Any tips on how to 'bank' into bends?

[HLaB]

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?


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.

If there is more weight on the front wheel you are less likely to have front wheel slide, there's more pressure on the ground but you are right about rear wheel slide being more controllable. As to a lower CoG, try it, if you don't get on with fine but I certainly feel better cornering in a lower position and as you noted earlier a lot of riders do to

 

[snailracer]

...As to a lower CoG, try it, if you don't get on with fine but I certainly feel better cornering in a lower position and as you noted earlier a lot of riders do to

In the real world, cyclists corner low, but that is because if the rider wasn't low, they wouldn't be cornering fast in the first place . And, if going fast, most sensible riders would be on the drops so they can pull harder on the brakes if there is an unexpected obstruction around the corner.

Also, in the real world, cyclists typically don't lean much around wide, sweeping bends (a la motoGP) because they simply don't go fast enough - leaning happens at sharp bends taken at much lower speeds, where the ability to "flick" quickly into/out of a lean is more important than the stability of the lean itself - and a lower CofG can be flicked into a lean quicker than a high CofG.

 

[HLaB]

In the real world, cyclists corner low, but that is because if the rider wasn't low, they wouldn't be cornering fast in the first place . And, if going fast, most sensible riders would be on the drops so they can pull harder on the brakes if there is an unexpected obstruction around the corner.

Also, in the real world, cyclists typically don't lean much around wide, sweeping bends (a la motoGP) because they simply don't go fast enough - leaning happens at sharp bends taken at much lower speeds, where the ability to "flick" quickly into/out of a lean is more important than the stability of the lean itself - and a lower CofG can be flicked into a lean quicker than a high CofG.

Sounds like you've answered your original question

 

[snailracer]

Sounds like you've answered your original question

In the real world, yes, but I inhabit a world of pure theory

 

[Zoiders]

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



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.

You don't have to actually touch tarmac with your knee of course, although I am sure the odd descent has gone Pete Tong by over cooking it and making contact.

 

[mickle]

Cyclists cannot and do not get their knees anywhere near the tarmac when cornering.

 

[Zoiders]

Cyclists cannot and do not get their knees anywhere near the tarmac when cornering.

You can't you mean.

 

[mickle]

You can't you mean.

I refer the member to the answer I gave a few moments ago. Cyclists simply don't get their knees anywhere near the tarmac (outside of your fevered imagination).

Motorcyclists sometimes do, due to a whole range of factors primary among them being much lower seat heights and the fact that they hang off their bikes.

But, as I say: cyclists don't.

If you'll show me a picture of you getting your knee anywhere near the tarmac whilst cornering on your bicycle I'll eat one of my many hats.

3 inches good enough for you?

 

[Night Train]

I don't think this counts really.
[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btm9u1q7wEM[/media]

 

[ianrauk]

I refer the member to the answer I gave a few moments ago. Cyclists simply don't get their knees anywhere near the tarmac (outside of your fevered imagination).

Motorcyclists sometimes do, due to a whole range of factors primary among them being much lower seat heights and the fact that they hang off their bikes.

But, as I say: cyclists don't.

If you'll show me a picture of you getting your knee anywhere near the tarmac whilst cornering on your bicycle I'll eat one of my many hats.

3 inches good enough for you?

Are we are still waiting for a pic?

 

[alp1950]

All you need to know is here:

http://www.sheldonbr...descending.html

Tread is not needed on a road-bike.
What tyres do you have?

Practice!
First of all, be relaxed, don't grip the bars hard, the bike knows what it's doing, it wants to go where you do.
Don't look immediately in front of you, look further down the road to the apex /Vanishing-point of the turn, find a quiet well known series of bends and ride them repeatedly. Keep your outside leg fully extended and weight forward. It's amazing how much traction those skinny thres can give!

The point has been made but I think it is worth reiterating.

I corner best if I look ahead to the exit of the bend, the bike then just seems to go there on it's own. However even after a few years of frequent cycling it can be difficult to do this every time, and sometimes despite myself I find myself looking at the lead-in or worst of all at the apex of the bend where the change in angle is most marked. This inevitably leads to poor cornering. Quite why I'm not sure, but whether conscious or subconscious active steering in the first part seems to results in a suboptimal line and cornering that feels distinctly non-fluid compared to a well executed corner.

If you can't see the exit it gets more difficult.

 

[Red Light]

Cyclists cannot and do not get their knees anywhere near the tarmac when cornering.

They can if they fall off

 

[HLaB]

Are we are still waiting for a pic?

The Pic of the knee on the tarmac or Mickle eating his hat

 

[gaz]

If you'll show me a picture of you getting your knee anywhere near the tarmac whilst cornering on your bicycle I'll eat one of my many hats.

 

[Fnaar]

Jobst Brandt cornering... I reckon that's about as far over as you'd get on a bicycle. Icidentally, I googled this, and found pic on another cycling forum, and the poster pointed out the length of Jobst's head tube (oo'er)