bike geometry

[Irulan]

This gal is going UP hill and she's in the air! how did she do that?
these are great pictures btw, a lot of what you are saying is true for road bike riding too. I find myself in your 3 and 9 oclock positions going over rough roads too.

(back from skiing)

That's the exit of a fun little whoopdedo, and you can get air off it if you do it just right.

This is what body english is all about, you are not static on your bike. Type of bike ( hardtail, fully etc) is irrelevant, you use your body with the suspension.

Images, riding the steeps. Even this first guy doesn't' have his belly on the saddle, and you can see the stance. From the few steeps I've done, it's all about balance and CG; the saddle is just a reference point and not something you necessarily work into the dance as a weight holder.