Need to go faster / New to road bikes

On Wed, 10 Sep 2003 20:04:47 GMT, Mark Hickey wrote:
guard Chris is - basically they're just a sideways sewer grate about
4-5 feet (1.5m) deep and the width of the road. Yeah, you have to be

Like http://www.photocritique.net/digest/cattleguard.jpg ?

moving at a pretty good clip to totally clear one, but it's not that
tough. OTOH, I never TRY to jump them because they're not hard to
ride over, and the consequences of missing... well, aren't good.

What's the consequence? You land on it and
lose lateral traction?

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $695 ti frame
--
Rick Onanian

"Rick Onanian" wrote in message
news
On Wed, 10 Sep 2003 20:04:47 GMT, Mark Hickey wrote:
guard Chris is - basically they're just a sideways sewer grate about
4-5 feet (1.5m) deep and the width of the road. Yeah, you have to be

Like http://www.photocritique.net/digest/cattleguard.jpg ?

moving at a pretty good clip to totally clear one, but it's not that
tough. OTOH, I never TRY to jump them because they're not hard to
ride over, and the consequences of missing... well, aren't good.

What's the consequence? You land on it and
lose lateral traction?

And then fall, and slide to the other end...except for the finger/hand that
gets caught in the grate.

Pete

moving at a pretty good clip to totally clear one, but it's not that
tough. OTOH, I never TRY to jump them because they're not hard to
ride over, and the consequences of missing... well, aren't good.

What's the consequence?

Not much, provided you are moving perpendicular to the cross-bars.

YMMV,



Chris Neary


"Science, freedom, beauty, adventu what more could
you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the elements I
loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh

Chris Neary wrote:

moving at a pretty good clip to totally clear one, but it's not that
tough. OTOH, I never TRY to jump them because they're not hard to
ride over, and the consequences of missing... well, aren't good.

What's the consequence?

Not much, provided you are moving perpendicular to the cross-bars.

YMMV,

My concern was that if you didn't land square, the rear wheel could
take off on a tangential trip to roadrashville. The grate wouldn't
make it any worse, other than by having caused the spill.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $695 ti frame

My concern was that if you didn't land square, the rear wheel could
take off on a tangential trip to roadrashville. The grate wouldn't
make it any worse, other than by having caused the spill.

Not arguing, but if you aren't square for the landing, odds are you also
wouldn't be square for crossing without jumping - with risk of the same
outcome.


Chris Neary


"Science, freedom, beauty, adventu what more could
you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the elements I
loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh

"Mark Hickey" wrote in message
...
"Matthew" wrote:


"Chris Neary" wrote in message
.. .

Developing the skill the safely jump a pothole, cattleguard, or other
obstacle is a nice thing to have. :-)

You can jump a cattleguard?

Who can't? You must not be thinking about the same kind of cattle
guard Chris is - basically they're just a sideways sewer grate about
4-5 feet (1.5m) deep and the width of the road. Yeah, you have to be
moving at a pretty good clip to totally clear one, but it's not that
tough. OTOH, I never TRY to jump them because they're not hard to
ride over, and the consequences of missing... well, aren't good.

I'm thinking of the same thing. I guess it's harder on a heavier bike (about
35 pounds). And I just started using clipless pedals.

Matthew