Just a couple of comments on cornering. The best way to learn to corner is on fast group rides, the theory being that if the rider in front of you can do it at that speed, so can you. IME the rider in front of you will not choose to corner at the limit. One has to leave a little in hand to allow for the unexpected in terms of road surface. However, one would hope to be riding with more experienced riders who know what they're doing. If that's not true, you shouldn't be there, either. I have occasionally dropped off a wheel and later found them off in the blackberries. So there is still some judgement involved.


Usually there will be a series of corners connected by straight bits. When riding at a good speed, the draft from the rider ahead gets longer. One can draft from 20'-30' back depending on speed if one is confident in one's aero ability. However, just like when driving a car, you're not really leaving a distance gap: it's better thought of as a time gap. So coming into a corner, you'll want to decrease the distance gap as the speed decreases, thus leaving the time gap the same. Coming out of the corner, the distance gap will increase naturally. If you leave the distance gap the same coming into the corner, you'll lose the draft coming out and open a gap, which will really PO the riders behind you. It's more dangerous to try to catch up than to hold your position. Just hold your line and match the line of the rider ahead of you. Thus learning to ride in a group will naturally teach you what to do when.


There are essentially two types of corners on a descent: sweepers and switchbacks. Sweepers are the easiest because speed will stay fairly even through the corner. Switchbacks are harder because you'll usually accelerate through the corner. The fast way through a switchback is to come in slow and exit fast, so that's another spot where it can be tricky not to get dropped as the rider ahead of you suddenly lets it run on the steep part of the switchback, having trail braked to the apex.


Always keep your head, not your wheel on your side of the centerline when you can't see that it's clear ahead.