Originally Posted by
grolby
I don't think beating people through the turn is critical most of the time (obviously there are times when it could matter) and, more to the point, not really the issue at hand.
You're missing my point completely and maybe I'm not being clear.
He has a problem with gaps opening up while cornering on descents. Part of that problem may be that he begins braking much sooner but not as forcefully as other racers who decelerate more confidently.
Explained a little differently: if he's riding on someone's wheel at 40 MPH and begins braking 75 feet from the corner to get down to 20 MPH while the rider ahead doesn't begin to brake for another 20 feet to achieve the same deceleration a gap will open.
Also I never said not to brake in corners, just that getting it done first may help him.
As a side note I just came back from a ride where I realized I do trail brake on my bicycle in corners taken near the limit.