What Nobody Is Telling You About Foot Positioning

[@Motoheadauck]

I'm glad you have covered this off, Shane Watts pretty much has been saying the same thing for years, most of the techniques being taught are mainly for motocross..

[@bertamusprime618]

Nice video, a few years ago I remember Ryan Hughes calling his boots “Dancing” shoes. He flipped his boots over and there were peg “teeth” marks all over is boot showing he is “dancing” on the pegs. The marks were mostly in arches and balls but there were marks all over. Then he said to flip your boots over and see were the marks are on your boot all they all over or in one spot. Keep up the great work!

[@ridewiththeknights]

"Dancing" on the pegs is a great way to put it hahaha. Both have their use cases and pros/cons. Thanks for watching!

[@DmitriyAdv]

Using both is one of the things that propelled me from a mid pack C rider to a podium B rider at enduros. I was loosing a lot of time on the straighter sections when I was standing crooked covering the rear brake and not being able to use my ankles to really charge down a straighter section of trail.

[@benjaminnielsen5265]

I use both techniques. When the speed is up, balls of feet and knees locked on. The more technical it gets the more likely I'll be to be on my arches and unlock the knees to let the bike move under me.

[@wernerxldata]

Yup, adapt to the situation

[@zacharysmith7872]

Heels down, too. It helps with balancing your body when the front end drops or bumps that slow the front end. It takes weight off your hands. If your heels are high/level, the only thing that can hold your body back is your arms which will fade quickly. In the videos it looks like you ride with your heels low. 2:58 to 3:02 looks great.

[@flingndirt_UT]

My thoughts coming from a wanna be vet with many years of riding. I find that riding in the arch is less tiring than riding on the toes as you're not fatiguing those additional muscles. Then as you stated I don't have to worry about being able to cover that rear brake, the only downside to it is that if you're not careful you can easily ride that rear brake and overheat it so you have to be mindful of that. I spent a lot of time trying to retrain myself on this and tried switching to the balls but I just found it took too much energy and I was never comfortable with it so I don't worry about doing that anymore. I guess another thought with riding in the arch, gotta focus on keeping the toes pointed in more so you don't hook rocks and branches and stuff....

[@ridewiththeknights]

All of those points are valid and accurate. When I first started to really focus on riding on the balls of my feet, it was really taxing on my calf muscles, but is something you ultimately get used to. Thanks for watching and your comment!

[@stevesmith756]

As an older vet rider I’m with you. Tore my calf trying to ride on the balls of my feet.

[@danbutler2934]

Great explanation of foot position snd technique. I think some of the best logic I've heard on this topic. Thanks!

[@thomascaldwell184]

Thanks for the video! Always appreciate what you guys do. I'm surprised you didn't mention to get in the habit of keeping your toes in (whether you're riding on your arches or toes). I've noticed that the general tendency is for folks, especially if they are tired, to let their toes point out. That can lead to your foot getting scraped off the peg by terrain, so it's best to practice keeping your toes in all the time.

[@ridewiththeknights]

There will never be a shortage of things we can do to get better at riding! Keeping your toes in is definitely a solid practice for both safety and better grip of the bike.

[@jonWilk8156]

I crushed my foot like that when I was young. Riding in the left "lane" of an atv trail in tall grass that hid a stump

[@cooganbeggs4942]

Finally you have clarified this. Great info as always 💪

[@ridewiththeknights]

Appreciate it!

[@chrigul1]

Very good explained. I also use both positions. Wich when? A skilled Rider once told me, you always have to ride very " light". Means your body has to move constantly to give the bike the best traction/balance. With that in mind one will change the foot position to achieve this "light" feeling.

[@jay_motocombat]

One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was that the front of your peg becomes horizontal when the bike is vertical. Rolling your foot onto front of the peg is another way to transition from the arch to the ball of the foot on steep climbs and splats. Next time you flip the bike on a climb try again while standing on the front of the peg.

[@ridewiththeknights]

That is a super interesting point. I notice Josep Garcia utilizing the front of the pegs a lot to help his sit to stand transition

[@yurperfect]

Thanks for the clarity. Ive been wondering if pros cover the rear break in tighter faster techy stuff or if they go back and forth. Now I know. 🙏👊

[@cliffanderson7544]

I use both!!!!

[@andreugumaaltes2192]

Thank you!!

[@rodger2499]

Very good explanation.

[@eastman922]

I ride mostly on my toes and cover the rear brake when it’s fast and twisty, downhill, or techy. Most often I’m on the toes in other scenarios. Thanks for the video!

[@LuckyNikitaBoba]

How do you ride on your toes AND cover the rear brake at the same time?

[@eastman922]

@ I move my foot from my toes to the arch of my foot to cover the rear brake when I’m in those tighter conditions and naturally move it back to the toes when things open up

[@gg4760-k5n]

Basically my left foot is always on the ball aside from the few milliseconds it takes to shift then back on the ball. My right foot default is ball also but if the terrain needs frequent braking I will keep it on the arch until I can go back to ball. My background is from DH Mtb so riding on the balls of my feet and standing up is what feels most natural to me.

[@alexrateliff4784]

I ride this way too. You end up "crossed up" in the hips and knees a little, but it makes it faster to get back to a good attack position when needed.

[@gg4760-k5n]

@alexrateliff4784 still much less crossed up than my natural biking position so all good lol

[@tylerdurden6937]

I've considered cutting and welding the rear brake closer to my foot peg so I can use it from the toe position without making such an exaggerated move, has anyone else done this?

[@jonWilk8156]

prob wouldnt have enough travel?

[@JohnnyGlad96]

good shit

[@BH-td9to]

The problem I have riding on the balls of my feet is landing on jumps or drop-offs. The force drives your heal down and can over extend your ankle position. I have injured my ankles and achilles because of this. I now use foot pegs that have a rear extension to help with the problem. Wondering if anyone else has had this problem.

[@stevesmith756]

Yup tore my calf jumping and listening to Ryan Hughes.

[@Dusty2424]

Awesome video but this would’ve been useful a few months ago, foot position has been something I’ve been struggling with, and in a race in October I hit a huge rain rut, I got bucked off and broke my wrist on the landing, I’m still recovering and still can’t ride for another 2 weeks

[@RollForever88]

Bummer! Heal up 💪🏼

[@Dusty2424]

@ Thanks

[@ridewiththeknights]

Sorry to hear that Dusty. Wishing you a speedy recovery and happy holidays. Get healed up for Spring and thanks for watching!

[@Dusty2424]

@@ridewiththeknights Thanks a lot, your videos have helped me with a bunch of my problems when racing, and are ton of fun to watch some desert racing

[@SLAYJUCE]

I broke both legs because of bad foot position lol body position wasn’t the greatest either

[@MrCingred]

Hi. I ride an electric bike and I can ride on the balls of my feet constantly. 🤣