Better Cornering?
#1
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From: Pleasantville, NY
Bikes: 2012 Redline DS1 & 2014 Giant Defy 2
Better Cornering?
I fiond that whenever I am on my hybrid (2012 Redline DS1) and am going over 20-25 miles per hour, it is extremely hard to make a 90 degree turn onto another road. I don't want to lose all of my momentum by breaking, so usually I don't and just end up crashing... (I should probably start using the break.) But I corner just as I would on a road bike (inside foot at 12 oclock, weight outwards, lean inwards) but I feel much less control. Does anyone have any pointers on how I can corner better and maintain my speed?
#2
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POINTER #1 - WHEN DOING SOMETHING CAUSES YOU TO CRASH, STOP DOING IT!
At some point one would hope that the repeated crashes might give you a clue that (1) your hybrid and your road bike were designed for different activities and have different handling characteristics, and (2) perhaps maintaining 100% "momentum" is not as important as making it around the corner without crashing.
BTW, you might want to use the "brake" (not "break") to engage in "braking" (not "breaking" - although I must admit that the incorrect usage in the particular phrase above did have a certain delicious irony).
At some point one would hope that the repeated crashes might give you a clue that (1) your hybrid and your road bike were designed for different activities and have different handling characteristics, and (2) perhaps maintaining 100% "momentum" is not as important as making it around the corner without crashing.
BTW, you might want to use the "brake" (not "break") to engage in "braking" (not "breaking" - although I must admit that the incorrect usage in the particular phrase above did have a certain delicious irony).
#5
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
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Wanting to cut a Square corner at 25 MPH? sounds like a Darwin tester.
weight the outside pedal , slow down to a speed appropriate to the corner and conditions.
Motorcycles lean off the saddle, into the corner , with that knee skid block to lower their mass
and keep the bike more upright.
... On a closed course which was swept before the race.
weight the outside pedal , slow down to a speed appropriate to the corner and conditions.
Motorcycles lean off the saddle, into the corner , with that knee skid block to lower their mass
and keep the bike more upright.
... On a closed course which was swept before the race.
Last edited by fietsbob; 08-07-13 at 12:34 PM.
#6
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From: NW Arkansas, USA
Bikes: 2015 Giant Roam 2 Hybrid
I'm going out on a limb here and making an assumption that this is a troll post.
Be that as it may, I had the same issue when I tried to corner real fast in my old VW bug, just couldn't corner as fast as I could in my sports car
Same goes for bikes, hybrids aren't designed for that, your center of gravity is higher, you are typically riding on the edge of tires with lugs as opposed to smooth tires, tires that may flex more and your ground clearance may not be as great either. So slow down before we read about you in the obits.
Be that as it may, I had the same issue when I tried to corner real fast in my old VW bug, just couldn't corner as fast as I could in my sports car

Same goes for bikes, hybrids aren't designed for that, your center of gravity is higher, you are typically riding on the edge of tires with lugs as opposed to smooth tires, tires that may flex more and your ground clearance may not be as great either. So slow down before we read about you in the obits.
#7
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From: Pleasantville, NY
Bikes: 2012 Redline DS1 & 2014 Giant Defy 2
One, I'm not trolling
Two, sorry about the break vs. brake issue
Three, I guess I'll start breaking
Four, Any other pointers other than I should try to stop crashing**********
Two, sorry about the break vs. brake issue
Three, I guess I'll start breaking
Four, Any other pointers other than I should try to stop crashing**********
#8
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From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Sirrus
What tires do you have, and what surfaces do you typically crash on? Is there sand? Whatever the reason though, slowing down a bit will probably solve most of your cornering troubles.
#9
Horses for courses. If you're looking to go fast,use your road bike. You wouldn't race a minivan if you owned a Ferrari.
If you can lock your suspension,that will help. Also if you're running slick performance tires.
If you can lock your suspension,that will help. Also if you're running slick performance tires.
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#10
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From: Pleasantville, NY
Bikes: 2012 Redline DS1 & 2014 Giant Defy 2
I don't know what tires I have, I can lock my suspension. Also I don't have a road bike but am in the process of buying one and have rented before. Oh, and I typically crash by shooting across the street, hitting the curb and falling on the grass before the sidewalk, so I have never gotten hurt (besides cuts and bruises) so I never really think about changing...
#11
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From: Gold Coast; Australia
Bikes: 2004 ORBEA Mitis2 Plus Carbon, 2007 Cannondale Bad Boy Si Disc, 2012 Trek Gary Fisher Collection Marlin WSD 29er Aldi Big Box (Polygon) 650b
Your issue is not the bike as your road bike tyres will hardly stick to the road at that speed on a 90 deg bend. My only suggestion is to firstly make sure there are no cars around either direction, go wide early, brake gently as going out. Release the brake but keep your fingers on the lever, and then cut back across the corner. I use Vittoria rubino pro tyres which stick fantastically for my style . Monitor your speed and force on your tyres and pedal out.
Last edited by giantcfr1; 08-08-13 at 04:11 AM.
#12
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From: Snohomish, WA
Bikes: 1984 Fuji Del Rey, 1993 Mongoose Switchback, 1993 Trek Antelope 830, 2012 Surly Pacer
Also, if you're piss-poorly rounding these corners and overshooting, carry a business card with the link to this thread. Once you come in contact with a vehicle, give the card to the driver to help their claim against your reckless behavior so you may fix their vehicle. Its the least you can do.
And...Use your brakes. Thank God your bike is only human powered!
#14
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From: Snohomish, WA
Bikes: 1984 Fuji Del Rey, 1993 Mongoose Switchback, 1993 Trek Antelope 830, 2012 Surly Pacer
#15
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From: Pleasantville, NY
Bikes: 2012 Redline DS1 & 2014 Giant Defy 2
Ok, one of the two sides is f**king with me, so please tell me a CORRECT answer rather than completely contradicting the opposition! Plus its not like I'm racing, so I can slow down a bit (Although I don't want to...)
Last edited by youngbeginner; 08-08-13 at 10:36 AM. Reason: angry
#16
Sounds like you're taking a bad line through the corner. Slow down, practice proper cornering (a Google search will show you how to corner outside, inside, outside), and once you get it down increase your speed. Also read this - https://sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html
#17
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Sometimes the gene pool needs chlorinating.
#18
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Maybe I am misunderstanding what you are saying but I think you are misunderstanding what the previous poster said. He's giving you a hard time about the way you are using the word "break", To slow down would be to "brake", not "break". His point is that, when you round a corner, you don't want to "break" an arm, "break" your bike, or "break" that little old lady who's desperately trying to get out of your way.
#19
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From: Pleasantville, NY
Bikes: 2012 Redline DS1 & 2014 Giant Defy 2
Maybe I am misunderstanding what you are saying but I think you are misunderstanding what the previous poster said. He's giving you a hard time about the way you are using the word "break", To slow down would be to "brake", not "break". His point is that, when you round a corner, you don't want to "break" an arm, "break" your bike, or "break" that little old lady who's desperately trying to get out of your way.
#20
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From: Pleasantville, NY
Bikes: 2012 Redline DS1 & 2014 Giant Defy 2
Sounds like you're taking a bad line through the corner. Slow down, practice proper cornering (a Google search will show you how to corner outside, inside, outside), and once you get it down increase your speed. Also read this - https://sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html
#21
The only way to stop crashing is to find a way to keep the wheels from sliding out from underneath.. You can slow down or turn wider. 25mph making a 90 degree right turn and staying parallel to the curb seems nigh impossible to me.
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