Riding over rails

Message

Media Weasel · Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:08 pm

I have an interesting query: every day when I go into work on my wee scooter, I have to cross a pair of rail tracks, tracks that are angled at about 45 degrees to the road.
In wet weather, I always slow down and take the rails slowly - as close to perpendicular as possible.
I've ridden a bike, and i know the dangers rails pose to bike tires. Am I being paranoid? Is this reasonable behaviour? What about when I get a bigger bike?

Ninja Geoff · Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:15 pm

ive hit them at that angle, but never wet, on my 650R. Just hit them as you would a large bump. Under a little power to lighten up the front end.

Kal · #3 Unread post by **Kal** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:58 pm

I agree with Geoff I'd also be inclined to hit them as head on as possible to spend as little time on them as I can because you aren't being paranoid - you do have no grip at all on them.

Shorts · #4 Unread post by **Shorts** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:41 pm

Keep straight as you cross them (no leaning) and keep the angle as much as you can 45-90*.

#5 Unread post by **sv-wolf** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:41 am

Kal wrote:I agree with Geoff I'd also be inclined to hit them as head on as possible to spend as little time on them as I can because you aren't being paranoid - you do have no grip at all on them.

+1

oldschoolorange · Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:30 am

Pin it and catch some air!

Im just messing around of course, I do the same thing as the other people who posted, except for this one set on ottowa street......

noodlenoggin · Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:25 am

Kal wrote:I agree with Geoff I'd also be inclined to hit them as head on as possible to spend as little time on them as I can because you aren't being paranoid - you do have no grip at all on them.

Also +1.

The tracks that used to be on my commute were much like yours -- tracks crossed road at an angle...except mine were in the middle of a curve.

Luckily they were in a spot with a 25mph speed limit anyway, so my slowing down to a slooooww 2nd gear didn't cause any problems.

Wet tracks...not a problem as long as you are vertical, not on the gas, and crossing them as close to perpendicular as you can. Don't put ANY cornering load on wet tracks. Manhole covers neither.

Andrew · #8 Unread post by **Andrew** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:08 am

Good comments from everybody. Is there a problem with being paranoid? Better safe than sorry...

flynrider · Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:39 am

One thing I didn't see mentioned in the previous posts : Don't accelerate or brake on the rails, particularly when wet. This really applies to any slippery surface.

Temporarily losing traction can come back to bite you when the bike suddenly regains traction.

Kal · #10 Unread post by **Kal** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 6:00 pm

Andrew wrote:Good comments from everybody. Is there a problem with being paranoid? Better safe than sorry...

It's not a paranioa, it's a survival trait!

Good point well made Flynride