Scared of loose gravel over hard surface, any tips?

[kalniel]

Still waiting for my new ride to arrive, but in the meantime did borrow a bike for a 20 mile ride the other day. During which I learned:

1) I'm really unfit. Which is no surprise.

2) I'm scared of moderately sharp turns where there is a gravel over the top of a road surface for eg. kicked up from a pothole or a recent road surfacing. Particularly downhill.

Maybe I'm right to be, but it seems I've got a paranoia about the front wheel sliding - to the point I was reluctant to use the front brake more than extremely lightly. Oddly I don't have the same fear when the whole road surface is loose material (eg gravel, dirt path), possibly because I think the wheel will dig in rather than slide.

Any tips for safe riding through this kind of road condition?

 

[benb]

Yeah, you absolutely should be scared of that!

1. Try not to ride through it in the first place - go wide, take central, whatever you can do.
2. Slow down. Right down.
3. Unclip (assuming clipless pedals) and prepare to have to get your foot down.
4. Back brake only.
5. Report it to the council.

 

[Pale Rider]

Yeah, you absolutely should be scared of that!

1. Try not to ride through it in the first place - go wide, take central, whatever you can do.
2. Slow down. Right down.
3. Unclip (assuming clipless pedals) and prepare to have to get your foot down.
4. Back brake only.
5. Report it to the council.

Can't add much to this, other than to say be particularly wary of right handers on descents.

Loose gravel tends to be washed into the line you would normally take through the bend.

 

[mjr]

Well, avoid loose crap if you can, slow if you can, brake before/after rather than on top of it if you can, and be ready to correct the skid if you can't. The front wheel will almost always start to skid rather than dig in but if it's a thin layer of gravel then it'll probably dig enough that you'll regain traction before there's a serious problem.

In general though, you should be using the front brake far more than your back brake. http://sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html#frontorrear I do it to the extent that I only use my back rim brake as a last resort. I get through front pads far quicker and front rims quicker than rear ones. That's OK, as it's cheaper to replace the front rim than the rear one!

 

[Ian H]

Brake before the bend. Try to avoid braking on loose stuff. Straighten up to cross anything slidy.

 

[yello]

I think it's all pretty much been said.

Congrats on being rightly aware of risk BTW because gravel is a danger. IF you can't avoid it by going around/wide of it then stay steady; no braking or turning, same pace even. Try and stay relaxed, don't tense up and don't panic. Sinch really

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

Sounds like most of the Trans Pennine Trail above Penistone. Unless it's that silly 'tarmac with bits of cork in it' that was trialled at Elsecar that removes fillings it's so bumpy.
Bring back mud and puddles!!

 

[eevvee]

Yeah, you absolutely should be scared of that!

1. Try not to ride through it in the first place - go wide, take central, whatever you can do.
2. Slow down. Right down.
3. Unclip (assuming clipless pedals) and prepare to have to get your foot down.
4. Back brake only.
5. Report it to the council.

+1

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Still waiting for my new ride to arrive, but in the meantime did borrow a bike for a 20 mile ride the other day. During which I learned:

1) I'm really unfit. Which is no surprise.

2) I'm scared of moderately sharp turns where there is a gravel over the top of a road surface for eg. kicked up from a pothole or a recent road surfacing. Particularly downhill.

Maybe I'm right to be, but it seems I've got a paranoia about the front wheel sliding - to the point I was reluctant to use the front brake more than extremely lightly. Oddly I don't have the same fear when the whole road surface is loose material (eg gravel, dirt path), possibly because I think the wheel will dig in rather than slide.

Any tips for safe riding through this kind of road condition?

Skinny tyres at high pressure on gravel = very bad.

Chubby tyres at lower pressure than skinny tyres at high pressure on gravel = not nearly as bad.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

As above, take it amooth and steady, brake before not during, if you have to steer don't lean as you would normally but stay as upright as possible, smooth pedalling, be ready to put a foot down and speedway slide the corner if you are going over, select your line through and keep your eyes on it, don't panic and snatch at steering or brakes if you do feel like you're starting to lose it.

Worst case scenario, learn how to fall and roll off a bike. Try not hit the ground with an outstretched arm unless you want your collarbone to be able to tell you when its going to rain even after it knits

 

[MichaelW2]

In addition, take note of camber. Loose surfaces on a banked turn are OK, on outside camber, a slide is almost guaranteed. Read the road.
Learn to handle a slide. You need to relax and go with the flow. Most of the time you will regain balance .
Rear wheels can slide out just as much as front ones and can be harder to correct.
Wear gloves or mitts.

 

[MichaelW2]

Worst case scenario, learn how to fall and roll off a bike. Try not hit the ground with an outstretched arm unless you want your collarbone to be able to tell you when its going to rain even after it knits

Keep your hands on the bars, tuck your chin in, and take the fall on the upper arm, rolling onto your side. You can practice on grass.

 

[RedRider]

Keep your hands on the bars, tuck your chin in, and take the fall on the upper arm, rolling onto your side. You can practice on grass.

Although some kind of opiate may prove a better painkiller.

 

[kalniel]

In addition, take note of camber. Loose surfaces on a banked turn are OK, on outside camber, a slide is almost guaranteed. Read the road.
Learn to handle a slide. You need to relax and go with the flow. Most of the time you will regain balance .
Rear wheels can slide out just as much as front ones and can be harder to correct.
Wear gloves or mitts.

Thanks - I'm actually fine with rear wheel slides for some reason, no problem balancing and recovering. Perhaps too much time mucking about on mountain bikes as a kid. It's front enders I'm most concerned about as I can't see how it would recover with any amount of lean.

 

[Citius]

If your front wheel slides, you will be on the deck. If you see any patches of loose gravel, just avoid them.