5 Drills To Improve Your Bike Handling Skills

[@gcn]

Are there any drills you know of to help improve your bike handling skills? Let us know in the comments 👇

[@JayLato]

I ride towards squirrels, really improves your evasive maneuvers.

[@MyMyian]

A hip twitch to quickly dodge around a pot hole that has loomed up at the last minute. Difficult to describe but I am sure that those who do it will know what I mean.

[@scottbaker5851]

Find a quite road. Ride the white line under 4mph.

[@johanneskleiser7319]

Putting a jacket on and taking it off while riding.

[@daraclarke1328]

Track stand is so fun!!!

[@joyshreebasumatari1866]

KZbin is really getting comfortable with these double unskippable ads

[@noone4024]

it is really annoying

[@DCassidy42]

Before you know it, KZbin will be no different than cable TV.

[@sighisoaraa]

ublock origin

[@samstone8591]

Right after they the youtube was broken last night at midnight for 3 hours nobody in the world could play videos, only adverts

[@jooptablet1727]

KZbin Vanced. Look it up

[@philiptaylor2366]

As a tall cyclist (6 foot 7). I have often thought some techniques are just not going to be possible so thank you so much for using Conor on this video! He’s given me the inspiration to go out and try these things! I’m going to master that track stand!!

[@PimpolloMorales]

This content is so quality, you cyclists don't know how good you haven't compared to other sports online tips 😭😭 I love the production mixed in with real insightful nuggets of wisdom

[@sabamacx]

Sometimes, if I'm especially confident, I can get a waterbottle from the lower mount.

[@alexk2127]

Nice handling tips. Here are few more 1. Sharp side moves (when surprised by a pothole or person crossing the road or anything else you need to suddenly go around) it is easier to turn your bike with you hip/bum 2. Controlled slide. Useful in wet conditions or off paved road.

[@tomnix8194]

One of the best videos I have seen on your channel! Great content and well explained.... I will sure include that and follow your instructions on some of my next rides.... Great off season stuff!

[@kevinthomson6324]

I find I need to work on looking over my shoulder and still ride in a straight line. I always find myself drifting in the direction I twist my neck. Which often is making me move towards the traffic I’m checking on. Also the bunny hop can be a very valuable skill to protect you and your wheels/tires from curbs potholes speed bumps etc.

[@acanfield87]

@kevinthomson6324--one of the ways to help counter this is move your corresponding hand from the outside of the bars closer to the center or stem. If you are looking over your left shoulder (most likely) then move your left had to the top of the bars, say in the middle between the hoods and stem. This will reduce the tendency to veer left when looking left.

[@DG-tf9rp]

Thank You Conor, Great Vid. These could be done before a ride while waiting for your mates. And these skills will make it safer for all the riders in the group.

[@SioLazer]

these are fantastic! reminds me of how you do drills on the MTB to develop handling on trails. Hats off! I would not be able to speak so eloquently on a climb like you did at the beginning of the video. But the last 45 seconds of the video were difficult to understand because you were free wheeling down hill. Not a complaint there, but it made me think of something helpful I learned. When I'm out on the road with other people and cars, I like to lightly pedal so as to avoid the shrill sound. Usually, this is only when approaching an intersection where I want to use my ears in addition to my eyes. It's not as tricky as picking up a bidon from the ground for sure though. Very nice moves Conor!

[@ccarz1]

Really like your channel and I just bought my first carbon orbea and I love it :)

[@_cupofteafather]

Orca?

[@ccarz1]

Yes I bought it used 🙂

[@alimackerali9259]

Bike handling you say? *GMBN enters the chat*

[@kstethespokes1051]

Thought I was doing quite well not falling off just getting my bottle in and out the downtube cage whilst moving - still can’t get to the second one - clearly much to learn!

[@garshaw8404]

Haha - I have to stop peddling if I want to get the my second water bottle out of the rear holder! Still, I think Froome is safe for now so I don't worry about it too much ;-)

[@levbobrov1398]

Yeah, I only drink from the seat tube bottle when stopped at the traffic light or something and eventually, when the down tube one is almost empty -- I swap them.

[@cham749]

8 minute video with great content apart from 6 adverts, KZbin is getting ridiculous

[@EFLO3D]

Oh just fucking wait till you finally break down and buy premium, and then when you get sick of paying for it and go back to regular, theyll be twice as many ads as what youre experiencing right now.

[@Icex7]

Ad blockers are free.

[@EFLO3D]

@@Icex7 they dont work on youtube lol

[@Icex7]

@@EFLO3D They do, but okay.

[@EFLO3D]

@@Icex7 how do you plan to run an adblocker in the youtube app on your phone?

[@dfateekh]

The most useful video I ever watch for beginners ❤ thanks a lot!

[@philipcooper8297]

The best thing you all should learn is to do a proper bunny hop. Yes, even on a road bike.

[@legrandempereurcosmique5142]

How u do this trickery???

[@philipcooper8297]

@@legrandempereurcosmique5142 I think the GCN did a video about it, but you basically get the front wheel up by shifting your body weight back and pulling up on the handlebars, and once the front wheel is of the ground you move your weight forwards. The bunny hop is done the same as ollie on a skateboard, jumping on a snowboard and even on a motorcycle, etc. The same principle.

[@leeoien3645]

@@legrandempereurcosmique5142 Funny you should ask- there is a GCN video on the topic!

[@adamreed6735]

I just rely on my shoes to bunny hop but it works well

[@mateagoston8145]

@@legrandempereurcosmique5142 Having clipless pedals will make it a lot easier in case if you don't have any. :D

[@khazza930]

Nice, picking a bottle off the ground looks so cool! Also, please do a video on that “kick” with the back wheel... it looks really cool, too!

[@Bellerophon17]

Reminded me of a video I saw of Van der Poel top skill moments where he is cycling along in the peloton at moderate race speed, and somehow flicks a rock to the roadside with his front wheel!

[@Bellerophon17]

At 0:43 m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWiypnebi8ebrtU

[@khazza930]

@@Bellerophon17 ah yes, i remember some that here on GCN actually... skill level 9000

[@David..]

I did the USAC drill where you steer around a bottle at low speed with your front wheel and then have the front triangle cross over the bottle where your back wheel clears it on the other side. Worked fine on my MTB crushed like 8 bottles doing it on the road bike.

[@SkyhawkSteve]

a buddy taught me to pick up stuff off the road 40 years ago, and I don't think I've met anyone else who's learned this fun little trick since then. It does impress people when I've done it, which is fun. Glad to see Connor demonstrate it.

[@kathyljohnson6203]

I've learned bottle pick-up at both CX and road race clinics all in recent years. Good coaches do still teach it.

[@andrewbmoss]

1) Ride on rollers 2) Ride next to friends and practice bumping elbows and shoulders (on the grass may be a good idea) 3) Practice Madison throws with your friends 4) Practice hopping small items on open roads

[@justyou9314]

Very useful tips, mate. Thankyouu 😇😇🤩

[@donovanvaz3289]

Juggling the bottle - probably also best to make sure it is either totally full or totally empty. Anything in between and it won't just spin nicely, the spin distort all over the place.

[@acanfield87]

It's a little dated but I wrote a short book on improving your road bike handling skills (Watch Your Line). Some of my favorite drills to help folks improve their skills are learning to ride hands-free, riding circles in your driveway (both directions!), riding the white line, and rubbing tires on the grass. But one of the best things you can do is get a mountain bike and ride trails fast. It will organically improve your handling--and falling--skills. There is a reason that everyone raves about the bike handling skills of MVDP, Pidcock, and other cross or MTB cyclists.

[@timurvekilov612]

Thank you for this video!!!!!!!!!! 👍🏻 👍🏻 👍🏻 👍🏻

[@kathyljohnson6203]

Have Jeremy, Connor, Si and Manon teach each other wheelie-hops, bunny-hops, (Belgian) stair-climbs, track stands on a velodrome, and mounting/dismounting on rollers. Then have a contest!

[@acycleinbalance4344]

Thank you for the great video. Always full of good useful info :)

[@MrXcmaniac]

I have been doing these things for a long time, but the track stand out a imperative to get that jump at the lights ahead of other cyclists and traffic.

[@andrewmarsman3294]

Can you share how to handle and avoid speed wobble/shimmy? I have this problem with my bike and I can no longer bike as fast as I used to. Super freaky experience and very frustrating

[@michellelose2361]

Life-changing product!

[@eltonjoseph6779]

I love the tips you give.

[@pranavkaushik7817]

Finally he got a perfect bike for his size!

[@elmerrichardson6413]

Yep, that's for sure, I'm 6'5 and ride a Canyon too, of all the bikes I looked at, it has the best look of a bike for a tall guy. The head tube doesn't look like an ostrich.

[@ricardojesus647]

What size is Connors bike?

[@elmerrichardson6413]

@@ricardojesus647 Mine is an XL, so his has to be XXL. That's Canyon's biggest size.

[@ricardojesus647]

I'm 1,94m and i ride a BH Ultralight XL, so it must be a XXL indeed....

[@event4216]

When I got my bike I were stupid enough just to jump on and go speeding. Don't ask me why my left shoulder doesn't like to carry bag....With my second bike, I spent several weeks adopting to it, riding figures, riding slowly, one handed, no hands, mounting, dismounting. After this I feel all my bikes much better. Now I should learn braking, too.

[@mahsashalileh8601]

wonderful , thanks

[@JackRay]

I still need to learn how to not wipeout with clipless pedals😂🤣🤣

[@jama9216]

Today i lied on the ground because this haha

[@shirazhaider1090]

you learn slaloms when doing your direct access motorcycle test as well. knowing the basics of counter steering will help with this

[@jonathanzamudio9018]

8:00 why was there patch of rain? Anyone found that weird?

[@donball370]

Thanks Conor. Having seen the Pros do the bunny hop across a kerb and footpath, can you demo that? What about controlling a skid (slippy roads and loose gravel). Off to find a car park for some practice, see yah

[@godhunterofficial4554]

We are from India and we love ur videos !!!!❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥

[@Matii81]

Hi Conor, I'm just wondering what is the size that you are using from Canyon with your 6ft8"(2m3cm)? Because it looks little bit small. Thanks

[@The_Rumpo_K1d]

Another way to really improve you bike handling is to Mix it up. I ride road, gravel and MTB and have done for years. They require different skills but they all compliment each other.

[@charlesr2800]

Can we do the bottle catching when we are on the roller?

[@aimanhakim4215]

Nice video keep it up GCN!!!

[@gcn]

Thanks, will do!

[@aimanhakim4215]

@@gcn hehe im just a mountain bike user but still use it on the road.i will buy roadbike in the future!🚴💪

[@mikelo_06]

3:39 the poor banana almost died there 😂 😂 😂

[@smithythecyclist8764]

Just ride cyclocross. That's what I did and now I'm the fastest person round corners that I know of

[@bandha1000]

Confused about the MB corning technique with pedals at 3 o'clock-9 o'clock vs the road bike 6-12. If you're cornering on dirt on a gravel bike, which do you use, when & why?

[@aaronparsons877]

If you are on an MB the terrain will not be smooth. Could be rocks, tufts of grass, tree roots on either side that could clip a pedal - having them both higher means less likely to hit anything. Cornering on dirt you’re likely not leaning as much on the bike as you might on the road either. On the road you can easily go around a bend and scrape a pedal in the floor if it’s the inside pedal that’s down.

[@shazbarlas7799]

Nice one, Connor.

[@buddyshergill5903]

Thanks for the tips. Will have to practice them.

[@brianalexander5344]

Any tips on cornering on wet roads?

[@Charles_Bro-son]

Slower than on dry ones! And more on that kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKHSkHSZi9KYqKM and kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2jbe2eih85qbKc

[@brianalexander5344]

@@Charles_Bro-son Thank you very much

[@sanaliwareSolutionsnet]

Trying to get out of the bike without applying breaks while going at a medium speed...is also a skill I recommend

[@monev44]

WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER YOUR FREEHUB.

[@dorotheasmith2206]

lovely sound

[@geraldguevara5381]

Hope I can have road bike soon :(((

[@ATLien51]

Good luck buddy

[@secretagent86]

i bought a decent used carbon specialized in ok shape. needed new chain, tires and hub, but still 1/3 price of new with all that done. best wishes

[@byrnesy919]

Anyone know a good saddle for heavier riders? Im 6,2 90+ kg athletic build and my selle italia x3 is quite harsh. It’s completely flat with no cut out. Would the selle smp well be a good choice since its curved. I need to test some out

[@Crikky]

i use my expensive flagship phone as the object in juggling. i developed a very special skill.

[@benjaminbenjamin7388]

Great video gcn Keep it up

[@whitebeardcycles]

Hold on, have I stumbled across Connor's audition video for the Tom Cruise classic sequel of 'Cocktail 2'?

[@SportAndOutside]

Love you guys

[@vedhed21]

so this means Connor survived the Halloween episode?

[@tommyphillips8547]

I always thought a track stand was where you lean forward at 45% like if your standing on a track. I guess maybe not

[@lwittrock1]

Great show!

[@michaelsingh843]

The track stand is my Achilles Heel, in fact I lie everything you did is my Achilles heels. I'm just glad I eventually can drink water from the bottle whilst riding 😅

[@yasu.fietst6022]

always nice vids

[@jamiewoods6874]

Was there a bike show between the ads .?

[@jooptablet1727]

Just go for a mountainbike ride lol

[@santiandres5177]

I never knew Buzzfeed made cycling videos!?

[@manfredmuench2657]

When you are juggling that bottle make sure the top is closed.

[@aberdeenal3234]

Never managed to track stand yet..........an inner ear balance issue doesn't help the cause!!

[@mihailoandonovicvi329]

Nice video

[@tomstephenson5452]

Like how all the men get dura ace di2 bikes and Manon gets ultegra di2

[@Endorfinjunkie]

Connors brake discs are ultegra, that's for sure

[@jeangeurts1123]

What the weight of the Bike ?

[@brucewelty7684]

Oversteer bike vs, Understeer bike? which is better.

[@pranavkaushik7817]

These tricks in my area are commonly known as 'show off' 😐😐 I don't why but it is what it is and who do these are been teased and called stupid Why? Seriously what is the problem with those people? 😒😒

[@engineergaming4295]

Idk, they prob never seen roadies before

[@bjsr126]

Seriously though, what size frame does this Giraffe use? 150cm?

[@georgehardy-jones6739]

Who’s recording all this?

[@VanekLarson]

Getting famous off of comments day 169, so I can live the dream, live life to the fullest🚀🤙

[@ccarz1]

You are everywhere

[@Jules.C.]

Congrats on 4k subs

[@AnTeallach2011]

Hey GCN - I think there was a video in your adverts somewhere here

[@idaf5244]

2:40 ah yes, my uphill riding philosophy

[@eliteharrington7377]

That Canyon bike looks "Swanky" 😘🤭

[@danfuerthgillis4483]

#1 skill : Learn how to brake properly on rim brakes. Solution : Don't be a clown and setup the pads where only a paper can sneak through, give the pads 4 mm on each side. This will allow for a 50% contact at half pull, this will allow to feather your brake pads against the rim. To brake simply rotate from back to front on the levers rapidly and feather the contact of the pads to gain control of any corners and without sliding the back wheel. This requires an alert sense of direction and traffic around you as the pads will only contact at 50% pull. This braking method saves your pads, your carbon wheel brake tracks and your aluminum wheels as well.

[@secretagent86]

love track stands yes, but i don't ever recall needing to pick a bottle off the road or juggle one.

[@calvintcs80]

To me, the ability to do bunny-hop is an important skill to pick up.

[@patricecantin2797]

GCN Bidon - 1 , Rear Derailleur - 0

[@royalrajpurohit2177]

Is this manon’s bike ?

[@jck_dnls]

Bianchi bike please:( that is my dream bike

[@bor88888]

Constantly taking one hand from the bars while descending is sign of a good handling but also a little stupid

[@sumikomei]

Conor's next video - How to handle being sprayed in the face with road water from the tire of who's in front of you.

[@basicbiketrialtutorials5993]

i nearly got smashed by a car, but luckily i jumped over it with a sidehop on my bike

[@JayLato]

I want to see Conor on short cranks.

[@JonathanCastro-rc2xl]

This is my first road kzbin.infoUgkxMesz3KOGEmwmvyKQfLfrRSUXLFzfVHZA and I have taken it out a handful of times and so far it is exceeding all of my expectations. I didn’t want to break the bank on a first bike and the herd is a great option for getting a fast bike with reliable components. I plan on riding this bike for many years to come. Thank you Sava!

[@tardishousemafia5246]

Wow I’ve never been this early

[@koenig_elk]

The best way to improve your road bike handling skills is probably riding your cx or xc bike in winter.

[@flaneurable]

No guards, straight forks, Disc brake?, What tyres?

[@bleskiven]

Videos with Connor should all be on-bike. He's really very good outside, or with Nigel. But not as good in the studio

[@GreyDuck54]

I wiped out with clipless pedals with 1 hand on the bar... i dont think I'm ready for this video... lol

[@leo-kun6228]

Im a beginner I tend to wobble alot even if im just going 15 kmh is it me whos the problem?

[@renzandrei5988]

I still can't drive a straight line and people think im drunk🤣

[@thomlarson681]

Didn’t seem to end well for the banana (3:39).

[@mylesie8078]

Thanks Conor !🙄

[@iamhifzur]

What's this bike frame he is using..? 🤐

[@MaplePanda04]

Trackstands are absolutely nasty with toe overlap

[@AIKIA2.0]

I am your dealer;)))