Cattle grids how to ride them on a road bike?

[SS Retro]

Where I live there are plenty of cattle grids if I take them slow, stood up,weight slightly back, I tend to at some point touch the rim of the rear wheel cattle grid seems to set up a frequency that squishes the tyre to the point its momently deflected to the wheel rim about a third of the way over the grid, the tyres are good and hard at the correct pressure (700cx23m).

Same if I take it slow standing weight over the bars but it tends to be the front tyre that deflects.

If I take it fast sometimes I get away with it,sometimes not and with the wet weather fast is not always an option especially the ones on bends!

 

[Canrider]

Never take them slow, on any bicycle. Always maximum possible speed (granting you may need to turn right after!).

 

[mattobrien]

I find that positioning a small ramp at the start of the grid allows me enough 'air' to clear the grid entirely.

Obviously placing another small ramp for landing purposes is essential otherwise you may suffer the tyre deformation you describe.

The only issue I have found with this method is the need to carry two small ramps and the need to dismount to place said ramps at each cattle grid.

 

[4F]

At a good speed, light arms but firm grip, seated towards the rear of the saddle.

 

[Rob3rt]

Just ride over them at 90 degree's and you will be fine! Don't over complicate it.

 

[Mugshot]

Just ride over them at 90 degree's and you will be fine! Don't over complicate it.

That's it, got two on my usual commute home, I just ride over them. I don't think I'm doing it wrong as I haven't fallen off on one yet

I promise I will report back having crashed and burned tonight which is of course inevitable after that statement!

 

[RaRa]

I tend to grit my teeth and go over at a good pace, you'll feel like the bike is rattling away like crazy but it's far better than taking it slowly and coming to a sticky end half way across. I live near the New Forest and I have come across a couple of people this summer who have tried to go over the grids far too slowly and come to a halt, tried to put their feet down and got a foot stuck which then causes them to come a cropper.

 

[Red Light]

If your tyre is bottoming out on the rim then the pressure is too low. What pressure do you have them at? 100psi would be a minimum for those tyres.

 

[middleagecyclist]

I too have wondered the best way to tackle cattle grids since I went over this one recently at about 35mph. The frequency on this occasion set up a certain resonance which...err....gave me a slightly strange but very pleasant feeling in my testicles. Try as I might I haven't been able to repeat it yet.

 

[Sittingduck]

Eyes closed and no hands

 

[Cheddar George]

IMHO....... the faster the better.

 

[davefb]

I too have wondered the best way to tackle cattle grids since I went over this one recently at about 35mph. The frequency on this occasion set up a certain resonance which...err....gave me a slightly strange but very pleasant feeling in my testicles. Try as I might I haven't been able to repeat it yet.

how many times did you try

 

[middleagecyclist]

how many times did you try...

4

 

[berty bassett]

never ever sideways

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Bunny hop? In all seriously I'm not really joking, if you're going a decent lick a tidy little low lift could be enough to clear the bars, and possibly also the cattle grid...