Countersteering

Anyone use this technique when riding at speed?
Been training for my bike test and it's one of the things they teach, never thought about it for use on the fixed, had a little dabble riding back last night, and if you're spinning, it makes corners much smoother.

Forgive my ignorance, what does counter steering entail?

if you're turning left you do a little turn to the right beforehand.It helps to take the corner smoothly and i'd assume most riders do it naturally.

Ok, it only works when travelling over 12mph or so, but if you push left with your right hand, the bike will steer to the left and visa versa.

"Countersteering is the technique used by cyclists to initiate turning toward a given direction by first steering counter to the desired direction ("steer left to turn right"). In order to negotiate a turn successfully, the combined centre of mass of the rider and the single-track vehicle must first be leaned in the direction of the turn, and steering momentarily in the opposite direction causes that lean. Once sufficient lean is established to sustain the desired turn, the rider, or in many cases the bike itself, then steers into the turn to cause the bike to turn in the desired direction and stop the lean from increasing."

I use it all the time. I find it the smoothest way to flow around potholes and such with the greatest of ease. Instead of actually turning, just shift weight a little and use that to steer the bike around... turning right a little but leaning left.

Ok, it only works when travelling over 12mph or so, but if you push left with your right hand, the bike will steer to the left and visa versa.

I understand what overdrive said, I do that anyway to avoid pedal strike. But isnt push-left, go left just normal steering?

says wikipedia.

and yes it does work.

Most do it without realising they do it, more experianced riders will be more aware of it, I didn't realise it was as effective on a bike as i is on a motor bike.

DFP, Push left with RIGHT hand.

Instead of actually turning, just shift weight a little and use that to steer the bike around... turning right a little but leaning left.

Again, steering with bodyweight is the primary method of turning on a two-wheeled cycle. The handlebars follow your centre of gravity. If youve ever ridden a tricycle youll know just how awkward it is to steer relying on handlebar turning.

I read it as 'push the left hand forwards to go left', which is opposite to regular steering.

But yes, it gets used by me, especially noticeable when approaching turns no-handed I wiggle my hips to lean the bike first.

dunno how to embed...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C848R9xWrjc

I understand what overdrive said, I do that anyway to avoid pedal strike. But isnt push-left, go left just normal steering?

DFP, Push left with RIGHT hand.

Um, pushing left with your right hand and going left is just normal steering. I think that's what DFP meant?

Pushing left with your right hand and going right is counter steering.

Yep didn't know it had a name but use it all the time, esp during speedy tight left-turns at junctions. I always chuck a glance over me shoulder to make sure nothing's gonna whack me when I do the little flick though!

If I've understood correctly then I'm fairly sure I do that intuitively, especially at high speed. Mind you my understanding of second nature is clearly questionable since i don't immediately google something when i've not come across it before.

I did that everyday actually, I thought it's nothing special really, I do that in a 'tally ho" kind of manoverve when the spitfire dive down to attack the dastardly hun.

people that really over exagerate it get on my nerves though. weaving about the place like cocks.

sorry. i'm grumpy today.

works great on a motorbike
just takes a bit of getting used to

Um, pushing left with your right hand and going left is just normal steering. I think that's what DFP meant?

Pushing left with your right hand and going right is counter steering.

Oh yeah, sorry, not concentrating.

weetarded

Truth is "Countersteering" is the ONLY way to control a bike at riding speeds. That's why it's so hard to learn when you are 6. The handlebars are for keeping your balance having initiated a turn. The only way a bike will turn right is when the rider's weight is displaced that way. It's done by turning the bars to the left to unbalance the bike, or leaning your weight to the right. What some folk find hard to understand is that there's a SPECIAL TERM for what we have all been doing since we were kids.

On your way home tonight, don't try "Countersteering". Try steering by turning the bars the way you want to go. It can't be done! It's absolute proof of the thesis that you don't need to be able to understand something scientifically to be able to do it.

Countersteering eh?

I always thought it was just call 'riding a bike'

Countersteering eh?

I always thought it was just call 'riding a bike'

+1

well thanks god for that diagram
i thought i'd never understand the complexities of handlebar turning
i used to leave my house and after about 10 seconds of cycling i would arrive back at my house
now i know all about negative torque i might actually get somewhere !

Ask tynan.