Railroad tracks and fright of my life

brianon

Ok. So I don't usually cycle allot but have done recently. I use a mtb and wear a helmet and today I came very VERY close to getting driven over by a large van on a seco dart raid (it was going fast).

Railroad tracks that cross the road at about a 45 degree angle. Crossed them before with no issue but today I nearly came unstuck. My bad... I was daydreaming and one second I'm happy out taking it easy on the relatively downhill section and the next thing I know I am near the middle of the road and seriously struggling to a) stay on bike and b) get back over to the side of the road. At the exact moment where it seems my tyre(s) get stuck in the groove of the track and send me near out of control... A van driving near 80km (speed limit) goes by me having to make a Schumacher like move to avoid me. Luckily he could make an evasive mov as there was. O oncoming traffic.

I can't remember how I managed to not come off the but I do remember bracing for impact from behind as I knew I was way out in the road. I will never look at ra crossings the same way again and especially not these ones which are not perpendicular to the road.

Cautionary tale my friends.

redved

Are these the tracks on the old Dublin road?

My brother had a very nasty fall there a few years ago, ever since I've been cautious about them and try to approach them perpindicular.

At least you're ok anyhow and fair play to the driver for being so alert

brianon

Yep that's them. It's one thing to fall off your bike but I'm not kidding... I was exceptionally lucky here not to end up as roadkill.

Mycroft H

I hate train tracks with a passion. Approach them slow and at 90 degrees seems to be the best way.

ROK ON

Last time that I faceplanted was on wet Luas tracks outside St James hospital. A few people from the hospital stopped to pull me off the road and check for concussion. I have had an issue about crossing railway tracks since then.

tomasrojo

ROK ON wrote: »

Last time that I faceplanted was on wet Luas tracks outside St James hospital.

I came off there too, and split the skin under my knee. Pouring rain had made the tracks very slippery; I was crossing as close to 45 degrees as I could. I try not to go that way now.

brianon

tomasrojo wrote: »

ROK ON wrote: »

Last time that I faceplanted was on wet Luas tracks outside St James hospital.

I came off there too, and split the skin under my knee. Pouring rain had made the tracks very slippery; I was crossing as close to 45 degrees as I could. I try not to go that way now.

I'm no expert (as this mornings near death experience proves) but I think 90 degrees will keep you safer in the future. That's my plan anyway

L'Enfer du Nord

brianon wrote: »

I'm no expert (as this mornings near death experience proves) but I think 90 degrees will keep you safer in the future. That's my plan anyway

Happened to me in Craugwell, when cycling from Dublin to Galway. I'd left Dublin before dawn, it was just getting dark when this happened, the adrenaline boost probably helped me.

WakeyTyke

L'Enfer du Nord wrote: »

Happened to me in Craugwell, when cycling from Dublin to Galway. I'd left Dublin before dawn, it was just getting dark when this happened, the adrenaline boost probably helped me.

Came off there as well a few years back.

First time I'd ever cycled on the road, heading to Galway. It had rained heavy and in hindsight I approached the crossing too fast. Not only were the tracks at an angle across the road there was also metal plates between the rails which were lethal in the wet. The bike just went from under me sending me sprawling across the road.

Luckily I was thrown towards the side of the road and not out into heavy traffic. At least two motorists stopped to see if I was okay which was thoughtful. Very cautious crossing rail tracks now.

tomasrojo

brianon wrote: »

I'm no expert (as this mornings near death experience proves) but I think 90 degrees will keep you safer in the future. That's my plan anyway

Gah! I meant 90.

ccull123

tomasrojo wrote: »

I came off there too, and split the skin under my knee. Pouring rain had made the tracks very slippery; I was crossing as close to 45 degrees as I could. I try not to go that way now.

Also a victim to this section of road as well:)

busyliving

redved wrote: »

Are these the tracks on the old Dublin road?

My brother had a very nasty fall there a few years ago, ever since I've been cautious about them and try to approach them perpindicular.

At least you're ok anyhow and fair play to the driver for being so alert

Are those the ones on your way out by Castleconnell?

redved

busyliving wrote: »

Are those the ones on your way out by Castleconnell?

Yeah, they're the ones I was thinking about, I always get a bit nervous going over them.

busyliving

redved wrote: »

Yeah, they're the ones I was thinking about, I always get a bit nervous going over them.

Each time I go over them, my wheels sleep...its a death trap...The only railway crossing I've had any trouble with

langdang

I think they are worse coming back into Limerick than going out. Have heard of a few more casualties there too. Bunny hop them

Seve OB

got done by the Luas tracks twice at Heuston, first time was goin up Stephens lane behind a Luas at the lights, waiting for him to move off. I was more or less stopped, but the front wheel of my racer slipped into the track and I just fell to the left like something out of a Laurel & Hardy film! My feet were in toe cages a the time so I couldn't get them out to stop me, my elbow still hurts from time to time!

other time was it was wet at Heuston station and was crossing the road at a slight angle and the wheel just slipped on the wet track. I was going slow enough not to go flat on the face, but I still felt like a plank when some nice aul one stopped to ask if i was ok and she told me that it was more embarissing than painfull!!

rule of thumb, 90 degrees is as safe as you are gonna get so spin your bike around as much as you can on approach