Descending and cornering technique

[ayceejay]

I think deep down a lot of people look at those skinny wheels and think there is no way you can corner or descend quickly on those. You only have to look at videos of professional descending at 60 - 70 kph to see that's not true. Check your brakes before you go out because a badly centred stirrup can make a speeding wheel wobble something awful. Find a hill you know well and descend without pedaling and without braking, have you cranks level and your weight evenly distributed - try to extend the distance you go before that "Oh shoot!" moment each time you try it.

 

[Specialeyes]

Also, make sure your brakes are adjusted properly for reach. I used to get properly worried when my teeny, pudgy fingers were only just able to get around the levers from the drops, so used to descend on the hoods due to the lack of confidence in braking on the drops - not to mention the feeling of having my wrists permanently cocked, which translated into stiff arms, shoulders and neck, all of which are counterproductive too.

Lowering your centre of gravity and shifting it forwards on the drops makes an absolutely massive difference, as others have said already, and properly adjusted levers are vital.

 

[byegad]

Look around the corner where you want to go, not where you don't want to go! Sounds simple but it really does work.

 

[MikeW-71]

Descending to Langholm from the moor with 2 other CCers. That was a HOT day, I took my helmet off it was so hot on the climb and on the descent it was happily attached to my rack bag as I needed my head cooled down

I take the first right hander so tight as there is a clear sight line past it from along way before. I saw the red car coming up and I would have been round that turn well ahead of it even if he hadn't stopped (I made sure to stay tight on the next left as that's where I expected to meet him).


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN3wKrzS8vI


And secondly, descending the biggest hill on Arran, lovely surface, loads of visibility and 45mph without trying.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgpejlpDt8Y

 

[ChrisEyles]

@MikeW-71 - nice vids! The second descent I think I could cope with and looks like great fun! I was interested to see the angle of the leans into the turns on the first one - looks like a lot more than I currently manage.

Will see how I get on in the drops on a few practice descents at the weekend, and maybe move the hoods around a little if it feels like it might help.

 

[ChrisEyles]

You have to try it, really. Your head will get used to it!

I get it! Took the scenic route home tonight and did a little hill climb and back down again to test this. Funnily enough it's pretty close to what I was doing already, just I would never have thought of it in those terms.

Also discovered that the excess tension in my legs that creeps in (when I panic!) is sometimes meaning that I've got far too much weight on the inside pedal. When I made the effort to relax and re-distribute the weight to the outside pedal the corners flowed much more easily, both from the hoods and the drops (on my commuter/tourer I can also reach the brakes from the drops no problem, which helps).

Already feeling much more optimistic that I will eventually get to grips with these pesky downhill corners. Thanks everyone for the advice and help, it's been really useful!

 

[Gravity Aided]

I'm left leg dominant, so it's hard to get the proper levering action on a left hand turn for me. I always have to remember which pedal to keep up when doing such turns, as pedal scrapes are truly frightening.

 

[Sittingduck]

Sounds like you're thinking too much. Need more confidence, which is easier said than done, of course. When I think too much on fast descents - that's when things don't feel right... it should just flow - use your instincts. All of the points you mentioned in your OP sound good. As mentioned by others - don't look where you fear. Look through the bend to the desired exit point.

 

[ChrisEyles]

Sounds like you're thinking too much.

Guilty as charged! It has definitely been helpful taking apart what I'm doing/should be doing though. Hopefully some of the positive changes will stick when I switch off the chattering in my brain and just go for it down the hills!

 

[si_c]

I was definitely a little cautious today out on the bike, not used to 23mm tyres after riding around on 2.1" jobs for the last 6 months. Getting a bit quicker towards the end of the day though. Nothing wrong with being cautious and not riding like a lunatic

 

[Sittingduck]

I was definitely a little cautious today out on the bike, not used to 23mm tyres after riding around on 2.1" jobs for the last 6 months. Getting a bit quicker towards the end of the day though. Nothing wrong with being cautious and not riding like a lunatic

Big difference between riding like a lunatic and being confident though. You'll get into a lot less trouble being confident that over cautious, imho.