Get Around a Tight Turn with Finesse

Certain skills can seem really intense – like the Nose Manual Turn. Doing a nose manual turn is an advanced skill that requires the rider to control their range of movement to maintain balance and control throughout the turn. This skill is used when negotiating a corner at slow or moderate speed or impressing your friends (ha, ha).

Using this skill allows a rider to get the rear wheel up and to the outside of the corner, so the rider can make a tighter turn or straighten up the bike sooner as they exit the turn. You can also use it if your line into a tight corner wasn’t optimal and you want to get around the turn without dabbing.

The Nose Manual Turn is one of our BICP Level 3 Testing Skills. It’s easy to look at this skill and wonder where and when you would use it in your everyday mountain biking. Is it more of a showy trick? What’s the point of this skill?

Why we use the Nose Manual Turn as a Testing Skill

Because this skill is so complex, demonstrating it properly requires several advanced components to be executed properly. These components must all come together to demonstrate a well-executed Nose Manual Turn:

1. Awareness of range of movement – balance and control
2. Braking Control – advanced ability to modulate and control the front brake
3. Finesse – it’s not about being strong it’s about technique

Advanced rear wheel lifts require a high level of bike handling skills and can take years of practice to execute, let alone master. Be patient with yourself and keep practicing with safe progressions. There’s always room for improvement.

Come join us for a Level 3 Certification this year!

-Lisa Sher