Cattle Grids - go over or go around?

[Hyslop]

Maybe a silly question but is it wiser to go around a cattle grid (i.e. through the gate at the side) than to cycle over it on a road bike with skinny tyres? I am worried about damaging the bike through the vibrations......

I love a cattle grid,they improve the riding experience given the state of some of the roads around here!Mind you,I should imagine Im not alone.

 

[mcshroom]

Ride over. Make sure you are not cornering as you cross them, especially when wet. Don't stop half way!

I have to cross a couple on my commute, walking them would mean getting out of bed earlier

 

[Cannondale Lady]

Eh?

ERM...the bumps from the grid......if female may be a welcome interference.....

 

[slowmotion]

They are one of the rare instances when I ensure that I'm not sitting on the saddle. Speed helps.

 

[Hip Priest]

ERM...the bumps from the grid......if female may be a welcome interference.....

Fifty Shades of Grid

 

[iandg]

Be careful of the ones on bends and line yourself up so that you cross it straight. There's one on Isle of Lewis (between Grimshader and Crossbost) that I've slid on, seen other's back wheels slip (without incident), and I'm aware of one person falling on as a result of a rear wheel sliding from under them.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Worth pointing out that the same applies to level crossings - cross the rails at right angles or as near to 90" as possible! Where the road crosses the line at an angle, adjust your line if you can - or get off and walk!

 

[T4tomo]

ERM...the bumps from the grid......if female may be a welcome interference.....

I bet you have one of those old fashioned spin driers too?

 

[RegG]

Thanks for all the replies and advice. Looks like we'll be riding over them in future!

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Over, knees and elbows loose.

 

[biggs682]

over slowly and unclipped or strapped

 

[MrGrumpy]

only ones I`ve encountered I bunny hop at speed (downhill )otherwise I just cycle over (uphill ) no matter if wet or dry, stay clipped in and keep my body loose etc.

 

[stephec]

ERM...the bumps from the grid......if female may be a welcome interference.....

That reminds me of the old joke about the two nuns on a tandem cycling along a cobbled street, one turns to the other and says, "I've never come this way before. "

 

[Cannondale Lady]

That reminds me of the old joke about the two nuns on a tandem cycling along a cobbled street, one turns to the other and says, "I've never come this way before. "

Guffaw!!!!!!! Love it

 

[Glow worm]

There's grids and there's grids I guess. Some of the grids around the Holkham Estate that I'm familiar with (north Norfolk) are nothing short of 6 inch iron pipes laid out about 3 or 4 inches apart. I normally dismount for those.

Closer to home here, around Wicken Fen they're fine to ride over. (Especially when being chased by a large dog, which happened to me once. I don't think it came out of the crossing quite as happily as I did).