Get ready before the corner

You don’t want to be braking on a corner as this can cause instability, and you certainly don’t want to do so if you’ve got another rider on your wheel, as they might not be prepared for you to slow down. Aim to get your speed down to the appropriate level before you hit the bend.

When riding in a group, the drafting effect will probably mean that you don’t need to pedal and will freewheel around the bend. Pay close attention to what’s going on ahead to determine your speed.

You also want to be in a gear that you can pedal quickly to accelerate out of the corner, and since you don’t want to be changing gear as you turn, get into the right cog (probably a lower gear) on your cassette on the straight before the bend.

How to use your gears efficiently

On the drops

Riding on the drops can take a little bit of getting used to, and some riders feel a little unsteady riding low. However, in this position you actually have the greatest control, and with your weight over the front end of the bike, you’re at your most stable.

Ask the Expert: When Should I be Riding on the Drops on my Road Bike?

Riding in the drops also means your elbows create a protective space around you, limiting the chances of anyone else coming too close. Add in the aerodynamic benefits of riding this way, and it really is the safest and fastest way to corner.

If you find this intimidating, practice with shallow bends, then work up to tighter bends.

Look where you want to go

Your body will follow the lead of your head. Therefore, if you look out of the bend at the point you want to exit, you’ll have more chance of going there. Look at the verge, grass, pavement, or the tarmac beneath you, and you might well end up there.

Hold your line in a group

When riding in a group, there’s a lot more to think about – as Kerry says: “A bunch changes a corner.” What’s most important is that you follow a clear line as you enter and exit the corner – don’t move across the road as you will cause a sudden reaction from the rider behind you (and probably a lot of swearing). This does take practice, as speed can cause your wheel to drift wide – paying attention, keeping your handlebars steady and using your body weight will prevent this.

Practice, practice, practice…

Cornering well takes practice. One of coach Kerry’s top tips is to take your training to a new-build housing estate – she says: “Just because you’re not sweating and out-of-breath it doesn’t mean you’re not having a good training session. Take time to focus on technique. A great place to practice corning is in a new housing estate where there are often lots of tight bends.

“When you’re confident – sometimes the best thing is to just throw yourself into situations that really test you, such as entering races where you know there are tight bends.”

We’ll be bringing you more practical skills and training theory advice from Revolution Cycling coaching in the next few weeks. If you’ve got any specific questions, let us know in the comments and we’ll put them to the experts…