Kerbs - do you stop or bump?

[allen-uk]

I'm sure that 40-50 years ago I used to ride up and down kerbs of any old height. Having gone back to the saddle, I now tend to stop at anything of more than an inch in height.

Is this too much caution? It's not the jarring of the old bones that bothers me, but rather the damage to wheel and tyre. (The bike is a hybrid, with fairly slim road wheels).

Ta.

Allen.

 

[Young Un]

Mountain Bike/BMX I hop up and down the kurbs all the time - in fact it is riding off kurbs that has taught me a lot of bike control - espically when you bunny hop off them to gain more height and do it one handed/one footed/no hands at all.

But when out on the road bike i stear well clear of kurbs - and if I do ever have to go over one (entrance into carpark for example - the inch hiegh ones)) I make the bike very light and bend my knees to keep the impact as minimal as pissible - i sometimes pick the front wheel up over them aswell, and if you are riding clipless you can get the back up easily aswell.

Steve

 

[wafflycat]

Is this too much caution? It's not the jarring of the old bones that bothers me, but rather the damage to wheel and tyre. (The bike is a hybrid, with fairly slim road wheels).

Ta.

Allen.

Slim road wheels, whilst coping well with the usual potholes, lumps & bumps on a road are not meant to be bumped up kerbs..

 

[RedBike]

It totally depends on what bike i'm on. My best roadie doesn't get taken up kerbs, end of. My commuter gets bounced up them but very slowly. On the MTB I sometimes even speed up so that it's easier to hop up/down them.

 

[RedBike]

Don't try and bounce up kerbs at an angle on any bike!

 

[Young Un]

Don't try and bounce up kerbs at an angle on any bike!

Ah your just not skilled enough being able to bunny hop the back wheel up makes anything possible - simply wheelie the front wheel up and pull sideways a bit - then bunnyhop the back up and twist your hips sideways - hey presto you just went up a kurb at an angle.

 

[mickle]

The ability to lift one or both wheels at will is a skill well worth learning. Pot-holes, kerbs, wet man hole covers, tram lines etc, just sail over them. You need to land road wheels straight and light but it can be done. I had to jump a rattle snake once at full tilt coming down off the Santa Monicas.

 

[Young Un]

The ability to lift one or both wheels at will is a skill well worth learning. Pot-holes, kerbs, wet man hole covers, tram lines etc, just sail over them. You need to land road wheels straight and light but it can be done. I had to jump a rattle snake once at full tilt coming down off the Santa Monicas.

I agree - I have had to bunny hop the road bike several times to avoid potholes and the like - This thread has made me really want to get back out on the 4cross bmx (24" wheels) but unfortunately its 90 miles away and im stuck off the bike with a dadgy knee

 

[jimboalee]

Aproach the kerb, apply both brakes hard. Do a 'stoppie' turn so the rear wheel swings round 180 and up onto the higher level of pavement.
Transfer your weight so you effect a rear wheel wheelstand and swing the front wheel round 180. land the front wheel and ride off.

Listen for the shouts of "SHOW OFF".

 

[Young Un]

Aproach the kerb, apply both brakes hard. Do a 'stoppie' turn so the rear wheel swings round 180 and up onto the higher level of pavement.
Transfer your weight so you effect a rear wheel wheelstand and swing the front wheel round 180. land the front wheel and ride off.

Listen for the shouts of "SHOW OFF".

I know several bmx riders who can do this, I keep meaning to get one of them to teach me - everyone likes a bit of showing off!

 

[Christopher]

Good advice above, I will just add: a useful skill is being able to do a semi-wheelie when riding off a high kerb (pref on a MTB), so you keep the front wheel level in the air while you are riding off the dropoff. It reduces endo possibilities... seen trials riders do it all the time.

 

[Young Un]

Good advice above, I will just add: a useful skill is being able to do a semi-wheelie when riding off a high kerb (pref on a MTB), so you keep the front wheel level in the air while you are riding off the dropoff. It reduces endo possibilities... seen trials riders do it all the time.

Yes I agree - another very good technique

 

[jimboalee]

I know several bmx riders who can do this, I keep meaning to get one of them to teach me - everyone likes a bit of showing off!

Get a couple of old matresses. Find a quiet place out of view and place them about four feet apart stradling the kerb. Practice.

 

[allen-uk]

Aproach the kerb, apply both brakes hard. Do a 'stoppie' turn so the rear wheel swings round 180 and up onto the higher level of pavement.
Transfer your weight so you effect a rear wheel wheelstand and swing the front wheel round 180. land the front wheel and ride off.

Listen for the shouts of "SHOW OFF".

In my case (60s, fat, one-leg, one-eye, etc.) I think the shouts would be "AMBULANCE!"

A.

 

[Arch]

Ah your just not skilled enough being able to bunny hop the back wheel up makes anything possible - simply wheelie the front wheel up and pull sideways a bit - then bunnyhop the back up and twist your hips sideways - hey presto you just went up a kurb at an angle.

Very clever moves, and beyond me, but it's kerb!

Curb (with a c) means to rein in (and is indeed also a type of horse bit) or restrict...