Practicing Technique

[Kano]

Happy Thursday!

I kinda figured this fit here, even if it didn't have much to do with stopping and tipping over....

On my ride today, I discovered that I'm learning from watching those dudes on the TV. Thing learned: even pros fall down. Haven't done this in years myself, don't care to, but even pros fall, so okay....

Thing learned: Heels down. Watched Floyd. Heels are down. Tried this. Went faster with no extra work. Gonna keep my heels down! (not like DOWN, but flat feet, yes?)

Thing learned: Knees in. Those guys knees are in, tight to the bike, almost all the time. The big curves going down the mountain today, saw some knees veer out a bit, but Knees in. Tried this. Went faster with no extra work. Gonna keep my knees in!

Thing learned: Shoulders down, butt up (well, not quite). Sorta kinda tried this. Bike not designed for it, DH hollered at me to QUIT IT! Went faster with no extra work. Wanna do this! DH will keep hollering quit it, no more Tour for you! To quote grandson: like it, want it, NEED it!

Cool thing learned: put these things together, go faster, even up hill!

Nother thing learned: dump water on head. Wished for water to dump on head today in the 100+ sunshine!

And yet another: I missed my bike!

Top speed today, small downhill grade: 22+mph!!! Best ever for that little hill!

Karen in Boise

[pooks]

Why does your husband tell you to cut it out? Does it make you faster than he is? <g>

I've learned the water on head -- and jersey and arms!

I'll pay more attention to the other stuff, too. Thanks for passing it along!

[eclectic]

Hey Kano I was watching that on tdf too re: the knees in, heels down etc. been trying to remember to do everything at once.

Pooks as I was riding today I thought about turning ( I was weaving in and out of pebbles, shadows etc on quiet sections - practicing what I preach)

First of all are you turning by shifting your balance or by moving the handlebars?

I was trying to see how I do it and I turn by shifting my weight but I have no idea how it works - I just do it.

Secondly before hitting the streets practice going into turns using one hand and signalling with the other - I still have trouble with that at times - sometimes my signals are pretty quick and I pray whoever is behind me notices

Keep up the great work and I have to practice those fast stops! ! !

[pooks]

eclectic -- I know what you mean about "quick signals." I read that you should put your other hand closer to the center of the handlebar so you have more control when you use your free hand to signal, but even though that makes sense, it made it more complicated, too!

I'd read about using your body to turn rather than turning the wheel itself. I do that on corners. When I was doing that U-turn, oddly enough, what was going through my head was, "Um, am I supposed to lean with my body or turn the tire --"

Next thing I knew -- CURB in front of me. <g>

So I will practice more on those skills for sure so it becomes second nature.

[Kano]

Why does your husband tell you to cut it out? Does it make you faster than he is? <g>

I've learned the water on head -- and jersey and arms!

I'll pay more attention to the other stuff, too. Thanks for passing it along!

I've decided he gets "scared" that I'll hurt myself -- so I should be careful, you know? But, of course, that does NOT apply to him!

Water on head -- need to carry a water bottle for that, instead of the camelbak. Or, maybe in addition to: water bottle for head, camelbak for innards!

Karen in Boise