The sharper the angle at which you strike an obstacle, the more likely
it is to steer the bicycle out from under you. Brushing against a
curb that's almost parallel to your velocity is a guaranteed fall, if
you aren't both very lucky and possessed of a track racer's
supernatural balance.

So if you see a flaw in the pavement and have no alternative to riding
over it, come as close to hitting it at right angles as you can.

A drop-off is less likely to steer the bike than a bump, so line up
for the far edge of a hole and the near edge of a bump.

Some, BUT NOT ALL, of the curbs that are used to block the entrances
of driveways, alleys, and parking lots are sloped gently enough that
you can treat them as short, sharp hills: striking one of these at a
sharp angle is equivalent to switchbacking. But don't switchback a
curb when there is another moving vehicle anywhere in the neighborhood
unless you are absolutely, positootly certain that he can -- and will
-- miss you if you fall.


--
joy beeson at comcast dot net
http://wlweather.net/PAGEJOY/
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