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    Tips for passing through this area on a road bike with 25 mm tire? I stop and walk the bike out of the fear for tire flat or wheel bend. Not sure if I’m overreacting. Anyhow, stopping and walking really kills my flow. Or would you just avoid the area if you were on a road bike?

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    27 Comments

    1. fb39ca4 on

      Move to the left side of the lane before the tracks and veer right as you pass over them, so your wheels are at an angle closer to perpendicular to the tracks.

      Also stand up while passing over the tracks so your legs act as springs to absorb the bumps, putting less force on your tires, spokes, and frame.

    2. PineappleLunchables on

      Jump it. Otherwise, time it so you can veer left into the lane a bit and then quickly turn right and hit the tracks exactly perpendicular, offload the saddle with the pedals horizontal and press your weight into the ground, be in the drops to give yourself maximum control to prevent the handle bars from jerking out of your hands, then quickly course correct back into the cycle lane.

    3. TaeWFO on

      A flat or bent rim is the least of your worries.

      Other comments have the right technique to avoid a problem.

    4. MantraProAttitude on

      Take the auto driving lane and veer to the right back towards the bicycle lane in order to go perpendicular to the tracks.

    6. kidsafe on

      Just slow down and try to cross the tracks as perpendicular as possible. I’m not seeing the issue here.

    7. mrhippo3 on

      Jump the tracks. On one ride in Pittsburgh’s South Hills, there was a double track. If I could hit 25 mph on the slight uphill approach, then I do the double, land smoothly, then keep on going with no delay.

    8. Mr-mischiefboy on

      I do a little front wheel hop (like a tiny wheelie) as it passes over trolley tracks. Because your back wheel can’t turn (not in the way that your front wheel turns, you know what I mean) it’s unlikely to drop in to the track and get bent.

    10. TomasTTEngin on

      slow down a fraction, cross em at a slightly more perpendicular angle.

      I live in a town with trams and also with train tracks that cross the road and this is everyday stuff. no need to dismount.

    13. IndustryNext7456 on

      We have some here. Swerve into the lane and cross at 90 degrees. When wet , those are clavicula-killers.

    14. tomhaverford on

      I’d take this head on and maybe bunny hop. This angle doesn’t look terrible even if I don’t get any lift on the bunny hop.

    15. SalamiFeet on

      I ride over much worse tracks on my 25mm tires. I just stand up and slow down a bit

    17. CarelessExplorer on

      I hit a set of railroad tracks like this on front avenue, Portland Oregon, late at night and didn’t see them going full speed one night several years ago….

      Caught my tire sending my bike off to the left and my face straight to the road. Bent my front two teeth all the way back to the roof of my mouth and ripped my top lip almost off. I immediately reset my teeth. Found a window washer working the graveyard shift nearby and got an ice pack. Rode the 16 miles home. (No cell phone back then) Ended up with 10 stitches across my lip and two loose teeth that somehow didn’t get cracked but stayed loose for a good five years.

      Be cautious with tracks at an angle like this on a road bike.

    19. PayFormer387 on

      Slow down, pull out to the middle of the lane and come at the tracks from as close to a 90 degree angle as you can.

    26. Realistic_Code5844 on

      I didn’t even realize this was a risk & always just ride over tracks like normal. A lot of them are pretty rough & I’ve never had a problem. However me not having a problem doesn’t make it best practice

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