Speed Bumps?

Dav3m

What are other road cyclists approach to speed bumps? I usually slow down for them... as I hate the thought of the impact damaging my wheels. Do other rides slow down or just ride over them at speed?

skyd0g

will3

skyd0g wrote:

+1

Full tilt. Get as much air as possible (3 feet is good)

ride_whenever

Plenty of air time for me.

deptfordmarmoset

I think the only adjustment I make is for physical comfort - letting the feet absorb the bump more than the bottom. Though, if there are white lines painted over them and it's safe to do so, ride on them - the paint generally provides a slight cushioning at the beginning of the hump.

snoopy!

Dav3m wrote:

What are other road cyclists approach to speed bumps? I usually slow down for them... as I hate the thought of the impact damaging my wheels. Do other rides slow down or just ride over them at speed?

Consider the potential for expensive headset damage of all those cumulative impacts.
I unweight the handlebars and look for the least abrupt part of the bump to hit. Standing on the pedals is a good idea.

pneumatic

If you mean those "pillows" that are designed to rip the spoilers and twin exhaust of a dropped nedmobile, I go round them, in the middle of the road if no oncoming traffic, otherwise near the kerb.

mask of sanity

I wouldn't approach them with speed until you know what they're like! I did that the other day and ended up with two or three inches of my tyre popping over the rim because it was a lot bigger then it looked :shock: Otherwise, take the weight in your knees and you can normally cushion most speed bumps quite nicely.

deptfordmarmoset

pneumatic wrote:

If you mean those "pillows" that are designed to rip the spoilers and twin exhaust of a dropped nedmobile, I go round them, in the middle of the road if no oncoming traffic, otherwise near the kerb.

Having been virtually squeezed off the road by cars darting in before they're overtaken and going for the racing line astraddle these pillow things I've adopted a defensive middle-of-the-lane strategy so that the car either has to cross them on the other side of the road or wait till I'm past. Especially important if there's one of those pinch-point thingummybobs alongside.

ride_whenever

snoopy! wrote:

Dav3m wrote:

What are other road cyclists approach to speed bumps? I usually slow down for them... as I hate the thought of the impact damaging my wheels. Do other rides slow down or just ride over them at speed?

Consider the potential for expensive headset damage of all those cumulative impacts.
I unweight the handlebars and look for the least abrupt part of the bump to hit. Standing on the pedals is a good idea.

I run a mtb headset

on the road

When appoaching speed bumps I stand up to take the weight off the bike, but I don't slow down.

lastwords

i get up out the saddle and let my arms and legs absorb the shock.

You do this all the time when riding a mtb a speed and you actually push the bike back down the other side to gain speed. Its called pumping in the mtb world i believe.

LingfieldXC

try to get a fourcross style burst of speed off them by pumping my bike over,