gregted |
10-13-2007 08:05 PM |
I have owned many bikes in my 30 years of riding and by no means am i in the league of pro riders but i have taught many learner riders to handle bikes better just from my own experience and help from tech and riding tips in magazines.I have tried these suggestions out on the street and know they work.Here are a few essentials.........1. Ride to your own pace. Don't let anyone else make you go faster than you are comfortable with. Having said that, if you want to improve your pace and cornering ability, chose a section of road with some corners and travel over the section alone or with a good friend you trust at your most comfortable speed then each time you travel over it add 5 or 10 kph up to a safe speed that challenges you but doesn't scare you.2. Know your bike. spend time familiarizing yourself with every aspect of your bike and talk to respected bike mechanics about tyre pressures, shock settings etc. Once you know the base settings, you can experiment with variations to obtain a firm ride for cornering but still be comfortable over the rough stuff. 3. Negative/reverse steering. This has to be the greatest innovation to bike handling since someone first decided to put a motor on a push bike. This is how it works...We all know that leaning a bike causes it to turn, but why does this happen? As we lean the bike, the tyre diameter decreases as we present a smaller circle from the side of the tyre to the road. A smaller circle has less distance to travel to complete its rotation so the tyre is pulled towards the smaller circle to complete the rotation faster.If we lean with the bike, we become top heavy and there is nothing to stop the bike from sliding out from under us.As you approach a corner, turn your handlebars SLIGHTLY in the opposite direction that you want to turn. This presents a smaller diameter tyre to the road which causes the bike to turn but still allows you to stay vertical in the saddle. This technique has saved me many times when i have found myself committed to a corner too fast and decided to either lean more than I thought I could or go bush.These are just some tips to keep you safe. The defensive riding courses are good but nothing beats experience, listening to someone you trust and time in the saddle.I am more than happy to pass on more info from my email address and welcome constructive criticism to my tips.Remember what works for one doesn't always work for others.Try these tips out SLOWLY first and keep upright ( except when cornering ) ;)Hope this answer helps.
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