Under (Active and Passive) Pressure
Mastering the balance of force and surrender
Hi friends,
Before we dive into this week’s summary post, a little housekeeping! I’ve been experimenting with releasing two posts over the weekend: one focused on riding techniques and another on life lessons from the trail. But I want to hear from you—does this format work? Or is two posts per weekend too much?
Now, let’s talk about one of my very favorite concepts Jamie has introduced me to: active and passive pressure. This idea, which is central to riding, is more than a skill; it’s a mindset. It’s about knowing when to push and when to yield, when to lean in and when to let go.
But here’s the thing: passive pressure isn’t about giving up or going limp—it’s about staying engaged while allowing the bike to move beneath you, responding with intention even as you let go of control.
The distinction lies in staying connected rather than disconnected, both on the trail and in life.
In episode 61, we broke down the concept of active and passive pressure. Here’s how you can start honing this essential skill on your next ride. Without further ado, let’s break it down.
Here’s what we’ve talked about so far:
Active and Passive Pressure: A Spectrum of Engagement
Pressure on the bike isn’t just about tension; it’s about intention. Active pressure is rooted in energy—energy created through deliberate force. It comes from pushing into the pedals, engaging your muscles, and using that power to propel yourself forward. It’s about making intentional moves—pressing into a berm to generate speed, lifting over a rock with precision, or accelerating out of a corner with purpose.
On the other hand, passive pressure is about yielding—it’s the art of letting the bike flow beneath you, absorbing terrain and harnessing gravity’s momentum. But passive doesn’t mean disengaged; it’s about staying responsive and in tune, allowing the trail to guide you while you remain present and intentional. Both types of pressure are essential, and mastering the balance between them transforms your ride from strained to effortless.
Jamie explains that mastering the rhythm between active and passive pressure transforms a ride from survival into play. It’s not about staying in one state but about learning to transition fluidly between pushing and yielding. When you push into the trail, you generate the power and control needed for momentum. When you relax and let the bike move beneath you, you create space for flow and adaptability.
“It’s about being able to push into the trail when you need power and then letting the bike move underneath you when it’s time to flow. If you’re always in one mode—too tense or too loose—you lose that dynamic connection. The magic happens when you can switch seamlessly between the two.”
Proprioception: The Art of Sensing When to Push and When to Yield
Proprioception, or the awareness of your body in space, is central to mastering active and passive pressure. It’s the connection that lets you instinctively feel how your weight is distributed, how the bike responds, and when to push or yield. Jamie describes it as a heightened sensitivity to both your body and the terrain—turning effort into intuitive movement.
“When you’re tuned into your body and the bike,” Jamie says, “it’s like everything starts moving as one. You stop fighting the trail and start flowing with it.” This awareness creates a feedback loop where rocks, roots, and dips become signals, not obstacles. Proprioception helps you sense the exact moment to generate power or let go, allowing seamless transitions between active and passive pressure.
When fully developed, proprioception becomes the key to true self-expression on the bike . It shifts the experience from overthinking every movement to instinctively feeling and responding, transforming your bike into an extension of your body and your ride into a form of art.
The Metaphor: Waves of Energy
Jamie described this concept beautifully, comparing active and passive pressure to the rhythm of ocean waves. Active pressure is the powerful crash of the wave, forcefully pushing onto the shore and creating energy that reshapes the coastline. Passive pressure is the receding tide, gently yielding and pulling energy back into the ocean’s depths. These forces may seem oppositional, but they rely on each other to create balance and harmony. Without the crash, there’s no pull; without the pull, there’s no crash.
The trail reveals its rhythm through this interplay. It rewards those who can respond skillfully to its shifts—leaning into the crash when power is needed, yielding to the pull when it’s time to absorb. This balance between push and pull transforms riding into something more than movement; it becomes a conversation with the trail, an exchange of energy that allows us to stay grounded while flowing toward what’s next. It’s this harmony of opposites that makes the ride—on the bike or in life—so beautifully dynamic.
Cue It!
"Drive." Use active pressure to generate power and control—press into the pedals and engage the trail with intention.
"Yield." Passive pressure isn’t about giving up; it’s an intentional release, letting the bike flow beneath you as you stay engaged with the trail.
"Let it roll." Allow your bike to glide over technical terrain, reducing tension while maintaining stability.
"Bend and flex." Stay dynamic—bend your knees and flex into the pedals to keep your body engaged and responsive.
I’d love to hear how this concept resonates with you, and don’t forget to let me know about the two-post weekend format! Your feedback will shape how we continue to share these lessons.
See you on the trails (and in the comments)!
– Danielle
This post has been created with the help of AI and drew on the original content from episode 6. Voice is mine.