need help with turning

[downhilldiva]

Awesome advice from all of you! I really appreciate it. I am excited to have some new skills to work on. Hopefully I can get out this week and practice before my next crit on Saturday. Unfortunately right now it is snowing!

[violette]

Eden, I can't see you picture. I'm confused about turning. When I turn, I lean into the curv and push my handlebars out. It always worked for me, but from what I read here, you lean out and push bars in..???

Which one is it? I'm going to ride a lot this summer and I need to get this straight.

[Eden]

Eden, I can't see you picture. I'm confused about turning. When I turn, I lean into the curv and push my handlebars out. It always worked for me, but from what I read here, you lean out and push bars in..???

Which one is it? I'm going to ride a lot this summer and I need to get this straight.

You lean your bike into the turn, your inside knee should be up, outside leg down, you want to be pushing on the pedal with your outside leg and the handlebars with your inside arm. (I find that I do this instinctually, but its hard to do when I think about it) You want to try to keep your shoulders parallel with the ground and lean the bike rather than your body. Look to where you want to exit the turn - so look through the turn rather than at the corner itself.