What keeps the riders from falling off the steep corners?
A. In a single word inertia (no not luck). The faster a cyclist travels the greater the inertia that pushes him/her outward against the track surface. Also, the faster the cyclist travels the more he/she will lean away from the track, which increases good tire contact. This outward force overcomes gravity that is pulling the rider down. As long as inertia is greater than the gravitational pull the rider/bicycle will safely stay upright on the track. Plus, the new non-slip surface provides great traction for the wheels, which helps the rider to stick to the track. Prior to the application of the non-slip surface in 2004, most crashes occurred in the steep corners because the cyclist was riding too slowly and the tires slipped off the slick surface. Today, riders need only maintain a minimum speed of approximately 10-miles an hour (or less for skilled riders) to safely ride on the Superdrome.
