Getting my Knee down tips please

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

I know, I've not got knee sliders so I don't try to get my knee down If I see gravel/mud whatever on the road that makes the idea of leaning it over scary, I tend to corner by hanging off, but I don't put my knee anywhere near touching down.

Hanging off the bike to keep it upright will not reduce any of the cornering load on the tyre, or therefore make the bike any less likely to slide on the slippy stuff

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

Hanging off the bike to keep it upright will not reduce any of the cornering load on the tyre, or therefore make the bike any less likely to slide on the slippy stuff

Perhaps not, but by keeping the bike as upright as possible you maintain a larger contact patch thus increasing the chances of NOT sliding.

Or so i was told when i did my I.A.M course.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by getyerkneedown

Perhaps not, but by keeping the bike as upright as possible you maintain a larger contact patch thus increasing the chances of NOT sliding.

Or so i was told when i did my I.A.M course.

Thats what I thought to

I don't see how lean angle would make the slightest difference to the contact patch size, and you wouldn't want a large contact patch if you hit gravel anyway.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Thats what I thought to

Yep, I thought the whole point of hanging off was that you can shift the weight to help turn, without reducing your tyre contact (as would happen with it leaned over)? Perhaps it's the placebo effect, but it does feel more planted with the bike upright when there's gravel about.

The same principles are applied in motorcycle racing.

Its not about carrying as much corner speed as possible, its about getting the bike through the bend and back to vertical as soon as, so that power can be delivered. This is because when the bike is vertical it has a larger contact patch than when its leant over. Its a case of drop it over for the bend, then whip it back up again quickly then get that power down before braking again. This is no more evident than in Moto GP.

I wouldnt dare in a million years get the bike cranked over at all in the gravel or on ice etc.. its just asking for trouble. Keep it as upright as possible and use your weight to turn the bike.

It also means that if the bikes more upright, it allows you to use more of the front brake in the turn than normal. Obviously not a great big fist ful, but if you need to use the front in a turn, you can do so, just load the front gentle, and when you have finished braking, unload it gently as well, dont just let go.

[fizzwheel]

So in conclusion does anybody think I am actually doing anything wrong ??

I was out last night trying a things and I think I'm getting there but I sh*t my pants as pushed front to hard and had it wash out from underneath me so I backed off a little after that

Nope, I don't see why contact patch would change with lean angle at all.

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

Nope, I don't see why contact patch would change with lean angle at all.

Dude, trust me it does.

Speak to your local training centre again. It could save your life one day.