Awesome Italian Guys

The Dangle

As surfing is to skateboarding and vice versa, so is motorcycling to cycling and… yes, ok we’ve mentioned this before, but it bears repeating, or at least elaborating on, as I’ve been experimenting with a crossover technique gleaned from the world of MotoGP racing: the Rossi Leg Wave. Or, as I like to call it for the purposes of road bicycle riding, the Dangle.

The Rossi Leg Wave is of course named after Valentino Rossi, even though other moto studs like Kevin Schwantz, Mick Doohan and Wayne Rainey were using the technique (admittedly less frequently, and possibly not completely purposely) in the 90s during their legendary battles. Barreling into corners at 200kmh side by side, sometimes a little extra body (or limb) language was required to keep the 500cc beasts going in the right direction. The Dangle takes the basic premise of the RLW, i.e. hanging the inside leg outboard of the bike while cornering, and whether it actually has any benefit or not, it looks kinda cool. Ok, I’ll rephrase that; it feels very cool. I’d seen @Bianchi Denti pop a leg out one day, and presumed he was imitating the moto guys, but when questioned about it later he seemed to be oblivious to having performed the feat at all. Maybe a moment of panic forced his foot off the pedal, but it sewed a seed in my brain and I started experimenting with the Dangle shortly after and have been honing it since.

The Dangle may just be the most inappropriate and useless bit of Cycling technique ever, or it could be the answer to your cornering prayers. You’ll either try it, dismiss it, love it or hate it or treat it with the contempt usually reserved for a YJA. Before attempting the Dangle, a few important points should be observed for its correct and safe operation:

It’s a speed thing: there’s a solid reason we clip our feet to our pedals, and that’s for pedaling. if the corner you are about to take isn’t pointing downhill, or it’s one that needs to be pedaled out of to keep momentum, then the dangle will be useless. The faster the descent the more effective the dangle is.

Angle for the Dangle: Use the Dangle selectively. Judge the angle of the corner; is it a fast sweeper? Then you don’t need to Dangle. If the corner is 90º and steep or tight, the leg out will help your ballast by re-centering your weight towards the apex of the corner, while the outside clipped in leg uses extra pressure to push the tyres into the road surface.

Keep it high: Or at least off the ground. If you just droop your leg out there without knowing how far your foot is from the tar, then you’re in for a big surprise. At best you’ll gark your carbon soles, at worst… well we don’t want to find out. The inside pedal should be at 12 o’clock position, but you knew this anyway.

Be prepared: If you’re riding a familiar route, then you will know the corners where the Dangle will work best, and unclipping should be done before you set up for the corner. If you’re already leaning the bike over, trying to twist your foot out will make you unstable, both physically and mentally.

Get back in quick: Depending on the severity of the corner, you may want to clip back in just before the point of the apex, if a quick change of direction is required. When exiting the corner, get that cleat engaged and get on the gas.

Drop the knee: Most of the time, the Dangle won’t be the right tool for the job, and another moto technique of dropping the inside knee (as awesomely demonstrated here by @ChrissyOne) is usually the best way to get around a fast corner. If your elbow drags though, then you’ve leant too far.

Ultimately, the Dangle isn’t for everyone and should be treated like hard recreational drugs; don’t use it all the time, pick your moments sensibly, but when the occasion calls for it and it’s safe to do so, then party on.

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103 Replies to “The Dangle”

  3. @Barracuda

    @Teocalli

    @brett The inside pedal should be at 6 o’clock position, but you knew this anyway.

    Typo or Oz clock?

    Surely , “I am, and don’t call me Shirley ! ” the inside pedal (closest to corner ) is at 12 o’clock no matter where you’re from.

    You might have missed the original typo, now corrected.  Yup everyone agrees with you.  @brett briefly forgot he was upside down down there.

  6. I have seen this move at time or two.  Always a gives me a mental pause before cruising inside the guy performing the move.  Its somewhat unexpected, and when I see it, I have a half second, WTF?….grab some brake, then, “Ah shit, he meant to do that…”

  7. @Barracuda

    @wilburrox

    @PeakInTwoYears

    @frank

    Next up in our series of great cycling, I’ll be espousing the virtues of this stopping technique.

    Right? Because what will stop you faster, 18 sq cm of brake pad surface or your entire torso?

    There’ll need to be a good term for this advanced technique. Say, like, “planting” maybe ? Dangling just has a certain ring to it. Chapters in books dedicated to sprinting, climbing, drafting, cornering, dangling and… ?

    ” Cobble Gobling ” ?  or is that copyrighted ?

    Okay, I legitimately laughed out loud at that!  You win!

  9. I actually did a bit of 1 legged pedaling this week as part of my training plan. Amazing how jagged my left stroke was compared to the right.

    There was a fair amount of lagging dangle involved but not much turning. It felt nice.

    Of course the king of 1 legged cycling is Enrico Toti who achieved mythic status in Italy after his death.

    Enrico Toti – one determined one legged cyclist

  10. @frank

    Next up in our series of great cycling, I’ll be espousing the virtues of this stopping technique.

    Fixing cobbles.

  14. I can’t help but enjoy this article as well, since it makes me think of Lieutenant Jim Dangle. Damn, what a character. What an actor. I miss the show, but something that great can’t last.

    His shorts are the perfect length for cycling, Voeckler-style!

  15. @VeloSix

    @Barracuda

    @wilburrox

    @PeakInTwoYears

    @frank

    Next up in our series of great cycling, I’ll be espousing the virtues of this stopping technique.

    Right? Because what will stop you faster, 18 sq cm of brake pad surface or your entire torso?

    There’ll need to be a good term for this advanced technique. Say, like, “planting” maybe ? Dangling just has a certain ring to it. Chapters in books dedicated to sprinting, climbing, drafting, cornering, dangling and… ?

    ” Cobble Gobling ” ?  or is that copyrighted ?

    Okay, I legitimately laughed out loud at that!  You win!

    yep.That’s winner. I hope that is not Kelly on his face.

  16. @rfreese888

    I actually did a bit of 1 legged pedaling this week as part of my training plan. Amazing how jagged my left stroke was compared to the right.

    There was a fair amount of lagging dangle involved but not much turning. It felt nice.

    Of course the king of 1 legged cycling is Enrico Toti who achieved mythic status in Italy after his death.

    Enrico Toti – one determined one legged cyclist

    I love how he did away with the left-side pedal. Why keep it, obviously. But it speaks volumes. “Not only can’t I use it. I don’t fucking need it.”

  17. @rfreese888

    I actually did a bit of 1 legged pedaling this week as part of my training plan. Amazing how jagged my left stroke was compared to the right.

    There was a fair amount of lagging dangle involved but not much turning. It felt nice.

    Of course the king of 1 legged cycling is Enrico Toti who achieved mythic status in Italy after his death.

    Enrico Toti – one determined one legged cyclist

    Jesus H. Christ. That guy is probably a relative of mine. My maternal grandfather was a Toti. Came over to Murica from Abruzzo a hunnerd years ago.

    I’m not worthy.

  22. The Dangle? Thanks @Brett. Not something I’ve done by choice, it’s more of a last moment mtb technique to prevent crashing down on my hip, again. Although I recall once on black ice to add a degree of uprightness when skidding along somewhat sideways.

    If the corner is to be taken that fast it’s inside knee out, foot firmly clipped in and hope I haven’t reached the limits of tyre adhesion.

  23. It’s okay @PeakInTwoYears and if it makes you feel any better, you ride like a guy with one leg.

    [slinks off into a dark corner, chuckling to himself…]

  24. @frank

    Next up in our series of great cycling, I’ll be espousing the virtues of this stopping technique.

    HA! Hard to browse Velominati incognito at work, when you come up with shit like this.  Hillarious!

  25. @DeKerr

    It’s okay @PeakInTwoYears and if it makes you feel any better, you ride like a guy with one leg.

    [slinks off into a dark corner, chuckling to himself…]

    Watch yourself, youngster, or you’ll get a crutch upside the head.

  26. My favourite bit of advice to new track riders who have come from the road is to keep the outside foot down in the corners.

  27. @Mikael Liddy

    @wiscot

    Tasting the tarmac?

    I can hear the Specialized lawyers breaking out their billing calculators already…

    That was my worry with my earlier comment.  I expect letters in the mail an day now.

  29. I want to see more of that purple Moser. Never seen the ST cluster like than on anything but some Casati’s, including my Laser.

  34. @brett

    @piwakawaka

    Boonen tried the dangle, didn’t work.

    Boonen’s a putz. It’s that fucking beard.

    Easy. No one likes the beard, but EASY. That’s my boy you’re talking about.

  35. @frank

    @brett

    @piwakawaka

    Boonen tried the dangle, didn’t work.

    Boonen’s a putz. It’s that fucking beard.

    Easy. No one likes the beard, but EASY. That’s my boy you’re talking about.

    Well that photo redeems him, rocking the Dangle… wish I’d had that for the lead photo.

  40. And you all laughed… I’m tellin ya, the Dangle is the tits!

    (Sagan should’ve dangled prior to the corner and he would’ve been sweet…)

  41. @frank

    @Marcus

    @brett

    Cobblelingus

    It’s been so long since you’ve been around, you’ve been downgraded to a Level 1. Disgraceful.

    Yet he returns with that… genius. Add that to the Lexi.

  47. @Velojello

    @Barracuda

    My god, that looks positively Edwardian, as well as painful…

    Yeah its the next level of the “Rossi” dangle.   Kids these days have no fear or worry for future issues with the anatomy.  Red Bull are looking to sign this kid up for their next “You Tube” clip entitled “Balls to the wall”

    Stay tuned for that one.

  48. This whole conversation seems awkward to me… I see the word “dangle” and I can’t stop thinking about dingleberries …

  50. Not sure if serious, but here goes.

    The Dangle, in my experience, is a reflexive panic move in a moment of balancian crisis.  Last time I found myself dangling, twas because I had been momentarily tram-tracked while crossing a filter lane on a highway, dewy morning, white road paint.   A wee groove caught my tubular then spat me out again heading toward the centre of a lane which I knew had a car exiting into it at high speed.

    My foot flew out of the clip and my undies copped a staining before I regained control.  I had a distinct vision of myself sliding under the wheels of the car behind me.

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