RANGE OF MOTION

We can look at this in terms of explosive dynamic movement. Having the correct range of motion on the bike is crucial to maintaining your composure as you allow for your bike to track the ground, often over very technical terrain. But if

■ FOOTPRINT Your neutral passive stance should be all the things listed earlier – straight knees and dropped heels allowing you to rest your legs, fingers on levers, and elbows bent for range of motion. This will automatically make your back fairly flat, and with your head above your stem and your hips above your saddle, it will spread you out on your bike and therefore create a wider footprint on the trail. we focus on how you should get off the ground in a speed hop then it will put the whole movement into context.

■ FLAT CORNER Depending on the surface of the trail and the conditions, a flat corner will offer less support.

With this in mind you’ll need to change your body position slightly to predict the slide. That way if anything happens you feel you can react to it and allow for movement rather than hanging on and being taken off balance. Firstly get low. It’s the same low position described here, but as you turn the bars and lean over, try and keep your body consistent with the front of your bike. Staying lined up with your bars, forks and front wheel will mean that your momentum is also going in that same direction. As a consequence of this your hips will turn too, looking like your hips are turning round the bend as well. It’s okay to drop an outside foot, but remember that any straight legs or arms here will result in a loss of balance if you lose traction.