In autocross, picking the correct line is one of the most important and most difficult skills to learn. In cycling, it's even more difficult because one extra variable comes into play- fatigue. While cars have the luxury to go all out until the fuel goes empty, cyclists must pick and choose when to push the pace and when to conserve energy.
THE THREE PARTS OF A TURN: ENTRY, APEX, EXIT
Before I go into the pros and cons of a specific line, I want to cover the three components of a turn- the entry, apex and exit. The entry is where all of the braking and initial turn-in should occur. This is by far the most important component of a turn because the speed of the entry will determine both the location of the apex and the speed of the exit. If you enter a turn too fast, there's the possibility of going off course (crash) and if you come into a turn too slow, you'll waste energy during the exit trying to get back up to pace.
The apex is the closest point to the inside of the turn. The closer you are to the apex, the more room you have for error during the exit.
During the exit, this is where maximum acceleration should occur. For turns that lead into a long straightaway, the number one goal is to choose a line with the fastest exit speed. When the turn leads into a short stretch to the finish line, a tighter line which produces a slower exit speed is usually faster because shortening the distance is more valuable. Keep this in mind when riding through a couple practice laps around the course.
PERFECT EXECUTION OF A TURN
Before beginning to lean into the turn, most of the braking should be completed in a straight line, with more pressure on the front brakes than the rear brakes. During the initial turn-in to the apex, brake pressure should switch: increasing at the rear and decreasing at the front to avoid losing grip at the front wheel. This will induce tiny amounts of oversteer, which is much safer to correct than understeer. Upon hitting the apex, incrementally increase power as grip increases throughout the exit.
THE EARLY, GEOMETRIC AND LATE APEX
There are three ways to approach the apex of a turn. You can either use a late, early or geometrical apex.
#1 LATE APEX - The late apex (blue line) is an approach that places the apex closer to the end of the turn. Like the name implies, almost everything is late- braking, initial turn-in and the location of the apex.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
#2 EARLY APEX - The eary apex (red line) is generally used as prep for a second corner that requires a late apex. To perform an early apex, brake late, turn into the apex early and try to avoid going off course during the exit!
THE THREE PARTS OF A TURN: ENTRY, APEX, EXIT
Before I go into the pros and cons of a specific line, I want to cover the three components of a turn- the entry, apex and exit. The entry is where all of the braking and initial turn-in should occur. This is by far the most important component of a turn because the speed of the entry will determine both the location of the apex and the speed of the exit. If you enter a turn too fast, there's the possibility of going off course (crash) and if you come into a turn too slow, you'll waste energy during the exit trying to get back up to pace.
The apex is the closest point to the inside of the turn. The closer you are to the apex, the more room you have for error during the exit.
During the exit, this is where maximum acceleration should occur. For turns that lead into a long straightaway, the number one goal is to choose a line with the fastest exit speed. When the turn leads into a short stretch to the finish line, a tighter line which produces a slower exit speed is usually faster because shortening the distance is more valuable. Keep this in mind when riding through a couple practice laps around the course.
PERFECT EXECUTION OF A TURN
Before beginning to lean into the turn, most of the braking should be completed in a straight line, with more pressure on the front brakes than the rear brakes. During the initial turn-in to the apex, brake pressure should switch: increasing at the rear and decreasing at the front to avoid losing grip at the front wheel. This will induce tiny amounts of oversteer, which is much safer to correct than understeer. Upon hitting the apex, incrementally increase power as grip increases throughout the exit.
THE EARLY, GEOMETRIC AND LATE APEX
There are three ways to approach the apex of a turn. You can either use a late, early or geometrical apex.
#1 LATE APEX - The late apex (blue line) is an approach that places the apex closer to the end of the turn. Like the name implies, almost everything is late- braking, initial turn-in and the location of the apex.
- Allows for the fastest possible exit speed. When you're riding solo, use this when you can!
Disadvantages:
- Occupies more road, making it more appropriate for single file, solo or small breakaways.
- Requires more energy to accelerate out of the turn.
- Slower entry speed means that people can pass you on the inside.
- Bad line to pick if the turn leads shortly into another turn.
#2 EARLY APEX - The eary apex (red line) is generally used as prep for a second corner that requires a late apex. To perform an early apex, brake late, turn into the apex early and try to avoid going off course during the exit!
Advantages:
- Faster entry speed.
- Creates passing opportunities.
- Blocks passes during the turn.
- Good for connecting tight sections.
- Due to slow exit, it's great for inducing the yo-yo effect to split the field.
Disadvantages:
- Slowest exit speed after the turn.
#3 GEOMETRIC APEX - The geometric apex (green line) is an approach that places the apex in the symmetrical center of the turn. Entry and exit paths look exactly identical. The advantage of this approach is that it's predictable, safe, fast, and fuel and fatigue efficient. This is the most often used line in cycling.
Advantages:
- Safest and easiest line to execute.
- Produces the fastest average speed throughout the turn.
- Requires little energy to execute.
Disadvantages:
- Not the fastest method for exits that lead to straights.
- May produce a slower exit speed in wet conditions.
