Cattle Grids - go over or go around?

[RichardB]

Weight on the pedals, bum off the seat, and let the bike do its own thing. There is an ideal speed, high enough for the wheels to float over the gaps, but not so high that you hammer the bike to death on the entry and exit (usually not the same level as the grid). As others have said, caution in the wet - upright and cross at 90 degrees.

 

[HelsBells Cambs]

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

It's amazing how many cattle grids you can find on a route if you put your mind to it

 

[simongt]

On a 100 miler last year, getting to the halfway checkpoint involved going over seven cattle grids in the space of about a mile. I had my tyres to their recommended max pressure; 120psi and when I left the checkpoint, my rear tyre had split on the main tread area. Suspect that the cattle grids were the culprits. since then, on the sage advice of the owner of an excellent LCS, I now keep my road tyres at about 10% below top pressure. His 'rule of thumb' is if you can 'just' press into the tread of the tyre with your thumb, it's at the right pressure.

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

I am a chicken.. I dismount and cross it easy...

 

[Herbie]

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......

Generally go over them but take it canny if the grids are wet

 

[Jimmy Doug]

Weight on the pedals, bum off the seat, and let the bike do its own thing. There is an ideal speed, high enough for the wheels to float over the gaps, but not so high that you hammer the bike to death on the entry and exit (usually not the same level as the grid). As others have said, caution in the wet - upright and cross at 90 degrees mph.

FIFY

 

[RichardB]

FIFY

Shhhhh! This is the 'Beginners' forum! But fundamentally, yes.

 

[GuyBoden]

I've always slowed down and had a good look at the cattle grid's condition before cycling over them. Especially, on remoter, rarely used, smaller tracks.

 

[SWSteve]

I've always slowed down and had a good look at the cattle grid's condition before cycling over them. Especially, on remoter, rarely used, smaller tracks.

Especially with wild dogs over them!

 

[Stonepark]

Over if flat bars or generic cheap one that most people put in, round if a proper round bar grid with 8 inch spacing.

 

[leedsmick]

Why have I never thought about getting out of the saddle to cross them. I impress myself with my own stupidity sometimes,

 

[snorri]

I've always slowed down and had a good look at the cattle grid's condition before cycling over them. Especially, on remoter, rarely used, smaller tracks

The trouble with you is...............................you're just too darned sensible for this place.

 

[Ian H]

A friend of mine, riding an Exmoor sportif, watched in bemusement as three riders went past him standing on the pedals towards a damp cattle grid. The result was entirely predictable. There appeared to be no damage worse than a snapped carbon rim, so he left them to it.

I've never come across a grid on public highways that is unrideable. The one near the top of Porlock Hill is a challenge going uphill in the wet.
Some years ago a couple of riders came a cropper on a New Forest grid. It was dark and the grid was made of two sections across the road. There was a central gap just big enough to trap a narrow wheel.