Putting you foot out on corners

Not really. I'll sometimes put my inner foot out tight, sketchy, loose corners.

edit: I guess I was thinking when I may do a quick dab to prevent from going over... On the SGDC/firestone course there used to be a pretty loose flat corner at the top. It was fun railing it with the bling blings I put on. It really depends on the turn, but 95% of the time I keep both feet on through the turn.

I try to keep both on as I can control the bike better with two feet on the handle bars.

Depending on the berm, I will angle my inner foot outwards, and if I need to use it I can just put it down.

Edit: Depending on the turn rather...

IMO it's faster to keep your foot on....you can be on the gas out of the corner. I also ride clipped , and when you put a foot out you have the added downside of trying to clip back in. I still think its faster no matter what you ride, clips or flats

well technically Im sure if you are touching the ground it slows you down...BUT if it allows you to rail that corner then its a good thing and faster!!!I dont think it matters too much, personally I like to have both feet on my pedals (some like it on their handlebar) with the occasional foot out.I 'll use one foot to balance the bike sometimes.

Some riders are very loose and pinning it with both feet going left and right all the time, I guess it depends on your style more than anything else...

Foot out, flat out. If you can maintain your speed with a quick foot dab you will be faster.

It's most beneficial to take a foot off only because it puts your body weight on the foot which is still on.
So as stated above it is best if you can leave both on, if you are in correct position and on the correct line in the turn, taking a foot off should not be needed.
If you do take a foot off try to keep it in close to the fork leg. Instinct causes us to want to use it for balance and extend it away from the bike which is not good. It takes the emphasis away from where the true balance should be taking place. With your body and it's placement in relation to the bike angle etc.
If you hang your leg way out like that in motocross a coach will tie your ankle to the fork leg, to teach proper "foot out" technique...

P.S. You only "dab"-(slightly tap the ground to keep from sliding or crashing)- when you do not apply the right cornering technique.- so I disagree that dabbing in any way is faster.... it's not putting your foot down for a milli second that is slower. The fact that you didn't take the corner right in the first place and had to "dab" is what makes it slower.

here is what helped me out with stabbing the foot.

get your woman to shuttle you up to the top of the longest curvy steep gravel road in your area and start trying to ride it down without touching your brakes, get used to the controlled slides while posting your inside foot in case of a lowside slide. once you get comfortable with it you hardly put down your foot anymore.

the only time I really post in the corners is if it really loose dirt/sand or mud

i put my foot out for almost every corner that does not have a berm or enough pedal cleareance, however i only put it a few inches from the pedal, so if it slides more than i like its closer to being out and its still easier to get back on

when i started this habbit i didnt know that though-i think its all style and preference

Metal Dude said:

............

P.S. You only "dab"-(slightly tap the ground to keep from sliding or crashing)- ................

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What about along sweeping corner you hit just stupidly way too fast, and you findyour self dabbing about six times just to stay alive!!!!!



Seriosuly though, if you can, keep your feet on the pedals, as far as sticking a foot out for balance, up next to the fork is where it belongs, and it all depends on teh corner, and teh technique you used going into it. For the most part, I keep my feet on the pedals, weight on the outside pedal and on the inside of the handle bar. i ride clipped but I dont have issues getting back in either, I am not afraid to dab If I need, in fact its a good thing to practice so you rready to do so if needed, also its a good thing to practice getting back into your pedals in a hurry too.

Good thing to be able to do, but for the most part keep you rfeet on the pedals.

ha i love throwin my left foot out and doing a controled drift. i could seriously do it all day and wont get bored. but this is also because i live on a dirt road and learned it.

but as for my right foot ill keep it on untill i go down basically. i never put my right foot down in the turns or in a drift.

heres a good shot of me throwin the left foot out in a flat turn



heres me slidin sideways down a right hander... i just have my knee/foot angled for balance thats all.



heres a good clip showin that keepin your feet on the pedals is faster.

Doesn't putting your foot out change where your weight shifts, and in turn make your point of greatest traction different? <---I'm talking about flat dusty corners.

Iridemtb said:

Doesn't putting your foot out change where your weight shifts, and in turn make your point of greatest traction different? <---I'm talking about flat dusty corners.

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thats what people have been saying in the thread.

The most important point in this thread has been that don't take your feet off unless you have to!

I think good proof of which is faster is to watch the fast off camber corner on the World Championship videos. Sam Hill foot out. Gee Atherton Foot on. We all know who was faster.

Inside foot?

INSIDE?

Damn. That's what I'm doing wrong.


(Any weight placed on the foot removes weight from the tyres = loss of grip.... but a tripod is more stable than a bipod, so if you're falling put your foot down. Nothing slower than falling on your face).

Whoops said:

(Any weight placed on the foot removes weight from the tyres = loss of grip.... but a tripod is more stable than a bipod, so if you're falling put your foot down.

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not true, it's about the sum/equilibrium of forces, hands and feet, but if your bike has the same attitude and acceleration, one or two feet doesn't make a difference, the riders the same weight and traction's all the same. What makes a difference is one or two feet can change your ability to control your bikes handling, but otherwise it shouldn't make a difference on the actual physics.

i'm always amazed when the foot goes down; it's instinct at its best. Otherwise I'm cleaning bloody kneecaps....

Honestly, I think it's more rider preference/experience.

When I first started riding DH my feet were all over the place in corners. Then I slowly got more and more comfortable with leaning the bike over and using less and less brakes. Then I switched to riding in clips and now I almost never take my feet off.

Personally, if I lean the bike over quite a bit, there is no need to put a foot out unless you're trying to save yourself from crashing. It also depends on the type of corner.

It all boils down to what you're comfortable with.

Nothin wrong with a bit of foot-out action.
Braaap!