Handling Corners?

[Hi Ho Silver]

I always had to slow WAY down to corner with my Cannondale Synapse. I now have a Cannondale SuperSix in the same size. The way these two bikes handle on corners is starkly different. I simply could not blast through a corner on that Synapse. The steering was mushy and numb on the Synapse...by contrast my SuperSix goes exactly where I want to go, without my really having to *think* about steering. Fast, slow...it's all good.

Are the wheels different on the two bikes? Wheel stiffness, or rather the lack thereof, can contribute to "mushy" handling.

[Bethany1]

The books I picked up are "Complete Book of Road Cycling Skills" and "New Cyclist Handbook". I figured I'd trying the cornering techniques and see what works and what doesn't on both my bikes, a mountain bike and my Madone by just going around the block over and over.

I was surpised that putting pressure on the outside pedal and using your hips to steer worked so well. I didn't try countersteering since I was just getting used to leaning a bike.

First time with the Madone gave me a heart attack as I hadn't expected the bike tires to feel like they were sliding out under me at 10 mph on the first corner. I have the original tires and have a little over a 100 miles on them.

Obviously the Madone vs. a mountain bike has totally different handling.

I think I've always had a fear of corners after I was riding with my dad on his motorcycle and he leaned too far taking a corner and we nearly crashed when I was a kid.

Veronica, the picture is beautiful and I love your bike.

[ny biker]

Note items 3-5 in the descending skills clinic.

http://trainright.com/tdf-stage-17-d...iting-finale2/

Also I find it helps alot to point the inward knee away from the bike.

[smilingcat]

Go around a corner at your comfortable speed. As you ride more, your confidence will increase on your new bike and along with it your speed around a corner.

Straight leg on the outside, bear weight on it!
Inside hand bear weight on it! This helps with front wheel traction.

Keep your eye on where you want to go! You will naturally head in that direction.

With approaching fall, be very wary of leaves on the ground. Even if it looks dry! Don't ride over it go around it, if possible. Layer of wet leaves are like sheet of wet ice. NO TRACTION.

[Bethany1]

You know..if your tires are almost flat, you really can't ride a bike or turn corners. Sigh. No wonder nothing has been working right. I need to check the tire pressure more often. I was at a 10 and a 30 when I checked today.

With the tires at the right pressure I was flying around corners and handling hills much better. I still didn't get far today as I was working on technique, but it was SO much easier.

Other than nearly a head on collision with a truck it's been a great day. Probably scared the crap out of him and I feel terrible. I took the corner to wide and ended up in the left side of the road with the truck coming towards me. I was able to steer out of the left lane and out of the way but it was close. How do you apologize on your bike? Any universal hand gesture?

I really hate helmets and the reduced visibility of cycling especially when cornering. Add in that none of the street blocks don't have stop signs and you really are on your own for safety. I honestly feel safer on the highways than on neighborhood roads.

[malkin]

You know..if your tires are almost flat, you really can't ride a bike or turn corners. Sigh. No wonder nothing has been working right. I need to check the tire pressure more often. I was at a 10 and a 30 when I checked today.

Wow! I'm amazed you made it around the corner at all!

[Owlie]

Given that tire pressure, I'm surprised you made it around the corner at all!

I'm a big chicken when it comes to cornering--granted, I'm a big chicken all around. Outside pedal down, and I lean the bike, not me (though this depends on the corner). And I slow wayy down--like 8-12 mph if it's a tight corner (like the S-curve on a trail back home).

And +1 on the helmet. If it's restricting your vision, something's wrong.

[zoom-zoom]

Are the wheels different on the two bikes? Wheel stiffness, or rather the lack thereof, can contribute to "mushy" handling.

Ahhh...yes, they do have different wheels (Synapse had some lower-end Shimano wheels and the SS has Mavic Aksiums). Though I've talked to several people who have test-ridden both the Synapse and SuperSix with more comparable specs who have marveled at how relaxed and comfortable the Synapse was vs. the SuperSix and also noticed how differently they handled in fast corners. Mine are hard to compare, since they were spec'd out pretty differently ($1200 difference).