino! Arriving on a steep slope and not retreating means having a short life! While we often think we're doing a great off-saddle, we're actually more central than a bike's crankset.
Another mistake is, on the contrary, to abuse the off-saddle: off-saddle is a very important technique but should only be used when needed. When you get off a curb, for example, avoid it: using it as a technique repairs everything when you are afraid or feel too fast is not good. The off-saddle, done in unsuitable situations, lightens the front and makes you less soft when driving (having your arms outstretched). Remember the MANTRA: centrality.
I hope you enjoyed this video and always try to become a point of reference in what you do. In this case, try to do it in mountain biking: the advantage is to be able to make fun of other bikers (preferably e-bikers) by demonstrating superiority. Always until the pro on duty arrives and then dejectedly you keep yourself central and go to the bar.
