High speed cornering

[944fan]

I have my first Triathlon in September and along with losing weight and building my fitness I am working on my technique too. The bike stage is going to be my strongest event so I want to get a really good time here. I know is the taking part that's important and all that bks but I'm really competitive.

Anyway when taking sharp corners at high speed my back wheel sometimes feels like its slipping away and I have to correct which causes a wobble. I haven't binned it yet but come close. I approach the corner, pick my line, brake, release and lean in. Its half way through the lean it feels like it is going. Is this a technique issue, putting my weight in the wrong place or could it be tyre pressure?

Anyone else had similar?

[anonymous-user]

First question, what tyres are you running and at what pressure?

[Steve vRS]

Velominati said:

Rule #64// Cornering confidence increases with time and experience.

This pattern continues until it falls sharply and suddenly.

Steve

[944fan]

Mac. said:

First question, what tyres are you running and at what pressure?

Rubino Pro Folding tyres at 110 PSI. I weigh quite a bit if that matters?

[BOBTEE]

I ride MTB so I'm not sure if it works on the road! Try dropping your outer peddle and the put a good chunk of your weight through that, also keep your body central over the bike, don't shift your weight too far forward.

[anonymous-user]

Some good tips in this vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vou9FFuFGo

[Disastrous]

Someone posted a pretty amazing video of (I think) Cipollini descending some Alp or an another at high speed.

I reckon you just want to watch that, assume you know it all and immediately go out and go that quick. That's how I'd play it. Can't fail.

[anonymous-user]

Was it this Cancellara vid?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxXqQqAc2pA

[Disastrous]

Mac. said:

Was it this Cancellara vid?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxXqQqAc2pA

Ha, if not, it'll do!

'Mazing.

Just do that, OP!

[944fan]

Mac. said:

Was it this Cancellara vid?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxXqQqAc2pA

Jesus Christ! If I rode down that hill I think I may tea stain my gusset. And then crash.. and probably die.

[NitroNick]

Disastrous said:

Someone posted a pretty amazing video of (I think) Cipollini descending some Alp or an another at high speed.

Cippollini Bond Video

Edited by NitroNick on Tuesday 2nd July 19:36

[bugeyewrx]

[BMWBen]

944fan said:

I have my first Triathlon in September and along with losing weight and building my fitness I am working on my technique too. The bike stage is going to be my strongest event so I want to get a really good time here. I know is the taking part that's important and all that bks but I'm really competitive.

Anyway when taking sharp corners at high speed my back wheel sometimes feels like its slipping away and I have to correct which causes a wobble. I haven't binned it yet but come close. I approach the corner, pick my line, brake, release and lean in. Its half way through the lean it feels like it is going. Is this a technique issue, putting my weight in the wrong place or could it be tyre pressure?

Anyone else had similar?

If you're cornering hard enough to slip the back wheel and you don't bin it, you're already a cornering god and should just go back to the threshold work

Seriously, most people can't corner that hard. Myself included.

[okgo]

Lean in, foot high so you don't hit the floor with pedal, straight opposite leg, and apply pressure to your straight leg as you lean. Those tyres are quite grippy in the dry.

[lestershaw]

who was the guy, i think he was a young south african cyclist, doing a descent on the tour de france, and could not hold it on the bend and went straight over the wall?
anyone got a link to the incident?

[Gargamel]

lestershaw said:

who was the guy, i think he was a young south african cyclist, doing a descent on the tour de france, and could not hold it on the bend and went straight over the wall?
anyone got a link to the incident?

No deaths on the TDF since I think mid 90's

Unless I missed ?

Fabio Casartelli - ( I had to look it up, he was indeed killed whilst descending)

Edited by Gargamel on Wednesday 3rd July 10:57

[Chicken Chaser]

NitroNick said:

Disastrous said:

Someone posted a pretty amazing video of (I think) Cipollini descending some Alp or an another at high speed.

Cippollini Bond Video

Edited by NitroNick on Tuesday 2nd July 19:36

Christ on a bike!

[MiseryStreak]

Chicken Chaser said:

Christ on a bike!

That's incredible, obviously up against it for a planning application, but if that were me, I would have got the chase car to carry my drawing tube.

[okgo]

Yeh good video, obviously he knows the hill well, but he is throwing that thing about.

[scubadude]

Chicken Chaser said:

Christ on a bike!

:-)

Downhill is a gift from God for climbing up the other side, if you don't take every bit of speed gravity has to offer its just plain rude!

WRT Cornering, I never seem to have an issue with the rear wheel, you can trail the brake abit to keep it in I find. What worries me is the front washing out and lowsiding under a car coming the other way. Fitted some Conti tyres after the winter and these have helped (they seem to be sticky to the touch) but I am nervous where the grip limit is, so far had them over 50mph on some twisty descents, loath to push harder as coming off at that speeds gonna be messy.

I suppose what video's of pro's riding like loons proves is the limit is considerable higher/faster than most people ever get close too.