Cattle grids

blackpoolkev

Now that my routes reach further into the Trough of Bowland,I am coming across more and more cattle grids.I have been riding for years but I don't have much experience with cattle grids.
I have tried "skimming" across at a brisk pace, or taking it really easy, but both methods make me cringe at the thought of the pain I am putting my bike through.
When I was out today I bottled out of crossing a cattle grid at about 30mph.Am I right to be wary of them or should I man up?

unixnerd

So long as you go across without braking and in a straight line you'll be fine. I generally stop pedalling briefly and push myself up off the saddle.

stuaff

Whatever you do, do not do what I did in Wales a couple of years back (coming down from the Gospel Pass, saw a grid, panicked, braked hard, went across it at an angle...ended up having a not-as-bad-as-it-could-have-been prang, bounced off it (via my helmet!), borked my rear wheel & bruised my heel.
Straight across, always, try and keep it smooth and leave the brakes alone. Your bike can handle it fast or slow. If you feel comfortable going across them quickly, do it. if not, take it easy.

cougie

Man up I say. Speed is best and straight on.

adnewall

Bunny hop?

I've had a similar dilemma, though technically not a grid, on my commute there is short section (2 metres) of the path that becomes cobbled. Each time I ride across it, fast, slow or mid - I don't feel stable and let alone falling: I wouldn't want to be the wheel being bashed on these stones - or metal in your case.

Yesterday I opted to cycle around the cobbled bit, but this added almost 5 mins to my journey. So personally I'd suggest to walk across the troubled section.

If you came to a set of stairs that led over a bridge to cross a rail track you wouldn't think twice about getting off and carrying, so I'd adopt the same pretence.

desweller

Go over it like you would a wet manhole cover, i.e. without turning or braking and at right angles to the bars.

I wouldn't bunny hop it unless you are going quickly enough and can get enough air to clear the whole thing; transient tyre loads and loss of control of wheel position on take-off and landing are probably not a great idea.

Benjamin Hall

Just roll over it and be glad you arnt riding a skatebaord! That hurts!

cougie

Theres a nice one on the horseshoe pass in Llangollen - you can hit that at over 40, or considerably less if you're climbing the other way. I've done it countless times - never a problem.

tri-sexual

as fast as you can

Monty Dog

Your bike will be fine. As said, line it up straight and don't do anything fancy. Bunny-hopping them at speed on descents is only for the fool-hardy, not quite clearing it and the back wheel getting out of line is certainly a squeaky-bum moment. The worst ones are uphill in the wet where sometimes you barely have enough momentum to get across - the one at the bottom of Hardknott Pass comes to mind

rolf_f

adnewall wrote:

Yesterday I opted to cycle around the cobbled bit, but this added almost 5 mins to my journey. So personally I'd suggest to walk across the troubled section.

Walk across a cattle grid?! That's harder than riding over them. TBH, I've never seen any reason to worry about them; unless you have a deep seated fear that, at some point on a cattle grid you'll suddenly turn the bars to 90 degrees and the front wheel will fall in, what actually could happen (aside from the situation described by Monty Dog - that is a nasty grid).

Peddle Up!

unixnerd wrote:

So long as you go across without braking and in a straight line you'll be fine. I generally stop pedalling briefly and push myself up off the saddle.

+1 And as fast as possible, but watch out if it's wet.

Monty Dog

I should also add the ones on the ascent of Sulby Glen on the Isle of Man which are made from round tubes and have been painted yellow with a co-efficient of friction near zero in the wet aren't too pleasant either - particularly in a raging headwind.

Chinley Churner

MTFU for both cattle grids and cobbles... look at the punishment the pros bikes take during Paris-Roubaix and other cobbled Classics. Road bikes aren't nearly as fragile as they look. Keep your speed up, keep knees and elbows soft, stay straight, relax and you'll float over.

mikeq

Chinley Churner wrote:

MTFU for both cattle grids and cobbles... look at the punishment the pros bikes take during Paris-Roubaix and other cobbled Classics. Road bikes aren't nearly as fragile as they look. Keep your speed up, keep knees and elbows soft, stay straight, relax and you'll float over.

+1

blackpoolkev

It appears that the "man up" option has come out on top.It's reassuring to hear from others that take them in their stride,though I think I'll give the bunny hop a miss.

Thanks for your thoughts everyone.