bikegirl.co.uk - Don't ride like a girl

A good riding stance .... or ..... How not to "ride like a girl" on a sports bike

Why is it relatively easy to spot a female rider by her riding position?
There are plenty of girls out there (mostly experienced riders and racers) who don't ride in this way. There is also a small percentage of men who ride like this. Dare I say, they seem to be BMW riders? Yes, I dare!
This section isn't really relevant to non-sportsbike riders.

The "girlie" riding postion

Straight or arched back, much of the time straight arms.
I know this photo doesn't quite illustrate the look on a sports bike but I shall get some photography done to illustrate the point.
If you're not bothered, then keep riding as you are, no harm done.
If you want to be even more cool and need a little help then read on.

What causes it?
I suggest that there are two causes, the main one is the rider being tense.
Although a biker must be ready to react to all the extra road hazards, it's important to relax into the bike. Being tense will mean many things:

you are likely to react slightly less speedily to hazards since you are starting from a "stiff" pose

your manouvres will be unnatural and forced

your bike feedback every little bump up your arms adding up to tiring you out more quickly

your cornering ability will be greatly reduced - you are likely to be wary of leaning your bike over too far

you'll have difficulty moving around in the saddle for different types of riding (e.g. "hanging off" to corner)

A second cause emerged as a possibility after I bought some new leathers today. I found that the tightness made me sit up too much, and the bulkiness of having an extra jacket on top (I bought a summer one and had to wear it over the leathers to get home) made me straighten my arms. So it could be a factor. I suggest wearing an undersuit (such as the EDZ mentioned on the fashion page might improve the comfort of your leathers whilst riding.

What's the ideal position?
Well, there isn't such a thing since it depends on your size and the size and riding position of your bike. However, the main points to note to promote a relaxed position are:
curve your spine and bend over your tank slightly - the opposite of arching your back
bend your elbows - move your upper body forward occasionally to make sure you're keeping them bent, until you find it's automatic
relax your neck - again move around occasionally to keep it relaxed
make sure your leathers are comfortable and allow you to relax and move around
I'll get a photo in soon.

There you go. Far from a definitive guide as yet, but send in your thoughts on this - it's by no means been thrashed out enough yet.

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