{"id":19907,"title":"Cyclocross cornering guide part one","description":"Of all the skills you need to master for cyclocross, cornering is by far the most important. A typical cyclocross course will have in excess of thirty corners. This Guide to Cyclocross Cornering tells you how to improve your cyclocross cornering skills.","content":"

Published in<\/strong>: CYCLOCROSS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

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Guide to Cyclocross 2.1<\/strong><\/p>

In the second of our Guides to Cyclocross, we look at the important skill of cyclocross cornering. There's so much to say, that we've broken it down into two articles. This first takes you through the key steps leading up to a turn.\"A If you missed it, our first Guide to Cyclocross<\/strong><\/a> explained what cyclocross is, why should try it and the equipment you'll need.<\/p>

Of all the skills you need to master for cyclocross, cornering is by far the most important. A typical cyclocross course will have in excess of thirty corners. If you think that\u2019s an exaggeration, Google \u2018cyclocross course map\u2019 and take a look.<\/p>

How to get Faster at cyclocross<\/h3>

Let\u2019s assume you lose 0.1 seconds per corner to a rival. Over a six-lap race that could add up to 18 seconds. That doesn\u2019t sound that much, does it?<\/p>

\"Cyclocross<\/a>Now think about it as an eighteen-second gap that you have to close at flat-out race pace. Suddenly, it sounds like a significant amount. Worse still, your poor cornering causes you to slide out as you desperately pursue your rival.<\/p>

By cornering more quickly, you can get faster at cyclocross without being any fitter.<\/p>

Who am I?<\/h3>

If you read our first Guide to Cyclocross you'll have discovered I'm a master's cyclocross racer who, over 15 years, improved from hopeless to semi-competent.<\/p>

\u201cFrom hopeless to semi-competent\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

These guides are intended for those new to cyclocross or with limited experience. I'm trying to convey the essentials of cyclocross that I wish I'd known when I first started.<\/p>

No two cyclocross corners are the same<\/h3>

In cyclocross, there are two types of corners. Those where you predominantly lean your bike to turn, as you would on a road bike, and tight bends where you steer using your handlebars.\"A You'll need to steer the bars much more compared to road riding<\/em><\/p>

That makes it sound quite simple but it isn\u2019t. No two cyclocross bends are the same due to variations in grip, camber, ruts, width and the following twists. As the race progresses and the grass on the racing line turns to mud, corners continue to change.<\/p>

Cyclocross is different from road riding<\/h3>

If your background is purely road riding then you\u2019ll quickly realise there are some significant differences in technique. As described above, you'll encounter corners where you have to consciously turn the bars. This is unusual in road riding where almost all cornering is achieved by leaning the bike with only the slightest twisting of the handlebars.<\/p>

\u201cYou'll pedal through most corners\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

You\u2019ll pedal through most corners, especially the ones where you're turning the bars. Cyclocross bikes have higher bottom brackets than road bikes to reduce the risk of clipping the ground as you pedal.\"Image You need the agility of a cat so invest in stretching exercises. Image: DS Chapman<\/em><\/p>

Except when you get out of the saddle or to counter the lean on a corner, road riding requires little upper body movement. By contrast, cyclocross demands an almost constant upper body adjustment.<\/p>

\u201cInvesting in stretching and core exercises will improve your cornering\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>

You'll need to continually redistribute your weight forwards, backwards and from side to side. For me, it was a key realisation that I needed to be more agile and flexible to be successful. Investing in stretching and core exercises will improve your cornering ability.<\/p>

Cyclocross cornering general steps<\/h3>

Having said that no two corners are the same, there are some general steps you should take for almost every corner. We'll look at each in turn. We're only covering the first four in this article. Part two of our Cyclocross Cornering Guide will cover the remaining three.<\/p>