Riding over cattle grids

[Heltor Chasca]

Close your eyes and enjoy having a fizzy bum for a few moments.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

I bet Brumotti wouldn't get off and walk, you big jessies.

 

[Banjo]

I hit one recently and the tarmac on the front edge was broken away so hit the first rail hard getting a pinch flat.

If they are wet muddy or on a bend I usually get off.Steel is hard stuff.

I once came across one that had been stolen by scrap thieves.ie just a big hole.

 

[Ian H]

I've never had a problem with grids. Choose your line as you would anywhere on the road, ride square across.

Things to be aware of:-

• Some wider grids are in sections across the road. A friend destroyed a wheel in a gap between sections.
• Wet grids are quite slippery. Best to freewheel over—this may involve getting a bit of speed up beforehand on uphills.
• Even in the dry, sprinting, out-of-the -saddle efforts, and braking should all be avoided (a friend was overtaken by three sportif riders sprinting uphill towards a cattle-grid. Fortunately, when they all came down in a heap, they left him enough room to get through).

 

[Dogtrousers]

Walking, rather than riding if you don't feel confident is a sensible approach. But carrying, rather than wheeling the bike smacks of mollycoddling

OT years ago my mum had a dog who needed to be carried over cattle grids. Then, on one visit I took her (the dog) out for a walk and found that she'd worked out how to cross them. Slowly and carefully, one foot at a time, a study in canine concentration.

 

[Alan O]

I used to cycle in N Wales a bit in my youth, and I was cautious and got off and walked over cattle grids... except when I encountered them going downhill with reasonable speed, but then going over them straight and square on was actually fine.

But yes, "fizzy bum moment" - I do hope that catches on (if it hasn't already)

 

[DRHysted]

Before joining this group I never thought about how I cycle over cattle grids (as someone has already posted the New Forest has plenty). I simple rode over them.
Now I see a cattle grid and have thoughts about grip, damage and falls.
Still go straight over them though, you've not scared me enough yet

 

[Mrs M]

I don't come across them very often but always get off and walk over.
Saw a programme on tv a while back and a man had come off his bike going over a cattle grid, horrible injuries he suffered,

 

[Milkfloat]

I would be more likely to fall over walking than riding. If I can get enough speed up, then it is a bunny hop, if I am going slower then relax weight back and coast through.

 

[Welsh wheels]

Before joining this group I never thought about how I cycle over cattle grids (as someone has already posted the New Forest has plenty). I simple rode over them.
Now I see a cattle grid and have thoughts about grip, damage and falls.
Still go straight over them though, you've not scared me enough yet

Haha, it is a confidence thing I think. I've convinced myself it's not possible to ride over them.

 

[snorri]

Haha, it is a confidence thing I think. I've convinced myself it's not possible to ride over them.

It all depends on the design of the grid, and thoroughness of maintenance, inspections etc. Those on public roads are usually good, those on private roads roads tend to be of non standard design and may have slack or missing spars which could be embarrassing if you choose to adopt the 'cross at speed' policy.
Try it, just steer straight across, you'll be ok.........................usually.

 

[Welsh wheels]

It all depends on the design of the grid, and thoroughness of maintenance, inspections etc. Those on public roads are usually good, those on private roads roads tend to be of non standard design and may have slack or missing spars which could be embarrassing if you choose to adopt the 'cross at speed' policy.
Try it, just steer straight across, you'll be ok.........................usually.

Haha thanks

 

[nickyboy]

There are loads around here. Downhill or flat is easy...just get aligned at 90 degreees, weight out of saddle and roll across. Uphill can be a bit more tricky when it's really steep. You tend to wiggle about a bit so you aren't at 90 degrees and there is more risk of the front wheel being deflected.

Having said that, uphill I just go as fast as I can manage and never had a problem. Downhill I usually scrub some speed off just to be on the safe side

 

[Poacher]

Just to clarify, I can find quite a few in South Notts, the Vale of Belvoir and North Leicestershire, and often include them on my rides - I don't go out of my way to look for them, thobut!

 

[tallliman]

@Poacher, yep....Definitely a lot of them in the Belvoir and south of Melton.