Sara, as I've been doing my bike "rodeo" (psyclepath, it's just not graceful enough for me to call it "dancing" yet) I find the same thing! I can do some very tight turns zig-zagging around the big parking lot, and when I start to do them within the parameters of the 2-lane road, sometimes I do fine, a lot of times I "clutch." What a silly headgame, eh? I reckon the only answer is tons of practice, review the basics, practice more. When I look where I WANT to go, lead with my chin, and don't brake in the turn, I do great. Then the next attempt, I might do every single thing wrong and wind up pedaling in grass.

I don't really care how many times I have to go the park and do my loopdeloops, by next spring I will execute a u-turn as smooth and easy as my racer friends do. I will, I will, I will. I don't care how many people at the park laugh at the big lady going around in circles. I know this practice is going to make me a safer rider in lots of situations and will have me positioning properly when I have more speed.

yet another reason I feel I should soon change my handle to relentless.