Going Downhill

[Trek420]

tips on cornering, decending. This be for the roadies:

1) Brake before the turn then, simultaneously-
2) Stand on the outside pedal
3) Head up, look through the turn where you want to go
4) Lean into the turn (no brakes)
5) zoom out! wheeeeeee.

In more detail:

1) Brake before the turn, control your speed. Good technique lets you ride fast, never ride "at the limit." Hold back a little so there's room to correct errors.

If you brake in the middle of a turn, that forces the
bike upright, which makes you ride wide to the outside
of the turn. This is not a good thing unless it's raining.

Note, if the pavement is wet you DO want to slow and take the curve upright, steer the bike. If you lean in wet conditions you risk whooosh, wheels slip out from under you.

But normally, slow before the turn, then release the brakes as you
lean into the turn so you can roll through without any
braking.

2) Weight on the outside pedal. This means, the
outside pedal should be down (at six o'clock), and the
inside pedal up (at twelve o'clock). You should
really stand on the outside pedal, so your butt is not
on the seat, and you have no weight on the inside
pedal. Stand on that outside pedal all the way
through the turn.

This does two things.
a) it's a balance thang (insert drawl here), like carving a turn on skis
b) more important it's a safety thang. if your inside pedal is down you risk catching it on the pavement and then down you go.
c) I sometimes pedal through the turn, still keep the action light on the inside edge.

3) Head up. Look where
you want to go. This means even though you're leaning
your bike, your head is upright and looking ahead. Your
bike goes where your eyes look, so don't look at the
pavement in front of your wheel. Focus on the road
ahead, where you will exit the turn. Look at the safe line.

4) and, of course, lean the bike as you

5) stomp on the pedals...whoopeeeee.

At first, it's hard to do all of these things
simultaneously while rolling through a corner. So practice through corners at less than full
speed. Practice each of these elements, separately,
then in combination, until you can do them all at the
same time.

When you feel that these techniques allow you more
control over the bike, then gradually increase speed
on subsequent downhill runs. This way you can build
confidence and technique without getting in over your
head.

To Repeat,
your approach to a corner looks like this:

Outside pedal down, using brakes to control speed,
head up looking as far as you can see through the
turn.

Entering the turn:

Release brakes, lean into turn with full body weight
standing on outside pedal, head still up, eyes looking
through the turn.

Roll all the way through and set up for the next
turn.

It's like learning anything, e.g. dancesteps. You
talk yourself through the routine at first, then
supposedly it becomes second nature. Thought I'd pass
this along just in case you find a kernal in it.