Am I going to wreck my bike?

[swee'pea99]

25 mph over speedbumps? You're a boy racer.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

'One season bikes', eh? Don't much like the sound of that. Think I'll try this 'ere bunny-hopping lark (and perhaps keep my eyes open for a backup). Oh, by the way, the forks were on my Benotto - lovely bike - the dropouts...don't know. It was an old racing bike I got off ebay - fantastic machine...steel but super-light. But no decals.

 

[andygates]

Bad enough for the residents to want traffic slowed down. We are traffic.

 

[andy_wrx]

Bad enough for the residents to want traffic slowed down. We are traffic.

Nah, traffic is everyone else - cars, lorries, motorbikes, etc.

Bikes should be able to do whatever speed we like because we're all responsible and safe, no risk to anyone else

(well, some people on here seem to think so ! )

 

[GilesM]

You'll definately be stressing the bike doing what you are doing, I'm surprised you haven't had any wheel problems (maybe you have), but I think the best advice so far is learn to bunny hop, it's very easy, especially if you are clipped in, it's a skill that will come in useful for big potholes too, but best not to practice on a busy road with a high speed bump, could be a tad painful and/or embarrassing.

 

[swee'pea99]

I tried the bunny hopping this morning, with a reasonable degree of success. Definitely softened some of the impacts, tho' I think it'll take me a while to get the take-offs timed precisely right every time. But thanks for the tip.

 

[Mr Pig]

After a while it'll be second nature. You're not flying up in the air, just taking the weight off as the bike meets the bump so it rolls onto it without resistance.

I'm talking like an expert but I was trying to show my kids stuff like this the other week and fell flat on my face! ;0) Old age, catches up on you.

 

[Destry]

Regardless of whether you go for the full monty bunnyhop or not, your legs acting as pistons should be able to absorb most of the impact from going over a speed hump, with the tyres and to a lesser extent spokes taking out the rest. You can also move your weight back as you mount the hump and then forward as you descend, further unweighting the front/rear wheels at the stress points. (Cars can't do these tricks, which is why they are likely to suffer proprtionately more stress from dealing with rough roads.)

A bike that, smoothly ridden, cannot handle any number of humps over the course of a long life is a bit of a nancy, and certainly not suitable for an urban commute -- for which there is nothing to beat a lightweight MTB frame kitted out for the road in my opnion.

Conversely, even the sturdiest frame will suffer if you repeatedly smash into every obstacle. Your riding style can make all the difference.

You can make strong or weak frames out of any material!

Cheers,

Tom

 

[Mr Pig]

Cars can't do these tricks

I don't know. I'm pretty fat, I reckon I could bunny hop a Smart car :0)

 

[GilesM]

I don't know. I'm pretty fat, I reckon I could bunny hop a Smart car :0)

But what about the landing

 

[Mr Pig]

But what about the landing

Oh yeah. Well I could do it once! ;0)