A difficult entrance

Breezin

I have a gate into the back garden that's difficult to get into on the bike. I've cut down a tree to ease access, as it was leaning across the space.
But I'm still having problems with steps. They're not huge, but the sequence is a problem.
First I have to get up the kerb off a narrow but busy main road. Then up a step from kerb to garden. Then, amost immediately another, so the front wheel is hitting it at the same time the rear is on the previous one. It's exhausting even describing it!
Then the rear spins and I'm burning rubber and travelling sideways in a narrow space, half in, half out of the garden. Then I give up.
I tried rubber ramps but when they arrived found they were plastic junk that flew back into the traffic.
Wondering if anyone knows of any magic fix for this?

goblin59

Breezin wrote: »

I have a gate into the back garden that's difficult to get into on the bike. I've cut down a tree to ease access, as it was leaning across the space.
But I'm still having problems with steps. They're not huge, but the sequence is a problem.
First I have to get up the kerb off a narrow but busy main road. Then up a step from kerb to garden. Then, amost immediately another, so the front wheel is hitting it at the same time the rear is on the previous one. It's exhausting even describing it!
Then the rear spins and I'm burning rubber and travelling sideways in a narrow space, half in, half out of the garden. Then I give up.
I tried rubber ramps but when they arrived found they were plastic junk that flew back into the traffic.
Wondering if anyone knows of any magic fix for this?

Could you take a picture?

A steel folding ramp might be your best option.
What we use sometimes when working stage crew to fire cases up steps quickly

Breezin

goblin59 wrote: »

Could you take a picture?

A steel folding ramp might be your best option.
What we use sometimes when working stage crew to fire cases up steps quickly

Folding ramp sounds a good idea.
Will stick up a pic tomorrow.

Max Headroom

Duh...whats wrong with going through the house...are you a scardy cat..........:P

Breezin

Max Headroom wrote: »

Duh...whats wrong with going through the house...are you a scardy cat..........:P

I love that Max Headroom is contributing to a thread on access.
House has steps up front and back. Not an option.

monty_python

Sounds like a great reason to buy a multistrada

con747

Breezin wrote: »

Folding ramp sounds a good idea.
Will stick up a pic tomorrow.

Have a look at this type if any good to you. https://tradewest.ie/product/2-3m-folding-motorcycle-loading-ramp/

listermint

Why not just concrete in ramp into part of the steps. Like 25%of the step is ramp.

Breezin

monty_python wrote: »

Sounds like a great reason to buy a multistrada

Ah no. Things aren't that bad!

Breezin

con747 wrote: »

Have a look at this type if any good to you. https://tradewest.ie/product/2-3m-folding-motorcycle-loading-ramp/

I have one of those. But I need to get my feet down each side to support the bike. It's too tight to walk up.

Breezin

listermint wrote: »

Why not just concrete in ramp into part of the steps. Like 25%of the step is ramp.

Can't concete the first step as that would be on the public footpath and invite eejits to trip over it for compo.

con747

Breezin wrote: »

I have one of those. But I need to get my feet down each side to support the bike. It's too tight to walk up.

Ok, so as was said above with the concrete but leave the step on the road as is and that should suffice no? A bag of ready mix would do the job.

zubair

Move house. Bosh.

Breezin

zubair wrote: »

Move house. Bosh.

Believe it or not, I've thought of it. Not on with SWMBO at the moment.

Max Headroom

pix would help us understand the issue..in my head you live in a castle.....

Jimmy Bottlehead

I keep seeing the title and thinking I've wandered into the Sex & Sexuality forum.

two wheels good

A wide ramp. Almost triple width available.
Remove or modify the internal step.
Install a winch.
Get a trail bike.

Breezin

Pic of said entrance to my castle. (IMG tag not working for me... maybe permissions?)

There are actually four step-ups, including the kerb, not three, now that I look at it. As you can see, they're not high. But it's the combination of the first two in the pic that's stopping me.

Might look at wide ramps. I'm reluctant to concrete over because there's an ancient drain pipe under there, with a trap that sometimes needs attention. But I suppose if there isn't a magic wand solution, then I'll do it.

https://imgur.com/a/o7L2yiF

GBX

One thing id start with is keeping the steps clear of any crud/leaves. Will help with traction. Another option might be to secure some sort of thick rubber mat to one or two of the steps.

Zebbedee

That doesn't look too difficult at all.
Those steps arnt as high as I imagined.
As mentioned above I'd brush the loose leaves and earth away.
You could also get some 2x2 or 3x3 timber and cut them along the diagonal to make little triangulated wooden ramps.
These could be screw fixed into the corners.
Have you got a turning space at the top so you don't have to reverse the bike down?

Max Headroom

As above on the crud...Is it your house.?..If so i'd chamfer across the middle of each step 6 inches to get rid of the sharp edges..but deffo powerhose the crud away,,,might be all you need to do..

Breezin

The crud is not the problem. I wish it were. Already tried it when the whole setup is squeaky clean and dry. Yes, it's looking like concrete is the way forward -- the 6" suggestion is a good one, thanks.

mgbgt1978

Instead of adding a small concrete ramp to the step at the gate, you could cut into it and create a ramp that wouldn't stick out onto the footpath.
You could do the same for the step inside the gate as well so the gate can open freely no matter where you put the ramp.

listermint

Take out the steps with a breaker. And put in smooth concrete. That incline appears tiny. Steps are unnecessary based on that image.

Breezin

listermint wrote: »

Take out the steps with a breaker. And put in smooth concrete. That incline appears tiny. Steps are unnecessary based on that image.

What's a breaker?

mgbgt1978

Google Kango Hammer Hire.

Max Headroom

Smooth concrets...winter....rain....ice....ouch...:p

I have a sloapy paved entrance...lethal in winter...

The_Chap

Run a brush over width ways to finish the concrete before it’s set to provide grip

listermint

Max Headroom wrote: »

Smooth concrets...winter....rain....ice....ouch...:p

I have a sloapy paved entrance...lethal in winter...

Thats a drainage and lack of cleaning problem not a concrete problem

Max Headroom

listermint wrote: »

Thats a drainage and lack of cleaning problem not a concrete problem

OUUUU..check out the big brain on Brad......:p

Setts are always kept clean.....;)

Breezin

Update (or, talking to the Internet for therapy): Concrete installed and problem partially resolved.


The bike needs to go in diagonally in order to get the handlebars through. Now, if I had a straight run, it would make it up, but I haven't so I would need to cut off the bike's left peg and my own.

Need a wider gate. A brief scan of the websites yields more or less expected results... plenty of standard sizes but no one offering a custom option. If anyone knows of a good gate guy, let me know!

A gleaming workshop space awaits me and the bike if we can just get past this fuggin' obstacle! Onwards and upwards... but not sideways.

Skill Magill

Breezin wrote: »

I would need to cut off the bike's left peg and my own.

Cutting off your own peg? What?
Bit extreme, no?

Breezin

Skill Magill wrote: »

Cutting off your own peg? What?
Bit extreme, no?

Well that was sort of the point. But I think you might be afflicted by pecker-peg confusion? :pac:

Skill Magill

Breezin wrote: »

Well that was sort of the point. But I think you might be afflicted by pecker-peg confusion? :pac:

Ahh! :D:D

colm_c

I used this guy

http://www.qualitygatesireland.com/

I got a metal framed gate with hardwood panels, made to measure, solid, looks great, but wasn't cheap.

Breezin

colm_c wrote: »

I used this guy

http://www.qualitygatesireland.com/

I got a metal framed gate with hardwood panels, made to measure, solid, looks great, but wasn't cheap.

Cheers. Getting some quotes now for cheap and cheerful temp solution. Longer term the whole thing is coming down for a full width entrance.

Vikings

Breezin wrote: »

Cheers. Getting some quotes now for cheap and cheerful temp solution. Longer term the whole thing is coming down for a full width entrance.

Can you hang the gate on the opposite side and set it up to open outwards? That should give you all the clearance you need once you get through the entrance as the gate itself won't be restricting your bars.

Breezin

Vikings wrote: »

Can you hang the gate on the opposite side and set it up to open outwards? That should give you all the clearance you need once you get through the entrance as the gate itself won't be restricting your bars.

Hadn't thought of that. Worth investigating!

Max Headroom

Do you need a gate at all..?

Breezin

Max Headroom wrote: »

Do you need a gate at all..?

Absolutely. House backs onto street, so needs security.

Max Headroom

Breezin wrote: »

Absolutely. House backs onto street, so needs security.

I was thinking a square box section that could be secured on the inside of a pillar and swung open ....

Vikings

Breezin wrote: »

Hadn't thought of that. Worth investigating!

For extra clearance at the pinch point you can cut out a foot or so of the gate stop portion opposite the gate post that the gate is mounted to. I'll see if I can dig up a photo of my old gate where I had it done

Vikings

Here's one if you can make it out. Gave extra clearance at bar height as the bike squeezed through the entrance.

Breezin

Vikings wrote: »

Here's one if you can make it out. Gave extra clearance at bar height as the bike squeezed through the entrance.

That's not a bad idea at all!