You will note that the blue line representing the path of your bike will start wide – in this illustration by the edge of the road/kerb, turn in, aiming for the apex/white line in middle of the road, then drifting out again to the side of the road. On an equivalent left hand bend the apex will be the inside of the corner bounded by the kerb or grass verge. On a normal road in the UK the illustration in Figure 1 represents just one side of the road and the apex will actually be the white line in the middle of the road. As you move through the corner you’ll then transfer your focus to the exit as it comes into view. This feature is very important for on tighter corners (90 degrees and more) where you cannot see ‘the exit’ the apex will be where you look initially as you begin your turn. You’ll note that the middle of the corner has been labelled ‘Geometric Apex’. The blue line is what a racing driver might call ‘the racing line’. It is easiest to understand this concept with some illustrations.įigure 1 below shows a 90 degree corner. On a bike it is also the safest way, as it positions your bike correctly on the road while allowing it to pass through the corner efficiently. ![]() In essence, this is the fastest way through a corner a driver can take. Rule 3 – Understand the anatomy of a cornerĪnyone who has ever watched motor racing will have heard commentators and racing drivers talk about the ‘racing line’. Obviously if the road is wet or you are riding off-road on loose gravel you need to allow for this as grip levels will be less. With experience you will soon get used to how much you can lean your bike and how much grip your tyres have – which is far more than you’d think. They are just there so you can keep hold of your bike as you turn. Remember you are not steering your bike with the handlebars. On low speed gentle corners your bike will barely leave the upright but as the curves become more extreme and your speed increases the key to initiating the turn is to lean your bike. It is when the curves get tighter and the speeds higher that things can become a little more tricky BUT the same principle of ‘looking where you want to go’ applies only we now add our second ‘rule’ to that. So far, so good and cornering on a gentle flat road at a reasonably moderate speed should not present too much of a problem even for an absolute beginner. Remember your bike will go where you look so if you are not looking at the exit it doesn’t know that’s where you want to be! This means focusing on where you and your bike want to be when you finish cornering – or when you ‘exit’ the corner. As a corner gets tighter, the more important is it to look at ‘the exit’. ‘Looking where you want to go’ means looking beyond the beginning of a corner or what is immediately in front of you. If you are a complete beginner you will have done this instinctively already but next time consciously note how little the front wheel turns when doing this – and how no input is required from you to the handlebars. Simply keep pedalling and look ahead and the bike will go where you want. On a gentle curve, on a flat road this will be obvious to some extent. It might sound silly but the key to cornering on a bike is simply ‘to look where you want to go’ and the bike will follow. The turning of the handlebars – such as it is – is consequential on something completely different: you looking where you want to go! Rule 1 – Look where you want to go Wrong! When you turn through a corner on a bike you don’t actually turn the handlebars. ![]() Manoeuvring a bike through a corner seems simple enough: simply turn the handlebars in the direction you want to go – right? No. Finally, we’ll give you a basic guide to bike fitting to ensure you avoid some of the common aches and pains suffered by cyclists. This blog will cover the following: cornering, how to use your gears to keep momentum as well as descending, climbing and pedalling techniques. Even if you are the most casual of leisure cyclists or simply use your bike to ride to the shops or work, improving your pedalling technique will mean you expend less energy and arrive at your destination fresher – in every sense of the word! By learning these simple tips you will improve your safety and make a huge difference to your confidence and enjoyment of cycling. But it is not all about speed and distance. This week we take you a little deeper into the techniques you can use to maybe go further and faster. Here is the fourth part of our Top Tips for New Cyclists Guide to get you cycling safely and enjoyably. At Viva Velo we are experts in taking our clients on a journey from beginner to accomplished cyclist.
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