Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Getting Back Confidence In Turns

Search
Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Getting Back Confidence In Turns

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-21-11 | 01:32 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: NorCal
Getting Back Confidence In Turns

The other day the bike slipped out from under me. I have been fairly confident in my bike handling abilities, but now when I am making 90 degree turns I still feel a little shaken as I don't want the bike to fall from under me again. Any tips to for gaining back confidence in bike handling? Are is there a speed limit I should be riding at in turns? Thanks.
aoto is offline  
Reply
Old 03-21-11 | 01:39 PM
  #2  
ericm979's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,169
Likes: 1
From: Santa Cruz Mountains
Find a similar turn with little traffic and go practice on it. Do it 50 times if you need to. Once you get comfortable with a certain speed let off the brakes a little earlier the next time through.

What road did you crash on?
ericm979 is offline  
Reply
Old 03-21-11 | 01:52 PM
  #3  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: NorCal
Originally Posted by ericm979
What road did you crash on?
Somewhere in the American River Bike Trail. I admit it was a bit rainy with puddles on the ground when I fell, but I still feel shaken and need to gain my confidence back.
aoto is offline  
Reply
Old 03-21-11 | 01:57 PM
  #4  
eippo1's Avatar
I like beans
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,336
Likes: 1
From: Meffa, MA

Bikes: Tarmac Pro, Bianchi Zurigo, Raleigh Gran Sport, Fuji Del Rey, Ironman Centurion

Cyclocross gave me tons of confidence on road handling. Once you learn how to negotiate a 180 degree turn on a slope in the mud while going as fast as possible, you get a really good sense of how far you can push the bike and transfer the knowledge to the road.
eippo1 is offline  
Reply
Old 03-21-11 | 02:30 PM
  #5  
VA_Esquire's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 0
From: Hampton, VA
Dont feel bad.....I freak out all the time thinking "did I tighten the skewer down enough?" because I feel the front wheel will come off the bike haha.
VA_Esquire is offline  
Reply
Old 03-21-11 | 02:39 PM
  #6  
Velo Vol's Avatar
VFL For Life
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 53,945
Likes: 2,402
From: Knoxville, TN

Bikes: Velo Volmobile

It helps to lower your center of gravity (lean forward).
__________________
Originally Posted by Velo Vol
People here don't get it.
Velo Vol is offline  
Reply
Old 03-21-11 | 02:57 PM
  #7  
eippo1's Avatar
I like beans
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,336
Likes: 1
From: Meffa, MA

Bikes: Tarmac Pro, Bianchi Zurigo, Raleigh Gran Sport, Fuji Del Rey, Ironman Centurion

Another thing that you can do is enroll in a racing class. Or just do some cornering drills. Some examples would be to set up some cones and weave through them, picking up your water bottle from the ground while in a turn and playing follow-the-leader with friends. You can do all of these drills in a parking lot and they will help immensely.

Also play with the 3 different methods of turning:
1. steering your bike while keeping it upright. This is good for rain, sand, mud etc.
2. Normal lean. Good for most conditions.
3 Countersteer (or pushing your bike down into the turn). This is good for fast turns in good conditions.

Even if you have been cycling for years, dedicate some training time to turning and you'll be back up to full confidence and might pick up some extra maneuvering skills in case you need them.
eippo1 is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
nightshade18
General Cycling Discussion
19
08-24-15 07:23 PM
longe
Cyclocross Racing
15
10-15-13 05:06 AM
mustang1
Road Cycling
29
10-18-10 08:11 AM
dgarstang
Bicycle Mechanics
4
08-15-10 07:13 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.