How to do a quick turn

Here is a photo sequence from the League of American Bicyclists Bike Education conference I attended in Austin, TX this year.

This is me being coached on improving my emergency turn by League Cycling Instructor (LCI) Preston Tyree.
You would use this turn if someone turned in front of you or ran a red light and you suddenly needed to turn right or left, usually right. I'm told that you can do this up to 17 mph and I was doing it at about 11 or 12 mph. There were a couple of warm ups before I got it, this was the successful run.

Start at a comfortable speed for learning this very awkward and counter intuitive maneuver.








Turn your handlebars quickly in the opposite direction that you want to turn. This leans your bike in the direction you want to go instantly.
















Turn your handlebars quickly back toward the direction you want to turn. Now your bike is in a sharp lean in the direction you want to turn.

















Breathe and Commit.

Follow through the turn putting weight on the inside (of the turn) handlebar and the outside leg. For me it was important to keep my inside elbow low and center of weight low in the turn.



















Breathe continued...

















Look at where you want to go.























Finish the turn. This turn was much sharper than I expected and I would probably have to do another turn to keep from going too far to the right and off the road or into a parked car.














Get encouragement from League (of American Bicyclists) Cycling Instructor (LCI) Preston Tyree.

And for all those worried souls out there- yes, next time I'll try it in shoes instead of flip flops.

Thanks to LCI Chris Daigle from the Eagle Wheel Cycling School and Photography for the photos!

Jason