what could potholes do to a bike?

[neslon]

One benefit of commuting full-suss is that I now plough straight through sections of roads that would make Iraqi's laugh, while before, I had to veer away from the really bad stuff. In Dudley (N.Tyneside) there's a bit under the railway bridge where its safer to cycle on the opposite carriageway on a roadbike. On the wheelbarrow, its full speed ahead and dtt!

 

[wafflycat]

If I worried about potholes I'd never use a bike. Norfolk roads are full of them - and no hassle to me, road bike, tourer, 'bent or hybrid. Just ride sensibly for the road conditions.

 

[Tynan]

good quality hand builts.........

yep, I've got the bestest wheels yet, handbuilt 36 spokers from the London Bike Shop, owners own, slightly used and they're still round after over a year crashing around with 14st of me plus a pannier

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

you lot seem to have met some serious potholes

as a London commuter I hit plenty, slightly loose hands, weight out of the saddle, bent knees, it happens almost automatically as soon as I feel the front whell start to go, that or I've sub conciously learnt them all, it sure ain't concious

ironically the biggest i have ever seen are in manchester city centre bike lanes, more towards curry mile, they are huge. if i was riding there regularly instead of once a month(c.m) i would seriously consider an mtb fs.

 

[GrasB]

Bunny hops are fine so long as there isn't another pothole in your landing area.
If there is, you'd be better off just getting out the saddle and hanging on tight

sure if it's just one straight over is fine but you can also deal with multiple potholes by jump over the pothole at a shallow angle to keep the steering angle shallower. I have also learnt how to jump the bike when sprinting or just out of the saddle standing on the pedals without interrupting my pedal motion. This allows me to doge multiple holes in the road without much effort.

you lot seem to have met some serious potholes

as a London commuter I hit plenty, slightly loose hands, weight out of the saddle, bent knees, it happens almost automatically as soon as I feel the front whell start to go, that or I've sub conciously learnt them all, it sure ain't concious

There are potholes & then there are potholes. Most potholes are little more than surface imperfections which give you a bit of a bump if you don't relax over. However there is the occasional about 5" or more deep pothole with straight or undercut sides hitting these at half decent speed on anything other than a HT or XC is going to cause serious damage to your bike & probably you.

 

[Bman]

Depends on the bike what it will take but I, at least, lighten myself in the saddle over most blemishes.

Couple of months ago on the night ride I hit a pothole full on, never saw it at all. I was travelling at pace, fully in saddle and going slightly uphill, so plenty of weight on backwheel:-

Bike - pinch puncture rear wheel, broken spoke rear wheel, rim cracked around 5 nipple holes rear wheel, rear wheel out of true. Handlebars moved a bit as well, light mounts swiveled.

Me - jarred everything, damaged existing injury to left elbow, was like a balloon by next evening. Hurt my neck and back and had a pretty sore bum as well.

Ouch! Is your frame made from granite?

 

[MacB]

Ouch! Is your frame made from granite?

bit of a thumbs up for carbon here, it's a giant CRS Alliance frame so carbon forks, top tube, seat stays and the first part of the seat tube. The down tube, BB, bottom part of seat tube and chain stays are all aluminium. Myself, and my LBS, have checked over frame and it's sound and true, I was worried at the time. Fortunately it wasn't far from Whitstable and a few beers seemed to help

I suspect that had I been on the Crosscheck steel frame with 35mm tyres, brooks saddle and 36h Mavic A719 rims, the consequences may not have been so dire.