Cattle grids

[Bollo]

Before joining this site I never thought about cattle grids, I just rode over them (unless they had ice on them). But then there is quite a selection in the New Forest.

Yeah, can’t think of any in the NF that look like that - the spacing is usually smaller and the bars are flat. Soft southern cattle grids if you will.

I’m not generally a fan of any type of cattle grid though. They’re ok dry but scare the bejeezus out of me in the wet.

 

[ColinJ]

I punctured on the exit from a grid on a forum ride a couple of years ago. It had a pronounced concrete edge and I think my front tyre pressure wasn't high enough.

This one...

I have bunny-hopped this one a couple of times...

I was booked to do the Spring Into The Dales audax ride one year and got an email from the organiser. He had been out doing a recce of the route and double-punctured on a damaged cattle grid so he was warning all the riders in advance. Sure enough, the grid WAS bad and I could see exactly why he had been caught out. The grid was made from lengths of RSJ with the flat bits on one side of each forming a nice (slotted) flat surface to ride over. Unfortunately, the last RSJ had come loose and had flipped through 90 degrees, which meant two hard steel edges were sticking up.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I have bunny-hopped this one a couple of times...
View attachment 645158

You bunny hopped a car, parked in a cattle grid. Chapeau !

 

[cougie uk]

There's a couple on the horseshoe pass that you hit at 40 plus going down. Much easier on the way down than up !

 

[ColinJ]

You bunny hopped a car, parked in a cattle grid. Chapeau !

I didn't hop quite that high!

I went out on a CycleChat forum ride in March which took us over Ilkley Moor. The descent off the Cow and Calf was in heavy mist on greasy roads but I still hit over 50 mph. Bokonon had warned me that there was a cattle grid at the bottom but I didn't spot it in time and was still doing 47 mph when I hit it! Fortunately it was in good condition - I've been over some mangled grids that would destroy wheels if cycled over at speed...

 

[iandg]

Couple by me where the gap between the road and first bar is wheel damaging. This one is on the "Glen" from Glenkiln to the A712. Heading towards Glenkiln (direction of photo) is downhill and fast so could be dangerous if unaware

 

[Sallar55]

The bike was included in my cattle grit for scale. 👿

 

[Roseland triker]

Plenty round here. Mostly on the moor but some of the old ones out lizard are lethal.
Have to hit them pretty fast to float over em on the trike but don't generally have any issues on my bike,just hop them.

 

[Twilkes]

There's a rounded cattle grid on the way down from Loch Humphrey in the Kilpatrick hills, bars are probably smaller than in the OPs but it makes a satisfyingly organic sound going over it, compared to the square-edged one that immediately precedes it, probably kinder to the tyres at least.

 

[Chief Broom]

Theyre best approached with caution a grid on a regular route i use had been disassembled and put back incorrectly [dont know why] the spacing between some bars was too wide and dangerous. I posted a warning on a local community site and the next day it had been made safe. Generally im more concerned about the cows than grids which just need a careful traverse

 

[Sallar55]

Looks fine for any bike with decent size wheels and width tyres

Look a bit closer, I am running 26 by 50mm😁

 

[FrothNinja]

I punctured on the exit from a grid on a forum ride a couple of years ago. It had a pronounced concrete edge and I think my front tyre pressure wasn't high enough.

This one...
View attachment 645160

I have bunny-hopped this one a couple of times...
View attachment 645158

I was booked to do the Spring Into The Dales audax ride one year and got an email from the organiser. He had been out doing a recce of the route and double-punctured on a damaged cattle grid so he was warning all the riders in advance. Sure enough, the grid WAS bad and I could see exactly why he had been caught out. The grid was made from lengths of RSJ with the flat bits on one side of each forming a nice (slotted) flat surface to ride over. Unfortunately, the last RSJ had come loose and had flipped through 90 degrees, which meant two hard steel edges were sticking up.

Never had any issues with that one going up or down - turning right down the dirt track just before it toward Whalley is all together more challenging

 

[tyred]

Would be good fun going over it on roller-skates.

 

[I like Skol]

Couple by me where the gap between the road and first bar is wheel damaging. ....... Heading towards Glenkiln is downhill and fast so could be dangerous if unaware

Whatever happened to the advice to travel only at a speed where you can stop in the distance you can see to be safe? Nobody is being forced to ride into bike damaging or injury inducing features at speed and exercising some caution is all that is needed to avoid the self-inflicted consequences.

 

[iandg]

Whatever happened to the advice to travel only at a speed where you can stop in the distance you can see to be safe? Nobody is being forced to ride into bike damaging or injury inducing features at speed and exercising some caution is all that is needed to avoid the self-inflicted consequences.

I'm of that school. Hence I'm near the top of leader boards for local climbs but way down for descents. Not that I can't descend fast, it's just that I'm more risk averse.

Not all cyclists are though.