Nervous road bike handling on commute, any tips?

Turbulent Bill

I'm getting a bit nervous commuting on my road bike, especially when the roads are damp (i.e., pretty much always). My route is full of manholes, potholes, recessed gratings and broken-up concrete road surfaces. The last is probably the worst as the cracks are about wide enough for the front tyre to tramline in if caught. Any tips on how best to handle these, or just steady as she goes?

Running 23s at 100psi, bike fit/handling are fine in the dry so I think it's just my lack of handling skills. Arms are relaxed and I'm off the saddle for the bumpy bits.

07Lapierre

Find an alternative route which has a better road surface? Other than that, all you can do is keep at it. Confidence will come eventually.

amjon.

Turbulent Bill wrote: »

I'm getting a bit nervous commuting on my road bike, especially when the roads are damp (i.e., pretty much always). My route is full of manholes, potholes, recessed gratings and broken-up concrete road surfaces. The last is probably the worst as the cracks are about wide enough for the front tyre to tramline in if caught. Any tips on how best to handle these, or just steady as she goes?

Running 23s at 100psi, bike fit/handling are fine in the dry so I think it's just my lack of handling skills. Arms are relaxed and I'm off the saddle for the bumpy bits.

Cycle more, you'll get used to it.

Could you fit 700x25 tyres on it? Might give a bit more comfort and grip. I'd definitely put some on my winter bike but it doesn't have the clearance.

lennymc

i think its just one of the hazards of commuting. I think steady as she goes is the best advice. Learn to recognise and react to any obstacles you come across.

Tonyandthewhale

Make sure you're positioned appropriately in the lane. Generally pot holes will be worse and man-hole covers most common at the side of the road so where-ever it's possible and safe you should take the lane and ride well out from the side.
This has the added advantage of forcing cars to over-take you properly rather than trying to squeeze past you which means you'll have more room to maneuvre around obstacles.

Turbulent Bill

Thanks all. I've done over 1000km at this stage on the bike but it never feels as 'planted' as my old MTB (on slicks) was in the wet. Alternative routes are much of a muchness surface-wise. Might give 700x25 a shot to see if they make any difference.

The road positioning point is a good one but I find manhole covers pretty much everywhere. There are a few stretches in Blanch and Castleknock where you have to weave even in the middle of the road to avoid obstacles.

Sean02

Yes city commutings a real hazard,but still the best form of transport,and most likely to add a few years on to your life. ain thing is keep concentrating and be one step ahead of the posie. Enjoy and stay safe.

le petit braquet

To add to Tonyandthewhale's point about lane positioning, you should try and memorise the tricky bits on your commute, and it then makes it easier to take the appropriate position well in advance. After a few months you should know every pothole and dodgy drain, but also areas where the road configuration makes it more likely that you can get squeezed. For example on my commute there is particular bend on Morehampton Road (near the motor factors) which a cyclist can get easily cut up by a car or bus passing. Its now instinct with me to check behind and then move out to stop this happening.

While there will always be situations where you have to react and use your bike handling skills to the max, anticipating problems makes your commuting life a lot easier.

Donelson

What tires or compound are you running? Does the bike feel like it's slipping? I like to pedal trough the crap surface as it makes me feel like I've more control or at least it keeps me distracted!

metamagical

Donelson wrote: »

What tires or compound are you running

Good question. A road bike is never going to plough over crap surfaces like your MTB did, but your choice of tyres can make a lot of difference to how well it'll corner. I used to run gatorskins on my commuting bike until one too many spills in the wet convinced me that a tyre that won't puncture but will also not hold in a turn is not a great option. I've switched to Conti GP4000s, which handle much better on the same crappy roads, and I've had fewer punctures with them.

Wishbone Ash

metamagical wrote: »

I used to run gatorskins on my commuting bike until one too many spills in the wet convinced me that a tyre that won't puncture but will also not hold in a turn is not a great option

I was just about to post the same thing! Awful tyre in the wet.

Seaswimmer

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I was just about to post the same thing! Awful tyre in the wet.

Disagree... used them for 6 years all year and never had a slip. I think ANY narrow tyre (23c, 25c) is never going to be the same as an MTB tyre. Unless you are racing I dont see the problem with taking it easy round corners and slowing down when it is slippy.. I find as I get older I take less risks!!..

Wishbone Ash

Seaswimmer wrote: »

I dont see the problem with taking it easy round corners and slowing down when it is slippy

But it doesn't seem to be a problem with other brands I use when cycling in the same manner. And the spills and near misses I've had with Gatorskins were at considerably lower speeds than I'd do on my present tyres.

Surveyor11

I came from MTB on slicks to a roadbike, so can appreciate where you're coming from.

Roadbike is a bit friskier ok, not as forgiving. I have mentally mapped out my hazards - on the way in, that damn sheet metal at the croppy acre cycle lane is a bane at the moment, although kudos to the guy on the MTB who bunny hopped it at 30 odd kps this morning! On the way home similarly the turn out of town at the Luas tracks nearby are dotted with nice slippy manhole covers. It's a bout building up the confidence, expecting the unexpected and staryiong alert. Plan your escape routs for trouble as well - I nearly got caught by a taxi barging right into the lane I was in without warning the other morning. Oh, and take it easy turning - no front brake! Although using the back can be just as bad.....it's all about practice!

Keep_Her_Lit

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I was just about to post the same thing! Awful tyre in the wet.

I concur. The worst tyre I have used in the wet. I don't use them anymore. A pity, 'cos they're nice and light and quick (for an MTB slick, that is)

Turbulent Bill

le petit braquet wrote: »

To add to Tonyandthewhale's point about lane positioning, you should try and memorise the tricky bits on your commute, and it then makes it easier to take the appropriate position well in advance.

I've a good mental map of the entire route, so I know most of the major hazards in advance. Part of the problem though is that they're distributed all across the road width. I could be spinning along in the middle of the lane, then have to move left to avoid a manhole, followed by sharp right to avoid a pothole. For anyone following it must look like I'm taking the p!ss but it's necessary. Add in random broken glass, oil etc. and it's like an assault course.

metamagical wrote: »

Good question. A road bike is never going to plough over crap surfaces like your MTB did, but your choice of tyres can make a lot of difference to how well it'll corner. I used to run gatorskins on my commuting bike until one too many spills in the wet convinced me that a tyre that won't puncture but will also not hold in a turn is not a great option. I've switched to Conti GP4000s, which handle much better on the same crappy roads, and I've had fewer punctures with them.

The road bike has Schwalbe Luganos on it. The old MTB had Gatorskins which I was pretty happy with and I'd consider getting them again.

instinct

I have the same rubber. Pumped hard to 110 psi and yes I feel a lot of the road.

When I am approaching a bad piece of road, I'm up out of the saddle, and shift my weight from back to front as I go over the bumps. Seems to work fine and my wheels are still nice and true. I dont slow down. Its kind alike a bunny hop motion but I don't lift the bike off the ground, I just shift the weight back and forth. I probably get it from MTBing a lot. Give it a try