One of the most overlooked aspects of improving your riding isn’t found in a workout program, a new bike setup, or even the best nutrition plan. 

It’s in the words you use—both in how you coach yourself and how you’re coached by others.

That’s why I found The Language of Coaching by Nick Winkelman to be such a valuable read. 

The book dives into how the words we use impact movement, performance, and learning. 

It’s something that elite coaches and athletes have long understood, but most riders (and coaches) don’t think about enough.

In this newsletter, I’ll break down some key takeaways from the book and show you how applying them to your training and riding can help you move better, ride stronger, and enjoy more flow on the trails.

Why Words Matter for MTB Skills and Strength

When you hear a cue like “get low” or “stay strong,” what does that actually mean? 

If you’re not sure, you’re not alone. 

One of the biggest points in The Language of Coaching is that vague, internal-focused cues don’t translate well into movement improvements. 

Instead, the best coaching focuses on external cues—things you can see, feel, or imagine outside of your body.

For example, telling a rider to “hinge at the hips” may not register as well as saying “push your butt back like you’re reaching for a chair behind you.” 

The second cue gives you a clear, external image that your brain can act on.

This principle applies to everything in MTB, from cornering to jumping to strength training in the gym. 

The more effectively you use language to create the right mental image, the better your body will respond.

Internal vs. External Cues: What Works Best?

One of the key concepts in the book is the difference between internal and external coaching cues:

• Internal Cues: Focus on what your body is doing (e.g., “engage your core,” “bend your knees”).

• External Cues: Focus on the outcome or an outside reference point (e.g., “crush the can under your foot,” “aim your shoulders where you want to go”).

Research shows that external cues are far more effective for skill development because they make movement more instinctive. 

Internal cues tend to overcomplicate things, causing riders to overthink and stiffen up rather than flow through movements.

Let’s apply this to riding:

• Instead of “lean your bike,” try “push the handlebars into the turn like you’re pressing against a wall.”

• Instead of “stay balanced,” try “imagine you’re standing on a surfboard and let the bike move under you.”

• Instead of “brace your core,” try “keep your ribs locked down like you’re holding a plank.”

Each of these creates a strong mental picture that makes it easier to execute the movement properly without overthinking it.

Applying This to Strength Training

The same principle applies in the gym. 

Many riders struggle with proper form, not because they aren’t strong enough, but because they’re not getting the right cues to reinforce good movement.

For example, when coaching a deadlift, rather than saying “keep your back straight,” a better cue might be “show the logo on your shirt to the wall in front of you.” 

That external focus naturally creates the proper spinal position.

Other great external cues for the gym include:

• Squat: “Imagine spreading the floor apart with your feet.”

• Push-up: “Drive the ground away like you’re launching off it.”

• Pull-up: “Pull your elbows to your pockets.”

These kinds of cues help your brain connect with movement in a more intuitive way, making it easier to build strength with proper technique.

Self-Coaching on the Bike

If you’re riding solo or training without a coach, the language you use to guide yourself is just as important. 

One of the best ways to improve is to start shifting the way you talk to yourself when working on new skills.

For example, instead of saying “I need to stay loose,” reframe it into an external cue: “Let the bike dance under me like I’m floating over rough terrain.” 

Instead of “I need to pump better,” try “Push the bike into the backside of the rollers like I’m jumping on a trampoline.”

The more you practice using external, image-based cues, the more natural they’ll become—and the faster you’ll develop better movement habits.

Final Thoughts

MTB is a sport of movement, and how you think about movement plays a huge role in how well you execute it. 

By applying the principles from The Language of Coaching, you can improve your skills, get stronger in the gym, and develop a deeper connection with your riding.

Next time you’re working on a skill or lift, pay attention to the words you’re using. 

Shift from internal cues to external ones and see how much smoother things feel.

If you want to take your training to the next level, I incorporate these coaching principles into my programs to help riders move better with less effort. 

Whether it’s through strength training or skill development, using the right language can unlock better performance and more fun on the trails.

Until next time…

Ride Strong,

James Wilson
MTB Strength Training Systems