cornering fail

enas

Friday morning story: cornering at speed on a wet greasy cobbled surface (and with Gatorskins to make matters worse), such as the one you get on the corner from South Mall to Grand Parade in Cork (streetview link) was bound to end up in a disaster. Fortunately, slick surface (combined with sturdy MTB baggy shorts) also means negligible road rash. Also, it could have been much worse if the driver behind me wasn't following me patiently from a good distance before that happened, so thanks for driving well. And thanks to the people who stopped to check if I was all right No harm done, except to my dignity (and a little scratch on my bike).

on_the_nickel

That cobbled section is lethal. Didnt a boy racer end up half way up the steps of one of the solictors offices at that corner last year sometime?

seamus

Jaysus, who in God's name though that polished stones were a good road surface on a corner?

Good to hear you didn't come off too badly!

on_the_nickel

Console yourself with the fact others have made bigger ar$es of themselves along there.....

http://davemacontheblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/crash-on-south-mall-on-sunday-nite-only.html

Malari

seamus wrote: »

Jaysus, who in God's name though that polished stones were a good road surface on a corner?

Yes, along with 3 shiny manhole covers. You have to lean before the corner, straighten up while actually going around the corner, making a nice wide angle (if traffic will allow it) then finish the turn once around the bend.

Hey, it could be worse, it's not downhill

enas

on_the_nickel wrote: »

Console yourself with the fact others have made bigger ar$es of themselves along there.....

http://davemacontheblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/crash-on-south-mall-on-sunday-nite-only.html

That's a bit of a consolation all right, thanks. At least it's funny (as no one got injured - could have been much nastier during the day with a lot of pedestrians and all that stuff).

Going in the other direction is even worse: it's tighter obviously, plus you get those three manhole covers that are well placed all along the width of the lane so that avoiding them becomes a game in itself. I've lost traction on the front wheel a few times on them, which is always a bit stressful.

Funsterdelux

I'm always weary of those pedestrian crosses there too! Even whilst walking!

enas

Malari wrote: »

You have to lean before the corner, straighten up while actually going around the corner, making a nice wide angle (if traffic will allow it) then finish the turn once around the bend.

That's exactly what I do obviously. But apparently that was not enough this morning, should really try to go as perfectly straight as possible through the cobbles. Plus there's always a tool that will overtake you just as you're about to enter the corner.

Malari wrote: »

Hey, it could be worse, it's not downhill

However, you do carry some momentum from going down parliament bridge...

Malari

enas wrote: »

That's exactly what I do obviously. But apparently that was not enough this morning, should really try to go as perfectly straight as possible through the cobbles. Plus there's always a tool that will overtake you just as you're about to enter the corner.



However, you do carry some momentum from going down parliament bridge...

Oh, I wasn't actually commenting on your cornering in particular, just ridiculing the PTB who decided this was a safe an appropriate surface for a corner

hans aus dtschl

I've lost traction there in a car. Lethal.

enas

enas wrote: »

Friday morning story: cornering at speed on a wet greasy cobbled surface (and with Gatorskins to make matters worse), such as the one you get on the corner from South Mall to Grand Parade in Cork (streetview link) was bound to end up in a disaster. Fortunately, slick surface (combined with sturdy MTB baggy shorts) also means negligible road rash. Also, it could have been much worse if the driver behind me wasn't following me patiently from a good distance before that happened, so thanks for driving well. And thanks to the people who stopped to check if I was all right No harm done, except to my dignity (and a little scratch on my bike).

That corner is very dodgy alright. Nearly came off there one day on the road bike, despite the fact that I was dawdling. Only time I've ever had a front wheel slide recover!

I'm always very cautious on it now, especially in the wet.

Whoever decided to change the surface from grippy tarmac to slippy stone on a pedestrian crossing on a corner needs their heads examined.

JOHN_70

College Road outside the main gate of UCC and the top of O'Donovans road and Gaol Walk have this type of surface as well. Nasty if it is wet - I also have gatorskins on at the moment which doesnt help.

kenmc

enas wrote: »

Friday morning story: cornering at speed on a wet greasy cobbled surface (and with Gatorskins to make matters worse),

Don't go blaming Gatorskins, they're not by any means slippy. Been riding them for 4 years+ without any issue whatsoever, and I take no prisoners.