Tight turns

[GetAGrip]

I've been cycling a lot more often this summer than in recent years (nearly 1300 miles on my new bike since June) and I've been aware that I'm going a lot wider than I want to on tight left turns. I mean cycle tracks, gateways and very tight hairpin bends, as opposed to left turns at road junctions.

Anyway, Dumb as this may sound, when inspecting the tyres yesterday, I noticed all the nobbles you get on a new tyre are worn away on the right side but not on the left, so it must be true. This seems to be psychological and try as I may I cannot bank the bike over at all when turning left.

Anyone know of any tricks or exercises I can try in order to overcome this annoying brain block I seem to have picked up?

I can't believe I am really writing this as it sounds really stupid, but it's sooo becoming a problem and it's annoying me

 

[HLaB]

Psychological is normal (for me anyway ) My turning has been pretty poor of late, I put it down to thinking too much about worn tyres. I've got new tyres now, and I'm not much better The major advantage to me however is, touch wood, I'm less likely to slide out. I think practice is the best way to overcome it and what is helping me of late is I serviced my hubs and now power out of a corner easier so hopefully I'll improve.

 

[Norm]

Try a few hours riding circles in both directions around cones in a big empty car park on your local business park.

 

[GetAGrip]

It's true that I am a bit of a 'what if' type thinker, though as yet, touch wood, no dramas to talk about! I guess more practise is needed. Hey Norm, so glad you suggest riding in both directions
I just wondered if it is a common fault (would make me feel better if it was). Thanks.

 

[Norm]

This is one thing that I have seen a lot riding with people who post on motorbike forums, where online knee-down corner heroes become terrified blobs at the sight of a bend in the wrong direction.

As well as the psychological issues, there can be a couple of physical issues which it might be worth checking.

Firstly, is the bike all square? Is the saddle running down the centre line, are both wheels in line with the frame, are the bars on straight etc? A couple of very small errors which you wouldn't notice on their own, or indeed together when riding in a straight line, can add up to running wide on left handers.

Secondly, are you all square? Are you hips straight, are your legs both the same length, and your arms etc? I know one guy who prefered left handers and who didn't realise the extent of his skeletal issues until it was pointed out that he rode with his left cheek mostly off the seat.

Leading on from the secondly, do you usually take all corners (both left and right) with your left leg straight and your right foot raised? If you do, that will naturally make right handers easier for you, although other attributes peculiar to your riding could also have an effect.

I'd check some of these out - you could maybe even get a friend to take pix / video of you cornering. I don't think it's that unusual but the causes could be any of a number of things, physical as well as psychological.

 

[fossyant]

Practice, and look at where you want to end up after the corner - you will then follow the line.

 

[ColinJ]

Interesting - I hadn't thought about it before but I am much happier taking a tight LH bend than a tight RH one!

I am also much happier to unclip my left foot when stopping, than my right. I've actually had a clipless fall when I instinctively unclipped on the left even though I was toppling to the right!

 

[HLaB]

There seems to be loads of youtube vids on the subject; I think I'll check them out.

 

[GetAGrip]

Norm - I think the bike is fine, I think I am too, but maybe that would be better for others to judge. So a vid of my riding position could be a useful tool.

ColinJ I'm reassured to find others with similar issues. I got told off the other day for getting on and off the bike from the right because I was positioning myself into the traffic . Since then I realise I am much cackier towards the left full stop!!!!

fossyant - I've learnt that tip reading others threads and I get to the point of commitment and buggger, down goes the foot and sometimes I even brake although I'm fine on a right hander.

Will check out the vids also Hlab. Thanks all

 

[ColinJ]

ColinJ I'm reassured to find others with similar issues. I got told off the other day for getting on and off the bike from the right because I was positioning myself into the traffic . Since then I realise I am much cackier towards the left full stop!!!!

Are you left-handed and left-footed? (I'm right-handed/footed and prefer turning and mounting/dismounting the bike the opposite way to you.)

 

[GetAGrip]

Are you left-handed and left-footed? (I'm right-handed/footed and prefer turning and mounting/dismounting the bike the opposite way to you.)

Yes I am left handed and footed. I find it odd that being around horses a lot of my life where working from the left is norm, and that is fine. I also drive and have no issues when cornering in a car. It just seems to be l/h's on a bike - v. strange.

 

[ColinJ]

Yes I am left handed and footed. I find it odd that being around horses a lot of my life where working from the left is norm, and that is fine. I also drive and have no issues when cornering in a car. It just seems to be l/h's on a bike - v. strange.

Hmm ... it could be a coincidence, but it tends to indicate that we (I mean at least us two, and maybe others) prefer to swing our dominant legs over the bike, and when cornering, press down on the outside pedal with our dominant legs.

This is one thing that I have seen a lot riding with people who post on motorbike forums, where online knee-down corner heroes become terrified blobs at the sight of a bend in the wrong direction.

Yes, I've just found people discussing it here.

 

[Norm]

Yes I am left handed and footed. I find it odd that being around horses a lot of my life where working from the left is norm, and that is fine. I also drive and have no issues when cornering in a car. It just seems to be l/h's on a bike - v. strange.

Hmm...

That makes me ponder even more on this possibility:

Leading on from the secondly, do you usually take all corners (both left and right) with your left leg straight and your right foot raised? If you do, that will naturally make right handers easier for you, although other attributes peculiar to your riding could also have an effect.

 

[Garz]

Hmm ... it could be a coincidence, but it tends to indicate that we prefer to swing our dominant legs over ...

Fnarr fnarr

 

[ColinJ]

Fnarr fnarr