Road Cycling - Skid Recovery

Let's say you took a turn too fast and your rear wheel lost traction...how do you recover from this? How about if both wheels lose tractions? Maybe some of you more experienced cyclists could give us newbies some tips on how to recover from those =)

If you're talking about damage to your wheels/tyres, replace the tyre. If it has no traction it's as good as useless.

Chris

Not really damaged tires...let's say the road was wet. I'm talking about skids here similar to what happened to Erik Dekker during that wet stage in the TdF when he was going all out and almost lost it on the final turn.

I believe the general rule for front-wheel skids is to steer into the skid (=in the direction you're skidding). This is contrary to instinct, so it's hard to practice unless you've--practiced.

If both wheels skid, I have no idea what you do except hope for the best!

But I'm sure there are those here who do know what to do.

First, try and avoid skids. Stay off the back brake, and use some finesse with the front.
Safety advocates say avoid the front brake and use the rear, but cycling advocates know better.

Keep an eye out for skid-inducing conditions:
lose gravel
oil slicks
rain after a dry spell
outside camber on a curve.

Look ahead for dangers, so you dont have to do emergency braking so often. Dogs, pedestrians, drivers sitting inside cars (ie getting doored), kids on bikes should all trigger alarm bells. Assume they are all out to get you.

Ride within the safety envelope, and leave a little traction in reserve to correct for errors. Traction is a resource. You can use it to accelerate, steer or brake, but you use it up. When its all used up, you skid.

If you are in a skid, ease off the brakes, keep your weight stable and low, arms relaxed, turn into the skid, but not too much.
If you fall, relax , roll into a ball, and go with the flow. Most fall injuries are to arms and shoulders as you try to stop a fall.

A helmet will protect your head a bit, and gloves will keep your hands from skinning, but they are not magic charms.

If the rear skids then you turn your front wheel toward the direction you were heading. The problem is how fast your reflexes are, cause if your slow then you will go down. In my experience a full skid- especially on painted lines, is over quickly and with a wobble you are ok. On a really greasy road where you skid around a corner and lose it -well not much to hope for except you will go down.
Hope they aren't too painful, Altwegg
Sorry, Altwegg- Michaels post above is a lot better than mine, we were posting at the same time!

Thanks guys! I don't plan on practicing skid recoveries...but I'll try to keep inmind what you just said...just in case!

Practice! Only don't do it on the road, take your bike to a nice grassy field after a rainstorm. I should do this myself...

Like other posters said, steer into it. Very gentle with the brakes. Try not to freeze up... stay loose and ride with it as long as you can. :eek:

If cornering traction is a common problem for you, racing tires (e.g. Conti Grand Prix Supersonic, Michelin Axial Pro) are made of a softer compound and will hang in corners better. They're also lighter and more fun to ride, but are expensive, more susceptable to damage and punctures, and don't last as many miles.

Most skids I've experienced be they on bicycles, or motorcycles for that matter, were triggered by the rear brake. Let go of that brake lever (pedal in case you ride motors also)! I strongly agree with other posts that advocate more front brake usage. Much more controllable power in the front than the rear. As long as you practice form and shift your weight to the rear as you brake going over the handlebars is a myth.