One thing that a lot of riders miss out on when training with kettlebell training for mountain biking is not focusing enough on wrist position. This is a really common mistake and unfortunate since it is such a vital area to strengthen for the trail. When used correctly, kettlebells are a great way to improve wrist strength, which increases control and helps you avoid wrist pain on the trail.

Too many riders have weak wrists and lean into bent wrists on the handlebars, causing wrist pain and hand numbness, not to mention less control and stability.

I call it “letting the kettlebell win the arm wrestling match” and it is essentially letting the KB pull your wrist back like you see in the first picture below.

While you don’t need it perfectly straight, getting your wrist positioned like you see in the second picture and keeping it there is the goal.

This second position does several things for us. First, it is a stronger position to press from and you will be able to lift and handle more weight. Second, it mimics the same wrist position you want to apply to the bike, making the type of wrist strength you build from it very valuable on the trail.

Too many riders have weak wrists and lean into bent wrists on the handlebars, causing wrist pain and hand numbness, not to mention less control and stability. By making sure you are using the correct wrist position you’ll be able make sure you are not one of them while also improving your upper body strength. In this video I show you what good wrist position looks like as well as some tips on how to find it for yourself.

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-James Wilson-