How to Maneuver Bicycles Like a Professional

A guide to cornering and braking

By Freddy R. Johnson

As far as bicycle techniques are concerned, there are a few. Usually, these methods or techniques are employed by competing amateur or professional cyclists in their career. Most people would not know about how to effectively corner and brake at all.

What answer do you expect when you ask someone how to steer a bicycle? They would just tell you to turn the handle bar left and right (depending on the direction). There you have it. But in fact, there is more to the story of turning or steering a bicycle in the direction you want.

Counter steering

So how can it be more complicated by simply turning your bicycle handle bar? The answer is you have to add a little twist to it. For example, if you want to turn left, make sure you steer your handle bar to the right slightly at first. You should only turn left afterward. This is called counter steering. You will also have to lean towards the intended direction. Therefore it is a combination of steering and leaning using your body weight. Counter steering is very important to maintain a balance when cornering. If you do it wrongly, you will most likely fall. It is easier to counter-steer when riding bicycle if compared to riding a motorbike.

Before you reach a particular corner or apex, be sure that you hit on the brakes first. This is done so that you will slow down prior to approaching the specific corner. But when do you apply the brake? This is a good question. The answer is to start pressing the brake (to slow down) when you are upright. Right after you have done this, then you can proceed with the counter steering.

Braking for cornering

The point is you should never brake while cornering. You might have learned this lesson already when you were a child. The bike immediately skidded when you applied the brakes hard during your cornering endeavor. This is because your body weight is already applied on the lesser-area of the tires when you corner. Braking when you lean or turn will result in an unbalanced force.

What about your pedals? Can they hit the ground when you lean towards the ground too much? The trick is simple. For example, if you are turning to the left direction, you would have to keep your left pedal up. This will increase the distance between your left pedal and the road. Also, you should pedal when cornering. But this might be the exception for some seasoned and experienced cyclists.