Tight Turns

[Trekster]

Admittedly, I am a fairly new rider, with slightly less than 100 miles on my Quest. My riding so far has been on city streets, less-traveled country blacktop roads and hard-surface bike trails. I've been negotiating these riding environments fairly well, with one exception - that being tight turns . The bike trails I ride on involve at least two points that require doing a tight turn on a fairly narrow path. These turns are greater than 90 deg., but less than 180.

I'm wondering if it is better to try and pedal slowly through a tight turn, or to try and coast around it without pedaling? Perhaps there is some other technique that I just haven't learned yet.

 

[Eric Winn]

With the Quest I can do either now in a very

With the Quest I can do either now in a very tight 180 degree or perhaps a bit tighter turn but I started by unclipping one or both legs and coasting through the turn at first - I have Shimano PD-A530 dual platform pedals.

As I got more proficient I gradually learned to stay clipped in and pedaling down to less than 2mph.

I'm always prepared to stomp on the brakes and unclip however as it is also a blind turn and I've been surprised there before. Its amazing how quiet some people can be coming around this corner... I can see traffic a bit before the turn but then lose visibility at the turn and most people go through there slowly but a few have managed to sneak into place quietly between the last view I had and when I start turning.

I can do these turns on the Vendetta too but it took some practice.

-Eric

 

[chrisblessing]

Trekster, I found that pedaling through tight turns helps me. I like having a little torque on the crank. Generally I'm not aware of the effects of "pedal steering" when I ride, except when doing tight turns. It's then that I'm most comfortable letting my feet do the steering, with my hands along for the ride. Like Eric, I have learned to do some very tight turns, but not without a lot of practice. I also have my clips as loose as practicable, allowing me to bail if I need to.

 

[Gromit]

Figure 8s

Trekster, I would practice turning figure eights in an empty car park with a good flat surface. You should find that doing figure eights is less likely to give you vertigo than turning in circles. Start with large figure eights and gradually tighten your turns. I'm always surprised at how tight I can get the turns. Oh and keep pedalling right through the turns.

 

[billyk]

here's one more guy ...

Here's one more guy who pedals (hard!) through tight turns. Especially if you feel like you're about to fall into the turn. Then a hard push feels like holding yourself up.

I need to measure out some lines in a parking lot and find out how tight a circle I can reliably and continuously do. Will try that soon and report back.

BK

 

[Gromit]

Video of Jim Parker turning in tight circles

Here is a link to a YouTube video of Jim Parker of Cruzbike turning in tight circles.

 

[Trekster]

Will work more on it

Thanks to all for the help and suggestions. Will continue working on my figure 8's and see if I can get them much tighter. I'm sure it is possible, just a matter of more "brain training", I expect.

 

[bladderhead]

You can't pedal-steer unless

You can't pedal-steer unless you are pedaling. On my conversion-kit I am fighting the handlebars less than I used to. Unless I am coasting downhill. I go downhill slowly. I get the most pedal-steering control in the power-stroke part of the pedaling arc. I have a steerless instant of time in the dead spot. I have heel-clips, which increase the arc in which I can pedal-steer, because I pull as well as push. This makes a big difference. Spin, do not mash, then the steerless-moments go by faster. Blessed are the spinners, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mashing is the the devil's work, and those who mash are an abomination in the sight of the Lord.

 

[Trekster]

Now this is a tight turn

A turn in 4.5 to 5 feet. <--- this link is one of the promo videos for Cruzbike. In about the middle of the video there is an example of turning a Cruzbike around in what looks like ONE HALF of a two lane road.

I practiced for about an hour this morning, both in a parking lot, and on a two-lane black top road next to the parking lot. My tightest turns took up at least 7/8 of the entire two-lane road. I didn't measure the entire roadway width, but I'm guessing it to be between 22 and 24 feet wide.

I've been practicing and riding my Q for just about 3 weeks now. I'm using clipless pedals (Bebops), starting and stopping is good and flat straight line riding with very little wobble or need for corrections. Hill climbing is also good.

But right now I can't see myself ever doing a turn, such as the one in the video, and although I've tried riding with almost no pressure on the grips - hands free riding is definitely out of the question.

Isn't it possible that some folks (individuals) just may not possess the necessary balance attributes that some others may have, and no amount of practicing will change that? Or, is it really a skill that can be learned if more time is spent practicing it.

 

[Charles.Plager]

Hi Trekster,
First, that

Hi Trekster,

First, that video is hilarious ( "The new Cruzbike is Awesome !") Thanks for finding that.

Second, by your description, you've accomplished a lot in three weeks. But it's only been three weeks. I think riding these bikes can take a couple hundred miles to acclimate. Keep working on it and figure eights in parking lots and just keep riding. In a couple months, I'll bet you're much closer.

Charles

P.s. Yes, it is entirely possible that some folks just won't be able to do tight turns even after getting used to the bike. But deciding now that you're one of those people means that you'll almost certainly be one of those people.

 

[Jeremy S]

I agree with Charles. Why

I agree with Charles. Why overthink it? Spend some time on the bike, and try to enjoy.

 

[billyk]

16-foot (diameter) easy circle

First, I agree with Charles and Jeremy. You've just been riding the thing for a few weeks! I was 6 months and more than 1000 miles into it before I felt really comfortable on it. It's not pedal steer (that goes away quickly) but just having the mass (bike+rider) so far forward and wrapped around the steering column. That is a really different feeling and takes time to get used to.

But what I'm reporting here is that on my way to work this morning, on a one lane road that is 16 feet wide curb to curb, I was easily able to pedal through a complete circle and continue riding away. Being on my way to work I didn't have time to play around too much (and it was raining), but I'm sure I could go a bit smaller at least.

The guy in the video isn't doing a circle and I doubt if he could keep that radius going around. He more or less jerked the bike through the turn. But the video is great ... and I want his suspension. Can't picture riding mine on railroad ties like that.

BK (Quest 2)