Tuesday braking and cornering session

[Lister Farrar]

After the crash today, the girl's group is going to Windsor Park Tuesday to do a braking and cornering session, if it's dry. Others welcome.

We will start with the basics, both brakes, arms braced, weight back, then work up to sprinting in pairs, then braking as quickly as possible. (So there will be a training effect too from the sprinting, not just skill development.) We'll finish up with a ride to coffee.

This is a session that suits all abilities; we'll pair riders by strength so you can drag race someone who'll make you try. We'll be in small groups and you can take easy laps and then jump back in. Bring a buddy if you like. Make sure you let them win one or two!

Meet at Pareto (Fort and Richmond), so we can make alternative arrangements if it's wet.

[Lister Farrar]

Six girls and six guys out this am. Reviewed the basics of cornering and did 6 or 8 laps in a pace line as a warm-up.

Another cyclist was training at the circuit and gave us a good lesson, and a scare, as he came up the inside right at the apex of the south west corner and looked like he might nearly take out the line of girls. Exactly what a beginner might do in a race. But the girls had the cornering line figiured out and kept their line and we had no contact. The guy later stopped to apologize. Glad I didn't swear earlier

Then the main drill was sprinting with emergency braking. Key cues were straight and braced arms, weight back, hands on drops, using mostly front brake 60-40 to back.

We saw a few skids, which means too much back brake, and a few collapsing arms, and one great nose wheelie by Rolf that would not have been out of place in a free ride video if it had been on purpose. Bill showed his mtb skills by stopping faster than anyone.

Also saw the girls with smaller hands struggle to reach the brake levers. Shimano makes two models with adjustable brake lever reach, Sora and Ultegra. http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http ... nAeqjoGsDQ

Levers and bars should be set up so you can reach the levers from both the tops and drops.

Also thnaks to Gavin for the shoes for brian which were apparently "awesome" , and Brian Sinclair for the pedals for Amy, which with Joanna's shoes meant Amy was right there for the whole ride and not slipping off the back.


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[Rolf]

Thanks a lot, Lister -- I had a heap of fun this morning. I only started to get the feel for cornering when the speed started ramping up. And that felt a little dicey without traffic spotters. But I especially liked the drag-racing.

We saw a few skids, which means too much back brake, and a few collapsing arms, and one great nose wheelie by Rolf that would not have been out of place in a free ride video if it had been on purpose. Bill showed his mtb skills by stopping faster than anyone.

Pffft... that endo was totally on purpose. It was great to find the line between rear wheel skid and front wheel lock-up.

There was no Bill with us, so I assume you meant Mike. Mike had disc brakes; do you think that helped?

Brian, Bow, Oliver, Mike and I had a great, spirited ride to coffee. Though next time, Brian, you shouldn't hold back in the sprint. There's no disrespect in wiping the floor with us old guys...

[Lister Farrar]

Sorry Mike. I thought that was your name, then heard someone refer to Bill.

Mike was the fastest, I think, because he was very far back, low and his arms were locked. Mtbrs learn this early. Not sure if discs help that much, especially mechanical discs, vs hydraulic. Mike, what do you think? Was it the brakes?