what i do to suddenly brake the bike is hit the brakes hold em and make it wag its tail out like a happy dog by shifting my weight and hear the tire skid noises. That or drifting the bike through every corner like a pro motorcyclist
Develop low speed skills, as this will make you more comfortable on the bike. Go out on some grass at a park, ride in increasingly smaller circles with friends, play bike polo, ride shoulder to shoulder, make an obstacle course, things like that. You'll be amazed how much better you are at high speed.
Good stuff. Although implicit in some of your advice, I think you could also do a dedicated "reading the road" video (or even series!). This has a huge scope, ranging from hazards on the daily commute right up to looking for mini-berms to help you corner faster.
We have busy roads here that I cross that has two lanes, and a center left turn lane and two more lanes going the opposite way. I cross them two at a time and track stand in the middle to get past the final two. Track standing is a great skill to master
For urban riding mastering the standing start is vital, particularly at traffic lights. If you know you can get up to speed quickly and easily you'll be less hesitant to stop when you need to, and you'll ride more safely.
This! Which includes gearing preparation. You need to gear down while you are slowing down to the standstill, and not while you are standing still. There is a bit of lag every time you shift gears, as the chain needs to rotate a bit to jump to the next cog. This means you will be braking and shifting down to spin your pedals simultaneously, which takes some practice. Especially if you go down a slope and there is a crossing with traffic lights at the bottom. If that is red once you get down, you will have to have shifted down sufficiently to be able to start quickly once it goes green. The alternative is a skipping chain once you try and start, or you start off like a steam train with a cadence like 5 rpm…
Good tips, I probably learned the looking behind thing when I did my cycling proficiency test though! video wise one on gear choice on hills would be good, and gravel skills (I know there’s older ones on these). I’d also like to see a hybrid bike to road bike transition one, as many folk take it for granted but the positioning is so different 😀
@@billmacrae1924 turning your head to make eye contact with the road user behind is preferable, so you both know you've seen each other, but that's not possible for everyone.
When looking over shoulder try holding the back of the saddle with the hand on the side of the shoulder you’re looking over. Helps you keep straight and stable
The Garmin Varia radar is super helpful for warning you about an approaching vehicle from behind. I find it very reassuring and lessens the need to constantly look behind you.
Yeah, I ride further into the lane with the Varia. It’s easy to be clear with signalling with the advance notice and drivers seem to appreciate it. Having a vehicle count is good too - it rarely misses multiple passers.
Thanks.I am a recent convert from long distance running to cycling. I'm in a decent shape so I can get pretty fast but my bike handling skills are pretty bad so I was afraid to put my hands on the drops during the first week of cycling.
A useful tip for looking behind you is that you often just put your chin on your shoulder, rather than cranking your head right round. (I'm sure i learned this from an earlier GCN video) its much easier on your neck, and because you are not rotating as much you are less likely to mess up your stearing
Of all of these, I feel like the most important is the look-behind is the best. Its very thorough, and is probably something that requires more muscles/technique than most skills. Sure, a mirror can help, but I've felt like they screw up perception.
I’m sure yall have done it before but a videos of drills to improve bike handling I always useful. I’m bad at turning especially when I’m going slow and there is some sort of gate I need to squeeze through
I have to keep my head on a swivel due to the fact that kids are getting dropped off at school when I'm commuting. A lot of people in a rush at that time so it's easy to be missed.
Exactly - always assume everyone else is an idiot. The best advice I ever got from my dad was for when you’re coming across a T-junction where a driver is waiting and you’re not sure if they’re going to decide to pull out in front of you at the last moment. Stare them dead in the eye. Not sure if it’s a power play or just reminds them you’re human, but seems to work.
@@Crall-xb8he it also means you’re looking at where they’re looking. I had someone yesterday who wasn’t looking at me as they pulled out. They heard me though
Really surprised that you didn't mention signalling. Riding one-handed is essential so that you can signal your intention to turn. Being able to look behind you is essential to see if there's anyone to signal to and then to do a last-minute "lifesaver" check immediately before turning.
Yep, that lifesaver turn saved me quite recently. Was turning right, looked behind and there was three cars behind. Stuck my arm out and started moving across. Just as I was about to turn, I looked behind and the car at the back of the line of cars, overtook the two cars and me.
I would add that when riding one handed, be careful if you have to brake. I was riding with one hand, and I had to stop. Not even thinking I hit the brake, unfortunately it was my front and it didn't lock but the force turned my bars and I flew over and hit pavement. Luckily just skinned up, glad i had helmet because it totally saved my head when it hit.
@@johnnunn8688 could be the force of pressing the brake lever itself? a similar thing almost happened to me, but I was riding slow enough that I was able to let go of the brake and correct course
Right now, sitting here with road rash on my thigh, my elbow and multiple bruises, I don’t need to increase my confidence, I just need to unclip BEFORE stopping as I’ve learnt that the other way round is painful. Only been riding clipless for 15 yrs. You’d think I’d have learnt by now
4:55 Also, look out behind you for stalkers! And is Conor's bike actually a bike, or just part of a suspension bridge with some wheels on? It's MASSIVE!!
With regard to looking behind you What are your thoughts on rear view mirrors attached to your handle bars or cycling helmet Ted 70 years old only been riding 6 months seriously and stiff as a board
The front brake does 75%-ish of the stopping power and that needs to be applied first, to get the weight onto the front wheel. I would recommend covering the front brake only, then when you have to make an emergency stop, then the brakes come on in the right order. Of course, getting your weight back is a given.
Riding with no hands and looking behind, feel so different depending on the bicycle. I can go no-hands for a LONG time on my commuter, and easily look behind. But my road bike's front wheel is so much more squirrely! She doesn't need much to stay steady, so one hand is fine, but no hands is very challenging. And the position lower down makes it harder to look around compared to the commuter.
The whole part about looking behind you, in my opinion, I say get a mirror and put it on your helmet, practice using it and scanning by moving your head. You can see everything behind you and never have to look away from looking forward. That is a skill you will use and need forever
@@billeterk I was out a couple of days ago and any headwind and I can’t hear anything. More I think about it the more a varia is looking like a good investment.
Great video but I noticed you never have any lights or bell for letting people no you are passing??or as every vehicle these days has day running lights ??I like to be seen on the road .and ride with a bike radar with my wahoo still looking over the shoulder but most I see with group rides stay light but hardly any visibility Don’t get it been safe over speed on busy roads 🤦🏻♂️??
Plus slight variances in camber, kerbstones, gravel on the road following rain, leaves on the road, leaves on the road when it’s autumn AND wet? Have a word with yourself and practice.
If you want to stop quick, slide back, while grabbing the front brake, and feathering the rear. If you want to see behind, you can also look under your armpit, if you are in an aero position. You can keep pedaling hard, if you do it this way.
@@johnnunn8688not what he meant. He made 2 different points for 2 different scenarios. Eg. Slide back while grabbing front brake. And the other is look under your pits when pedaling in an aero position.
These are valuable skills for any cyclist. I see too many old farts on e-bikes who can't lift one hand off the handle bar to indicate their direction or can't look over their shoulder and swerve without looking. Not to mention how to do an emergency break on a heavy bike at 25k speed. But we sports cyclists are the bad guys....
Oh hey, only me and the p*rn bots here! I must be very early today. Years on the bike and still can't feel safe with no hands on the bike. Used to be able to do that as a kid, now not anymore!
feathering your brakes will not make you stop more quickly, With but wheels locked up you will stop the quickest. You then however cannot contol the direction of the stop as easily, this is why cars have abs.
@@padmanabhaprasannasimha5385 Yes I understand the principle but feathering is only an option up to certain speeds. In an emergency I´ve never seen anyone who didn´t lock their wheels. Progressive braking was behind the idea of Campys delta brakes which were useless, Humans will never beat abs and if you can't then attempting it in a high speed emergany stop is not a recommendation in my view
on my old trekking bike I have the Shimano Nexave breaks, they work like an ABS. Very nice for commuting in a crowded city where I need to do frequent emergency breaks. On the other hand at the first couple of hard breaks on my gravel bike I almost went over the handle bar...
@@twistoffat locking up your front wheel is often catastrophic. Locking up your back wheel isn't great for control. Essentially (unless you're turning or on a slippery surface) shift your weight back and lock your arms, pull the front brake as hard as you can without lifting the back wheel and pull the rear brake as hard as you can without locking it up.
the disadvantage with this sport is the atrophy of the chest muscles and the shoulders and hips underdevelopment , those race bikes are even worse: neck pain, curved upper back. solution: go for a swim.
I remember when skidded my Bike, when that girl child step right in front of me. Man, I was so close… so, I scream loud: “Sweety, take care your mom!!!”
I really miss Manon. :( I love the other presenters, but it was just really nice having her there, too, and getting a little estrogen in this giant vat of testosterone.
Just an idea: Ben_is_running (youtube) is evolving in biking rn and taking it to his weekly schedule for later too (has found it great low impact aerobic training).. I wonder if he would be up if you needed a beginner for a challenge or a beginner gear/skill video or sth. He can bike around 29km/h for an hour easy pace on a hybrid : D
