Riding over cattle grids

[oldwheels]

Depends on the width of tyres. MB usually ride straight over but not on a road bike and def. not on a Brompton. Narrow tyres I get off and walk pushing the bike.

 

[StuartG]

Disagree with the above. Keep straight, no pedalling or braking, bum up, reasonable speed (~8/10mph). I would say I have never had a problem except that makes it a cert the next will dismount me. Usually on 23mm Gatorskins so if skinny can do it, fatter should be better.

And done it on my Brompton too! That's more fun as I don't have the rear triangle lock (its a 2006 model) so it gives a tremendous tremble but that paradoxically aids the stability of the rest of the bike.

Except I do wimp out if its wet. But be careful, cleats can be more slippy!

 

[Yellow Saddle]

They don't bother me, I've even learnt how to make a U-turn on them.

 

[SuperHans123]

Keep bike straight, keep pedalling

 

[biggs682]

Disagree with the above. Keep straight, no pedalling or braking, bum up, reasonable speed (~8/10mph). I would say I have never had a problem except that makes it a cert the next will dismount me. Usually on 23mm Gatorskins so if skinny can do it, fatter should be better.

As above plus i always unclip 1 foot

 

[ChrisEyles]

Never had to stop and get off and walk on a cattle grid, but have had one or two brown-trouser moments hurtling down Exmoor hills at 35 mph to spot one on a nasty bend in the road! On the MTB there's one at the bottom of a really steep hill I regularly ride and on 2.1" tyres you can fly over it at top speed and hardly feel it, but I wouldn't have the confidence to try this on a road bike.

A nice straight perpendicular crossing, freewheeling at 8mph to 12mph and you can't go wrong really. Just don't try and change course on them as they can be really slippy if it's wet.

 

[Slick]

I've never found them troublesome although they do deserve respect but more importantly from how far the grid is recessed into the road. Some deeper ones require a dismount just to protect the wheels.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Depends on the width of tyres. MB usually ride straight over but not on a road bike and def. not on a Brompton. Narrow tyres I get off and walk pushing the bike.

It's no big deal with skinnier tyres, you just take the load off the saddle, put the weight on your pedals, and use the legs as suspension. Which ironically, is a mountain bikers basic technique for rough ground. I learned it on a BMX as a kid, it still holds true for road bikes and pot holes.

 

[macp]

I just ride straight over them. Keep as square as possible to them and don't go slow, I also keep my weight to the back of the bike. Never had an issue. If you don't feel confident riding over them there is no shame walking though.

This ^
I have to cross two twice a day on the drive way to my house on the way to work and on my return.

 

[Racing roadkill]

I was out riding the other day and came across some cattle grids. I was out to ride across but suddenly wondered if my road bike could handle it. I thought the front wheel might get stuck or maybe I might puncture. So I got off and carried the bike across. I assume I am being irrational in thinking this?

I ride in the New Forest a lot, there are some massive cattle grids. Just hit them perpendicular, relax your arms, push up on your legs just enough to take the weight off the saddle, don't brake, don't accelerate, don't steer. They only take a couple of seconds to cross, I've never dropped a bike on a cattle grid, I hope I never do. I've ridden over them on 23mm pneumatic tyres, 25 mm pneumatic tyres, 37 mm pneumatic tyres, 28 mm solid tyres, and 35mm solid tyres, with no issues thus far.

 

[Globalti]

The way to deal with cattle grids is to approach at speed and bunny-hop the grid. Much less painful.

 

[Welsh wheels]

The way to deal with cattle grids is to approach at speed and bunny-hop the grid. Much less painful.

Me attempting to bunny-hop a cattle grid would go badly wrong in so many ways!

 

[Globalti]

Even a token unweighting of the bike will help to reduce the shock, as long as you don't get the timing wrong and bang down on the sharp edge of the far side of the grid. The faster you're going, the better.

 

[StuartG]

As mentioned briefly above it isn't the grid that is the problem - its usually the transition from tarmac to concrete/steel. Resurfacing, subsidence & traffic wear can make this very uneven across the width of the road. Judging where to hit the grid (left, right or centre) is key and doing it early enough to have straightened up before you hit is crucial.

Also not doing it in formation and not being intimidated by any other traffic present.

But nothing instils confidence more than regular use. The first time is going into the unknown and an unrelaxed position isn't going to help.

 

[rugby bloke]

I posted this same question last year. Having been a confident crosser of cattle grids I was very suspicious of them after converting to a road bike. Lots of helpful advice, pretty similar to the above. My fear of them was overcome after the Rutland Border Epique Sportive - 38 (may have been more, started to lose count) cattle grids over 80 miles. After walking over the first couple I decided it was going to take me all night to finish !