High-Speed Cornering: Lean the Bike, Press the Outside Pedal, and Flow the Line
Learn how to carry speed through berms and flat turns by leaning the bike (not just your body), driving the outside pedal, and choosing smoother, faster lines that let you roll through the apex.
Core Principles of High-Speed Cornering
Lean the Bike, Not Just Your Body
Keep your torso more upright while letting the bike tilt underneath — this keeps the contact patch working and improves traction in berms and high-speed turns.
Outside Pedal Pressure
Drive the outside pedal down and load the outside leg to anchor the bike and maintain grip. Keep the inside pedal up to avoid striking obstacles.
Look & Commit
Look through the exit and commit to the chosen line — your hands and bike will follow your eyes, making smoother, faster turns possible.
Brake Before the Turn
Do braking in a straight or slightly loosening line before the turn. Release the brakes as you enter and use small modulation if needed mid-corner.
Tip: In berms, roll a little higher into the wall and allow the bike to carry you through — this uses the berm's banking to hold speed.
Drills to Build Speed and Control
Pick a bermed section and do repeated runs, focusing on rolling into the wall, outside pedal pressure, and looking through the exit. Gradually increase entry speed.
On a gentle turn or cone line, practice keeping the outside pedal down and loading that leg while keeping your chest centered over the bike.
Ride the same corner picking different lines (tight to open) and compare entry speed, exit speed, and how the bike feels to find smoother, faster options.
Practice braking in a straight before turns and releasing into the corner — maintain momentum without skidding the front wheel.
Common Mistakes
Show / hide common mistakes
- Braking in the turn – This kills traction. Brake earlier and get off the brakes as you lean the bike.
- Leaning the torso too much – Keep your chest relatively upright and let the bike lean under you for a stable contact patch.
- Inside pedal down – Keep the inside pedal up to avoid striking the inside of the turn or obstacles.
- Looking at the apex – Look through the exit; looking down or at the apex causes tight, slow lines.
- Overloaded rear wheel – Too far back can make the rear step out; maintain a balanced weight over the outside pedal.
Bike Setup & Gear Tips
- Slightly firmer rear tire pressure can help maintain speed through berms; tune pressures for grip and rollover balance.
- Ensure tires have good sidewall grip for leaning — choose tires rated for cornering performance on your terrain.
- Suspension: firm enough to support cornering loads but not so firm that the bike skips over bumps. Small rebound adjustments help re-center the bike mid-corner.
Practice Plan (10–25 minutes)
Warm up for 3–5 minutes with easy riding and gentle turns. Spend 5–10 minutes on outside-pedal and line-choice drills at controlled speed. Finish with 5–10 minutes of berm repeats, gradually increasing entry speed and focusing on look, lean and pedal pressure.
Quick Tips & Micro Drills
- Micro drill: On a slow berm, concentrate only on keeping the outside pedal down and your hips over it — repeat until it becomes automatic.
- Confidence builder: Ride the same berm multiple times, each lap committing slightly more to the lean while keeping speed consistent.
- Gear: A grippy glove and flat or clipped boots you trust will help you apply confident pedal pressure.
Checklist
- Look through the exit
- Lean the bike, keep chest upright
- Press and weight the outside pedal
- Brake before the turn, then roll through
Slow berms → Faster berms → Flat turns at speed → Linking multiple corners
Where to Go Next
Continue on to Front and Rear Wheel Lifts to learn how to lift your wheels for better obstacle clearance and manualing.
Ready to try out the techniques you’ve learned? Check out our Intermediate-Friendly Bike Picks.
Skip ahead to advanced skills with our Advanced Skills Guide.