Any tips on how to 'bank' into bends?

[JonnyRat]

Joe, That first line sums it all up for me. Will try and remember that for my future rides. Thanks again for your insight. It is appreciated.

If you look where you're going you will go where you're looking. Lean angles take care of themselves.

Just relax, light grip on the bars and a flat back to keep the CoG nice and low. Very few cyclists bank the bike anywhere near enough to test the limits of tyre adhesion, until you develop a lot of experience you will scare the bejasus out of yourself on a dry road long before you run out of grip.

 

[JonnyRat]

Dear All, I know I've responded to some of you individually, but I just wanted to express my thanks to all of you for posting such valuable and well considered advice. I went out earlier and put some of the tips into practice. Took a few chances on some familiar country lanes in deepest, darkest Pembs and it felt good. A lot easier to achieve without the commuting rucksack on my back I have to say! Just understanding where to look and that the tyres are meant to be tread free helped instil confidence. Am really looking forward to tomorrow, will continue my practice. This cycling lark is infectious!!

 

[Cubist]

Remember also that you can shift your body around on the bike so that you can reduce the angel the bike needs to lean at. You can effectively "hang off" the bike, putting weight inside the bike on corners, and it'll steer without banking so far.

 

[stephec]

On the tread thing, consider racing cars, they have slicks to provide the most grip on tarmac. See here . Tread is for gripping rough surfaces, or (in car tyres) clearing surface water to prevent aquaplaning... but

Bicycles don't aquaplane (or hydroplane), which Sheldon covers Here, along with lots of other tyre related issues (or 'tires' as Sheldon was American and they never bothered to change the spelling to prevent confusion between the metal or rubber things on wheels and getting fatigued.)

Cancellara said that a good rider steers with the hips, and he is a top descender as seen here.

I never tire of watching that video, and every time I close my eyes and go, "ooh, ahh!" as he banks round some of those corners.

The best bit's got to be at 3mins 33, how many cyclists have wanted to do that after having it done to them?

 

[Breedon]

Avoid man hole covers even if there very slighty damp, there like ice when wet i avoid them even when dry just dont want to risk going side ways on my arse.

but i love banking into corners at speed just trying to push it that extra little bit.

 

[Zoiders]

First mistake is trying to learn how to get your knee down on actual corners on the road where under steering it is going to put you in a hedge row

Find a nice quiet straight stretch of road, maybe a large empty car park and learn to get the bike weaving by leaning left and right into it, it will come easier on corners then and you will also know how far you can push while still feeling comfortable/safe.

 

[snailracer]

Minor hijack, but I noticed some posters suggested keeping a low position on the bike. Is it the case that sitting upright would increase or reduce the lean angle, or make no difference?

 

[mickle]

First mistake is trying to learn how to get your knee down on actual corners on the road where under steering it is going to put you in a hedge row

 

[snailracer]

Minor hijack, but I noticed some posters suggested keeping a low position on the bike. Is it the case that sitting upright would increase or reduce the lean angle, or make no difference?

Answer: it makes no difference to lean angle.

Lean angle equation from Wikipedia:

 

[HLaB]

Minor hijack, but I noticed some posters suggested keeping a low position on the bike. Is it the case that sitting upright would increase or reduce the lean angle, or make no difference?

It makes no difference to lean angle but being more upright your weight is placed on one spot (down through the saddle and mostly the rear wheel) rather than spread out and more on the front wheel. Also you are sat up you also present a bigger pivot length making it more likely that'll you'll topple and your confidence to lean and the extent to which would be reduced.

 

[snailracer]

It makes no difference to lean angle but being more upright your weight is placed on one spot (down through the saddle and mostly the rear wheel) rather than spread out and more on the front wheel...

Doesn't that make you more likely to have a front-wheel slide? I would have thought a back wheel slide would be more controllable. If you have perfect weight distribution, you can do a two-wheeled drift (which I can do on my MTB on gravelly trails) but on tarmac the loss of grip is simply too quick to control, no?

... Also you are sat up you also present a bigger pivot length making it more likely that'll you'll topple and your confidence to lean and the extent to which would be reduced.

Not sure I agree with that. A higher C of G would mean that the bike's lean angle changes less if the tyre slides out a few inches i.e. it maintains its line better.

 

[fossyant]

If taking a sharp bend, you put your outer crank down and stand on the outer leg - this shifts weight right down lowering your centre of gravity.

If a wheel goes on a corner, you'll most likely be off, front or rear.

 

[snailracer]

If taking a sharp bend, you put your outer crank down and stand on the outer leg - this shifts weight right down lowering your centre of gravity...

No it won't - however much your extended outside leg lowers the CofG, the raised inside leg will raise it by the same amount.
Your suggestion should still improve cornering, though, as standing on your leg (instead of sitting hard on the saddle) reduces unsprung mass, which helps the bike maintain tyre contact over uneven ground by having your leg working as suspension.

 

[snailracer]

...
If a wheel goes on a corner, you'll most likely be off, front or rear.

Most likely, but those minor slips where I have been able to recover, have generally been rear-wheel slips.

 

[Night Train]

First mistake is trying to learn how to get your knee down on actual corners on the road where under steering it is going to put you in a hedge row

I would have thought getting your knee down on a bicycle would smart a bit!

If taking a sharp bend, you put your outer crank down and stand on the outer leg - this shifts weight right down lowering your centre of gravity.

I always figured the advice about pressure on the outer leg was to ensure that the inner leg, and pedal, were up and less prone to striking the road as you lean.