Switchbacks—also called hairpin bends—are any turns on the trail sharper than 90 degrees. When you first come across one, the mere sight of it can flip your brain around and twist your confidence like a wet rag filled with nervous sweat. Up or down, they can be one of the most daunting things when you’re new to mountain biking. You may feel some trepidation potentially screwing it up, but as we say in the Worth It Manifesto: “Acknowledge but don’t indulge fears.” So yes, fear, we see you, but we accept the challenge of the switchback, so let’s put our brains and bodies in gear and do this!
Kate Courtney
Are you trail ready?
Do you have everything you need for an awesome time on the bike? Flat kit? Snacks and hydration? A friend? While the impulse is high to go out and ride solo just so no-one sees you make mistakes, a ride buddy can be the ultimate encouragement for a beginner. Not only can they help you out if you get stuck—you can learn from each other.
Got that "look ahead" mantra?
If there’s one key thing to train your eyes to do, it’s look ahead, not down at your front wheel, as you ride. This can be a hard habit to break when you’re new, but remember that your brain is a super smart hunk of matter, and it can fill in the gaps between where you’re looking and what’s passing beneath you. You can also see, and prepare for, obstacles well in advance when you look ahead.
Is "Fun" your middle name?
This goes without saying, but just in case you’ve forgotten, this should be fun. You can’t have a blast without igniting your good vibes boosters, so make having fun the order of the day.
In the video at the top of this story, pro mountain biker Kate Courtney focuses primarily on the downhill switchback, but uphill uses the same principles with a couple of small additions. But first—the downhill. First, adopt the “Attack Position” (explained below) as you approach the downhill switchback and remember: some of steps in this list below will be happening concurrently.
Last words: As with all things mountain biking, practice makes perfect, so if you find a good switchback that doesn’t have a high penalty for messing it up, “Session” it until you’ve nailed it.
You’ll hear mountain bikers talk a lot about the attack position, and it’s not what you think. The Attack Position is a fundamental, out-of-the-saddle body position in mountain biking. Let’s compare. When you’re sitting down and riding, you have a ton of stability, but when you’re standing, what you sacrifice in stability you more than make up for in maneuverability. Most out-of-the-saddle body positions have their cornerstone set in the Attack Positon, so it’s a key skill to learn. Here’s Kate Courtney with a quick demo, and we’ve added some quick pointers below to help you assume the Attack Position.
Cowgirl Up
Keep your knees bent, relaxed, and wide, which will give you room to move the bike between them as you make turns. Of course, this is also called the "cowboy position," but it doesn’t matter—either way we’re riding this thing.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Ninja
Get out of the saddle with your weight in your feet. This goes hand-in-hand with the Cowgirl stance, and it makes carving a corner as simple as leaning the bike and shifting weight from one foot to the other (dropping the outside pedal and inside bar—see 3).
‘Bows Out, Hands Light
Don’t strangle your grips—keep your hands light and easy—and your elbows bent and relaxed. Your arms and hands are the captains of your handlebars, leaning your bike this way and that with mind-blowing dexterity. Can you feel it?
Focus
When you’re in this positon, you’re in high alert. You’re absolutely ready for whatever’s coming up ahead on that trail, whether it be a swooping corner and sharp switchback, you’re on it.