Road grip cornering at speed

[Bodhbh]

I vaguely recall reading somewhere that it was almost impossible to loose grip cornering with decent slick tyres on a dry, gravel-free road...

So yesterday for the first time since I was a kid, I really slung the bike round a corner and hey-ho the front wheel started to slip out. Not much and I didn't loose control but it did.

I guess my question is, is the above statement regarding grip true?...in which case I must have crappy tyres (35mm Schalbe Kojaks, abou 70psi on the front and 80 at the back).

 

[Rob3rt]

I vaguely recall reading somewhere that it was almost impossible to loose grip cornering with decent slick tyres on a dry, gravel-free road...

So yesterday for the first time since I was a kid, I really slung the bike round a corner and hey-ho the front wheel started to slip out. Not much and I didn't loose control but it did.

I guess my question is, is the above statement regarding grip true?...in which case I must have crappy tyres (35mm Schalbe Kojaks, abou 70psi on the front and 80 at the back).

No.

 

[Bodhbh]

I am aware I sound like a candidate for the Darwin Awards btw tbh normally I'm riding fairly clunkly utility bikes with mixed surface tyres with knobbly sides and wouldn't really think to be taking corners fast. I guess yesterday I just felt like seeing how the slicks coped with a corner.

 

[Maylian]

On a road bike I'd think you'd want to up that PSI. I've only ever had issues if there has been a bump in the road or something that causes a change in friction i.e. manhole cover, gravel as you mentioned.

 

[Bodhbh]

On a road bike I'd think you'd want to up that PSI. I've only ever had issues if there has been a bump in the road or something that causes a change in friction i.e. manhole cover, gravel as you mentioned.

Well that's a question too, does PSI have much impact on the grip one way or another? Common sense suggests the lower the better as you're increasing the contact with the road. As they're fairly fat, I think the max PSI for those tyres is 90 or 95. I prefer the ride with them a little softer tho.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I am aware I sound like a candidate for the Darwin Awards btw tbh normally I'm riding fairly clunkly utility bikes with mixed surface tyres with knobbly sides and wouldn't really think to be taking corners fast. I guess yesterday I just felt like seeing how the slicks coped with a corner.

Hope you are wearing MTB body armour for your next test!

 

[fossyant]

They can slip, it's called physics !

Kojaks aren't the tyre I'd hoon round a corner on though !

 

[green1]

If its clean tarmac and the right tyre pressures and good rubber than it's pretty much true. However it only takes a tiny bit of diesel, oil etc for that statement to go out of the window.

 

[fossyant]

Lower pressure isn't better on road, the fat tyre will not remain in shape at a low pressure.

Get a road bike with some top end road tyres. Then go have some real fun.

 

[Bodhbh]

Lower pressure isn't better on road, the fat tyre will not remain in shape at a low pressure.

Get a road bike with some top end road tyres. Then go have some real fun.

Yes, I have every bloody thing but a regular road bike! If my finaces had not bottomed out and I'd foresworn not to spend anymore money on bikestuff I'd be in the market for one!

 

[numbnuts]

Hope you are wearing MTB body armour for your next test!

and a helmet

 

[fossyant]

Helmet, he'd be better off with booty and hip padding cornering at speed.

 

[PaulSecteur]

There is a vid on youtube of a lad nearly getting his knee down.
He is so close but comes unstuck. He does get more lean than most would try.

 

[Maylian]

Getting a good lean on a corner is a lovely thing, there is a roundabout on the way home depending on my route with a good camber. Got to admit I love hooning it around there when it's clear at 30mph or so.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Getting a good lean on a corner is a lovely thing, there is a roundabout on the way home depending on my route with a good camber. Got to admit I love hooning it around there when it's clear at 30mph or so.

On my commute home there's a left turn at the bottom of a short descent, I know I shouldn't but sometimes I can't resist tipping it in at 20mph plus, great fun but one day I'll probably come unstuck, I'm on 700cx25 bontrager race lite tyres on a fixed.

http://goo.gl/maps/yHGN2