Cornering: Why are their butts out?

Lee,
I never thought I could learn so much from a book about mountain biking! My cornering has improved incredibly after reading (and re-reading countless times) the section on railing.

There’s something I’m trying to figure out, though. If you watch Andrew Shandro and others in The Collective and Roam you’ll see the riders cornering with their butts off to the outside of the turn. There seems to be more going on than just leaning the bike more than the body, but I can’t quite figure out the dynamics. What gives?
Harry

Hey Harry,

Two main things:

1. Leaning the bike more than the body. This increases cornering force and lets you stay balanced when the tires drift.

2. Turning your entire body into the turn. Driving from the hips adds power to the turn, increases space for your bike and orients you to the exit.

This is a ridiculous exaggeration, to expand my range of motion. I’m really good in a parking lot.

From her hips up, Bobbi Watt is aimed where she wants to go.

Me in the Santa Cruz Mountains. On a twisty singletrack, keep your upper body pointed down the trail, and let the bike handle the turns.

Peaty shows this concept in real-life, two-wheel-drifting DH action. Big Bear style.

Pulling 3Gs, Pump Track Nation Style. My whole body — no, my entire consciousness — is oriented toward the next set of rollers.