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”

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

    Typo or Oz clock?

  2. Surely the inside pedal should be at 12 o’clock? The outside should pedal should always be at 6 so you have balance control on the still-connected leg and also so you don’t drag the inside pedal if you lean it too far?!

  3. @Chris

    @Teocalli

    …Typo…?

    Surely the article is a typo or a sick joke of some kind?

    Or Bretto is in training for a KT layover in Amsterdam.

    Dunno, maybe his mountain biking is creeping out.  I did check the date and month.

  4. During this past TDF I remember seeing more than a few riders using the Dangle to stay upright on a few tight descents.  I do not believe they planned to use it, more instinctual to stay off the tarmac.  I too have inadvertently resorted to the Dangle during a criterium race or two as riders run wide in a turn and bump shoulders.  It has helped saved some skin on my arse.

  5. @Sparty

    During this past TDF I remember seeing more than a few riders using the Dangle to stay upright on a few tight descents.  I do not believe they planned to use it, more instinctual to stay off the tarmac.  I too have inadvertently resorted to the Dangle during a criterium race or two as riders run wide in a turn and bump shoulders.  It has helped saved some skin on my arse.

    I can quite understand it as an involuntary reaction to a near death experience (I suspect Nacer Brouhaha pulled a quick Dangle as he almost hit the barrier in the KBK finale on Sunday) or even if deployed with a shake after cresting a Hors Categorie climb in a desperate attempt to work out some of the lactic acid thats accumulated during the climb but as part of a practised cornering technique. Non.

  6. @Teocalli

    That’s got to be a truly shit day when you decide “fuck it, i’ve had enough of the pro life, I’m going to be a mobile motor mechanic” and dive under the nearest truck for an impromptu oil change.

  7. Uhh… there will not be anything dangling off of my bike… especially when I’m riding it, but hey, maybe that’s just me.

  8. @wilburrox

    Uhh… there will not be anything dangling off of my bike… especially when I’m riding it, but hey, maybe that’s just me.

    I’m with you brother. I learned to corner on a twitchy trek with tight geometry. Cornering is now all muscle memory, instinct and balls. If my leg’s coming out, then it’s likely a pre-crash event (or I’m on my cross bike and it’s a sloppy day).

  9. @Oli

    This is the stupidest bit of cornering advice I’ve ever read.

    Yates was known for pressing his knee inward on the top tube. Works for me.

  10. @Chris

    @Teocalli

    Speaking of Nacer Brouhaha you can see why he’d want to learn to dangle after this face plant:

    Front FDJ rider actually pulls his knee inward for the moment to make the turn.

  11. @unversio

    I meant the dangling leg, nothing to do with knee in or out – for me that depends on the corner, but unclipping, putting out the outrigger and clipping back in is futile, dangerous and time-wasting.

  12. @Oli

    @unversio

    I meant the dangling leg, nothing to do with knee in or out – for me that depends on the corner, but unclipping, putting out the outrigger and clipping back in is futile, dangerous and time-wasting.

    Ooooooo, then nevermind.

  13. 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.

    This phrase sums it up in toto.  Cornering is the one thing on the bike that I can seriously fucking do, and the faster the better.  I can’t climb, I can’t time trial, and I sure as hell will never be tops at the local Cat 1s, but I can corner at speed downhill like a motherfucker.

    If you have to think about it, you’re doing it wrong.  This maneuver is the sort of thing that you deploy based on pure instinct, and if you’re actually trying, it’s going to go badly.  Just don’t.  Seriously.

  14. @antihero

    How can “…pick your moments sensibly…” sum it up perfectly when it’s something you should do instinctively and not try to do?

  15. Yeeaaahhhh…

    I’m calling intentional, amusing bullshit on this whole fucking article.

  16. @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.

  17. @PeakInTwoYears

    Yeeaaahhhh…

    I’m calling intentional, amusing bullshit on this whole fucking article.

    Yes, yes, and yes.  Awesome article.  Total bullshit.

  18. Absolutely brilliant and I will not be using this technique any time soon.

    its like the opposite of all the track-standing at stop lights; instead of frivolously refusing to unclip at a perfectly sensible time, this is frivolously choosing to unclip at a perfectly insensible time. I love it.

  19. @Oli

    This is the stupidest bit of cornering advice I’ve ever read.

    Exactly. It’s inspired. This has put a smile on my face like little else has this week.

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

  21. @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?

  22. @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… ?

  23. @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 ?

  24. @PeakInTwoYears

    Proning?

    This sounds like engaging a non-compliant partner in the normally mutually acceptable spooning maneuver. Then again, maybe I’m just having odd thoughts since I saw an advert in the local independent newspaper for a cuddling service.

    Cuddling with a stranger, and I have to pay for it? Hmm tuuuuuff decision.

  25. @unversio

    @Oli

    This is the stupidest bit of cornering advice I’ve ever read.

    Yates was known for pressing his knee inward on the top tube. Works for me.

    No, he wasn’t. It’s just the Interwebs that say that.

  26. @unversio

    First image here is Yates needing to shit on his saddle.

    First image there is Yates imagining what it feels like to climb like me.

  27. @antihero

    This phrase sums it up in toto.  Cornering is the one thing on the bike that I can seriously fucking do, and the faster the better.  I can’t climb, I can’t time trial, and I sure as hell will never be tops at the local Cat 1s, but I can corner at speed downhill like a motherfucker.

    If you have to think about it, you’re doing it wrong.  This maneuver is the sort of thing that you deploy based on pure instinct, and if you’re actually trying, it’s going to go badly.  Just don’t.  Seriously.

    Have to agree, *everytime* I’ve ended up in a hedge, astride a fence (that really hurt) or just sprawled on the road is when I starting thinking about a turn. The best ones are when you just realised you’ve whipped round something at 60+ and you didn’t even realise it.

  28. @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 ?

    It’s  Coblr Goblr, Specialized’s new hookup app.

  29. @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 ?

    Reminds me of me when I’m drunk.

    “I didn’t fall over…I’m just checking these stones…my face hurts…”

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