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In Cycling Tip of the Week, we'll be featuring a weekly tip aimed at making cycling safer and more fun for you. Feel free to send us your tips as well.
Cornering is Simple, but Often Done Improperly
I recently provided tips on how to change lanes on a bike but now I wanted to turn to the equally important task of how to slice through corners without crashing. Sure, you can always just take it really slow, but wouldn't it be great to be able to glide through the turn like a pro?
Cornering on a bicycle isn't exactly rocket science, but do it wrong and you can hit the deck pretty easily. I should know: I've crashed twice because of improper cornering technique! However, do it right and you can ride more quickly and smoothly—and look good doing it, too.
The Most Common Mistake
The biggest mistake I see people make-and the one that can often lead to a crash-is cornering with the pedal pointing down. In other words, if you are making a right turn, then your right pedal should be up, not down. Why? Well, because as you lean your bike into a turn the pedal gets closer to the ground, it's actually possible to hit the ground with the pedal, resulting in a crash. So to repeat: for left turns, make sure your left pedal is at the highest point in the pedal stroke, and for right turns, have the right pedal at the highest point.
Don't Pedal While Cornering
This leads into the second point, which is: don't pedal while cornering. You can pedal into the corner and pedal coming out of it, but while you are leaning into the corner you should be smoothly coasting through it. If you watch pros, they brake before the turn, adjusting their speed so that they can glide through the corner and then sprint out of it. If you pedal through a corner, you can hit the ground at the bottom of the pedal stroke.
Look Through the Turn
As you enter a corner, look as far beyond the corner as you can in order to look out for obstacles—especially slippery gravel, potholes or glass—and find the best line through the turn. Don't try to corner fast if there are leaves or anything else on the road that could make you slip: believe me, I've crashed trying to look cool on a sandy road, and I paid the price.
Use Your Weight
The vast majority of steering on a bicycle should be done by shifting your weight, not steering with your hands. As you corner, learn your body into the turn, and counterbalance by stepping more firmly on the outside pedal (the one that is down—e.g., for a right hand turn, the left pedal).
With these simple techniques—and plenty of practice—you can corner more smoothly, more quickly and more safely. And if you need help, find yourself a bike buddy! Also, make sure your gears are properly adjusted to avoid them shifting unexpectedly during a turn), and use your ears to listen for danger around the bend.
