{"id":120,"date":"2020-12-23T10:04:05","date_gmt":"2020-12-23T15:04:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/outdoorleadership\/?page_id=120"},"modified":"2025-06-25T13:13:07","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:13:07","slug":"body-positioning","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/outdoorleadership\/mountain-biking\/body-positioning\/","title":{"rendered":"Body Positioning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is body positioning and how does it help while riding?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Body positioning is moving your body in relation to the bike. It can help you navigate different terrain and maintain control of your bike. This involves standing on your pedals, not sitting on your seat, shifting your body from one side of the bike to the other, and in front of or behind the seat. It is important that when you have the chance to stand and use different body positions you keep your pedals at 9 and 3, compared to a clock, to maintain as much ground clearance as possible while navigating obstacles. Below you can read about the following positions: Ready, attack, sitting forwards and backwards of your seat, and shifting side to side on your bike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ready and Attack Position<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The ready position is when your feet are on the pedals at 9 and 3, like a clock. This is displayed in figure 1 and 2. Your butt is off the seat, there is a slight bend in your knees and elbows, your back isn\u2019t arched and your head is looking forward. The attack position is the same as the ready position except you have more bend in your elbows, your chest comes closer to the handlebar but not touching it. Remembering to keep your head up, and look forward.<\/p>\n\n\n