Cornering fast when road biking......

[tealtreak]

Looking for opinions/technique tips from all you experienced roadies and triathletes. I have been mainly mountain biking since I started cycling again. Consequently, I corner with pedals even so as not to catch on roots, berms etc....(Even when the bike is leaned way over)

I have recently been road biking more and enjoying the speed. I noticed the friend I rode with last week puts her outside pedal down for cornering, and she said it gives her more traction. Thoughts or style comments appreciated!

[ny biker]

Yes, outside pedal down. It also helps if I point the inside knee away from the bike.

[SheFly]

Outside pedal down for sure. Not sure it gives any more traction, but it will prevent you from hitting your pedal if you have the inside pedal down in a corner (which can lead to some pretty disastrous results). Bike gets leaned INTO the corner, while body leans OUT of the corner - just like mountain biking!

SheFly

[OakLeaf]

Weighting the outside pedal will help keep your rear wheel on the ground, that's probably what she meant about traction. Weighting the inside handlebar will help you countersteer (lean into the turn by turning the front wheel slightly out).

Look through the turn. Eyes up, looking toward where you will straighten out. But you already know that from mountain biking. :)

[SadieKate]

Weighting that pedal, like Oak said, is oh so critical to lower the center of balance on the bike and improving traction. If you've got any wide open, slalomly singletrack, experiment on your mtb to feel the traction hook up. As our trails get dusty in the summer, it makes a HUGE difference. Of course, you can only do this where you know there are no rocks lying in wait. You can feel it on a road bike also, but it can be easier to test out on your mtb.

[tealtreak]

Thanks for all of the good advice- I have always had my weight on the outside pedal- but will try outside down also on my Sat road ride- just hope I remember which bike I am on/what I'm doing next time I round a berm mt biking (: