- Navigating hairpin bends or switchbacks,
is a crucial element when riding in the mountains,
both going up and down.
Here's how.
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Now although it's not quite as critical
as when travelling at high speed downhill,
you still need to look up and ahead to get the best,
and the safest, approach to the corner.
Now things to consider include oncoming traffic.
If that is the case, you're gonna need to take
a wide approach and not cut the apex.
If things are clear, once you've looked behind
before changing your line, it may be that you want to cut
the apex and ride up the inside.
But again, you'll have to assess if this is a good option,
as cutting the apex uphill can mean you face
a very steep, if short, gradient.
Taking the wider and longer line around a hairpin
will generally mean you carry far more speed
as the gradient is less here.
So it's really important that you choose
the right option for you.
Do you go harder and out of the saddle, through the apex?
Or generally sit down and spin in a lower gear,
faster and longer.
The decision is yours.
Other factors will often determine the route that you take,
like traffic, as we already mentioned,
and being surrounded by other riders,
like in the Maratona dles Dolomites for example.
But one thing you'll have to consider very seriously
is the cumulative effect of the technique that you choose.
Our advice, to save energy, is to take a far wider route
and maintain your momentum.
But if you're feeling good and want to take
the shorter harder line, go for it.
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As with descending in general,
you should be looking up the road ahead,
not down at the road in front of you.
And doing this will give you plenty of time
to shave off enough speed gradually
before you then swing into the bend itself.
Ideally your hand should be on the drops of the bars
as this is the most stable position.
As you approach the bend,
try and look further down the road if you can
to see if it's safe to cut the apex of the bend or not,
as this will determine the line that you take.
And if it's a left-hand bend,
drop your right foot to the six o'clock position,
and if it's a right-hand bend,
drop your left leg to six o'clock.
Also, importantly, look at where you want to go,
and in this instance it'll be the exit point of the hairpin.
Focusing on this will assist you in a far smoother,
cornering experience, believe us.
Ideally all of your braking should be done
before the bend itself, but sometimes,
no matter how experienced you are, you can misjudge a bend,
especially on a particularly tight hairpin,
forcing you to brake through the corner itself.
Now if this happens, don't grab at your brakes in a panic,
make sure your braking is smooth and progressive.
On tight hairpins, choose a line
where you approach the corner wide
before dropping in and clipping the apex.
If it's a blind hairpin and you can't see the road below
or what's approaching, the apex will be the centre of
your side of the road, not the opposite side.
Keep looking up at your exit point,
as this will assist you in taking a smooth line
through the bend, rather than making micro adjustments
all the way through.
And for extra traction through the bend,
push your backside downwards through the saddle,
and your hands downwards on the drops.
So get your hairpin technique dialled and locked in
for an improved mountain experience.
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Now for some more technique videos,
how about clicking just down here
for descending made easy, and just up here
for cornering made easy.
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