Downhill bends

[Edski]

I don't mean open sweeping things, I mean the really tight hairpins up in the hills. It's one area where 'look where you want to go' really breaks down for me. I came across one yesterday in Wales, it was a sharp lefthander on a really steep hill - say 15 - 20% gradient (that's 1 in 6 to 1 in 5). The ground fell away and sure I could see the road where I wanted to go but I was looking across - well, across nothing, lots of air. Remember that we ride on the left, but it would be the same for Americans on a right hander. The temptation is to lock everything up, I hate that feeling that the bike is about to fall over. I had to shout 'Self, leave the f*ckin brake alone' - ended up trailing the back, bike in 1st, using engine braking, and me as stiff as a board, it wasn't elegant, and the others I was riding with flew round it and disappeared...

C'mon peeps, tell me I'm a muppet and then tell me how you do them.

[LeeHamFroMyhr]

Yeah got the same problem on one corner here in Oz - Obi Obi Rd, just before things get really twisty. Maybe a 300° left turn with 1 in 5 gradient, steep as incline (too much throttle and the front is skywards) on the second apex, usually gravel around too as there is a dirt road opposite (it is a one way twisty bit though from here - nice).

Has to be taken in first, and I usually end up hanging off the bike with head craned right around to the left nearly looking behind me and just praying I don't hit some gravel with the front. Look and pray :). I always end up stiff beforehands though as it is such a pucker moment, and my left arm usually tries to go in through my belly button elbowfirst. Yeah it looks unco but that is the only way I have got it going so far!

Here's a google earth image - those that have been on it will know the one I mean.

obi corner.jpg

(EDIT - Oops misread post - was for downhill! Same applies I guess just in reverse)

[DecepticonDon]

IIRC, on downhill curves, you will drift to the outside. You must compensate by looking further inside the curve.
If you can't see around the curve and don't know the road......well that could be bad.
Like the time a friend and I were going hot into a decreasing radius, off-camber right hander......keep leaning ;)

[Tripped1]

That was more or less how I was taught, lean harder, and stay in the throttle or lowside trying.

[Edski]

Bloody hell Lee that's one mother fucker of a corner.

Practice I guess. I will bring a few changes of boxers

[Habib55]

Wow that's a tight turn!! Well from my readings a turn that is negative camber is much trickier because it will force one's bike to stand up, thereby pulling the rider to the outside vs. a turn that is postive camber in which the rider will be able to "lean" into the turn more because the slight upward banking of the road acts as a "bumper" (if you will) and eases the turn-in process and makes the turn easier. I was riding late in the season last year and almost ate it on a negative camber left hander that had gravel on the road. I tell you that was def a pucker moment! Hope that helps. Just take it slowly and advance as you grow more comfortable. Ride safe.

[doublen675]

I've always learned that you really need to exaggerate the looking through the curve to stay on point. If you focus on how sharp the curve is or how steep the grade is you will wreck for sure. Force that head turn into the corner and will your body to no look the other way. That will get you through the corner and you'll eventually just do it without drama. (That works for me anyway)

[kenhoeve]

I do corners like this every week, but they are navigated on a road bike. I find them endlessly frightening. Your entire world of horizontal reference is thrown about and you feel like you haven't a clue what your tires are doing. The only way I've gotten close to comfortable is by riding those corners many many times. I find there just isn't enough visibility in those situations to ride aggressively unless you know the surface thoroughly in advance. Rear brake is key and hanging wayyy off the inside of the bike is just as important. I've watched guys, who are experienced racers, lowside in front of me on bicycles in these downhill corners. I will continue to go slow.

[cote]

keep positive drive throughout and add a little rear brake for traction. ie drive against your rear brake. it keeps the center of balance from straying toward the front. stay off the front lever. pull the handlebar on the outside towards you for more lean ie opposition steering. adjust to curve dynamics eg gravel as stated by adjusting drag with brake and lean with outside steering hand.
oh and obey all intstructions

[Strider]

I agree with Kenhoeve, but trying to get alittle more shove out of the corner should be easy to do safely if you keep yourself under control.

Seems to me like coming to the corner slower then you think you should at first then cracking on the throttle at a slow even consistant rate is your best bet. It will give you enough feeling to evaluate the traction and your line choice, also allowing you to look ahead (learning a new turn in parts is easier then just going at it all the way). Then as you are more comfortable with your line choice you can get into it faster. Road conditions will always be the wild card though.

If you have to look over your shoulder you do it. Sweeping or scaning your vision through the corner may help to make you more comfortable and help to spot gravel in the turn. If the road has negative camber then getting off the bike A LOT will help I'd think.

I'd be hesitant to use the rear brake very much. If you panic and grab a foot full of rear break somehow, that would be bad news. You should be able to learn the turn well enough to not need any braking during the turn. This isn't a race course so times don't count.

Are you on the inside line of the turn in this case? If so keep in mind that if you do have to stand up the bike or slow down you may have little to no room to do that. So going to fast may be hazardous.