Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Stupid trolley tracks

I took my first fixed dive today when my tire met some West Philly trolley tracks at the wrong angle. :( Being clipped into the pedals didn't help. Luckily the bike and I escaped with minimal damage.

I took my first fixed dive today when my tire met some West Philly trolley tracks at the wrong angle. :( Being clipped into the pedals didn't help. Luckily the bike and I escaped with minimal damage.

West philly is a nightmare for riding. Especially when I'm trying to get home on Baltimore Ave.

scary scary

specially when moist

mmoooiiissstttt

it only takes one fall though to be so embarassed and paranoid to never do it again. glad to hear that there was no physical damage to you or your mavchine though.

yeah, I ride down 12th to NL's... it's a bike path lined with trolley tracks. I just swing out then as straight across the tracks as possible, which can only be done when the traffic is light. But is still sucks.

yeah, I ride down 12th to NL's... it's a bike path lined with trolley tracks. I just swing out then as straight across the tracks as possible, which can only be done when the traffic is light. But is still sucks.

Is taking Broad an option? Although it doesn't have a bike path, it's pretty tame except for maybe around Temple and no trolley tracks either.

I'm sure you knew that.

I take Broad from Erie and that is pretty dangerous. Drivers along there are ruthless, but I brave it. I have to go east anyway. Usually on Master. It's nice and quiet with less risk. Sometimes I just take the scenic route... down Midvale to Kelly Drive and across Spring Garden.

I've always experienced more tame traffic South of city hall on Broad. I guess it's the drivers being more weary of peds jumping in to the street in that area?

Ja ne!
$peabody

yeah, I ride down 12th to NL's... it's a bike path lined with trolley tracks. I just swing out then as straight across the tracks as possible, which can only be done when the traffic is light. But is still sucks.

Yeah. I cross these tracks every day to get to the bike lane on the other side of the street. I guess I just wasn't paying attention today and took them at to small of an angle.

ive taken a pretty nasty spill on 12th around walnut on the trolley tracks. baltimore is horrendous to ride on though. bumpy ass surface, trolley tracks, and cars edging in on the bike lane. only thing worse is trying to squeeze down numbered streets in center city.

yeah those ****ing trolley tracks get me at the ****tiest times.

for example: after monster track this year I got off the Chinatown bus (11th St and Arch I think?) and I went to ride to my friends house. I already had soaking wet socks and shoes, was exhausted, the wind sucked and it was starting to snow. Anywho, I got onto 12th from Arch and was attempting to avoid the trolley tracks when BAM! right over on them, nicely ripping a hole in my pants from like my crotch to the cuffs. I continued riding through the snow like this, miserable as ****. When I came to a slow stop at the intesection of Chesnut and something some blonde bimbo crossing looked at me and said all smart ass "well can I go now?" to which I saltily replied "**** you".

Moral of the story:
Goddamn I hate the trolley tracks.

Just you wait till you ride over them wet......

yeah those ****ing trolley tracks get me at the ****tiest times.

for example: after monster track this year I got off the Chinatown bus (11th St and Arch I think?) and I went to ride to my friends house. I already had soaking wet socks and shoes, was exhausted, the wind sucked and it was starting to snow. Anywho, I got onto 12th from Arch and was attempting to avoid the trolley tracks when BAM! right over on them, nicely ripping a hole in my pants from like my crotch to the cuffs. I continued riding through the snow like this, miserable as ****. When I came to a slow stop at the intesection of Chesnut and something some blonde bimbo crossing looked at me and said all smart ass "well can I go now?" to which I saltily replied "**** you".

Moral of the story:
Goddamn I hate the trolley tracks.

+1 for usage of saltily. I haven't heard anyone say salty in years. You have inspired me, together we can bring it back.

Been there, done that, eaten **** as a result. Not to mention busted my head open. The tracks blame the beer, I blame the tracks -- all was cured through much more beer and the understanding that I go over said tracks as perpindicular as possible.
Here endeth the lesson.

haha, don't have to worry about that in st. pete because the trollys don't use tracks. they are like buses designed to look like trolleys...kinda weird.

haha, don't have to worry about that in st. pete because the trollys don't use tracks. they are like buses designed to look like trolleys...kinda weird.

Philly has a few trackless trolleys too. Better for the environment too, I guess.

My real gripe is in Old City/Society Hill. For the old trolley lines, SEPTA didn't actually remove the tracks, but they just paved over it. Lumpy as crap.

Also, cobblestones.

Ja ne!
$peabody

I've jumped tracks in center city in mid traffic. So far no spills, thank christ.

Philly has a few trackless trolleys too. Better for the environment too, I guess.


Why would it be?
The 'trackless' as you say are basically just buses spewing out diesel exhaust as opposed to the others which are electric.
..and dont you guys know how to lift your front and then your rear wheel over a track?

Why would it be?
The 'trackless' as you say are basically just buses spewing out diesel exhaust as opposed to the others which are electric.
..and dont you guys know how to lift your front and then your rear wheel over a track?

Um, no. Trolleybuses are electric buses which run off overhead wires.

Why would it be?
The 'trackless' as you say are basically just buses spewing out diesel exhaust as opposed to the others which are electric.
..and dont you guys know how to lift your front and then your rear wheel over a track?

My comment made no sense. I shouldn't post before noon.

Trackless trolleys == run on electricity, I think?

Otherwise the trackless trolley you described would be a bus.

So they're equally bad. Yeah.

Ja ne!
$peabody

Um, no. Trolleybuses are electric buses which run off overhead wires.

Well no one actually said 'trolleybuses'.
There are buses here that look like trolley and are diesel so i thought thats what he/she meant.
But yeah, ive seen the electric buses too.

lift your front and then your rear wheel over a track

+1

that being said, I've totally eaten **** getting caught in the trolley tracks in New Orleans. The tracks, coupled with the wonderful streets here, make this city a great place to ride.

Well no one actually said 'trolleybuses'.
There are buses here that look like trolley and are diesel so i thought thats what he/she meant.
But yeah, ive seen the electric buses too.

Are you couldn't figure that out on your own? Tisk, tisk, tisk....

Are you couldn't figure that out on your own? Tisk, tisk, tisk....

What did you say?
And ive never even heard the term 'trolleybus' before today.

what?

I guess not.....

tsk tsk deathhare tsk tsk

oh god help me.
wtf is a trolleybus anyway? ive never heard that.

oh god help me.
wtf is a trolleybus anyway? ive never heard that.

It's just like it sounds.....

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/4/47/Trolleybus4120.Harvard.agr.JPG

We had those in San Francisco and they werent called trolleybuses. They were just a bus.
I see to connection though.
I learns a new word!!

also, we dont have those in philadelphia.

when i hear trolly bus i think of those stupid tourist trap busses that are decked out to look like the cable cars. i hate those things.

when i hear trolly bus i think of those stupid tourist trap busses that are decked out to look like the cable cars. i hate those things.

thats exactly what i thought they were talking about.

My real gripe is in Old City/Society Hill. For the old trolley lines, SEPTA didn't actually remove the tracks, but they just paved over it. Lumpy as crap.

Also, cobblestones.

Also, horse manure.

Also, horse manure.

Dude, we rode through there last week and someone rode through that stuff, haha.

Smelled the entire ride.

Ja ne!
$peabody

wtf is a trolleybus anyway? ive never heard that.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i278/psychlist43/trolley.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i278/psychlist43/trolley.jpg

Now see..thats a diesel POS. And that apparently is not a trolleybus according to Ziemas.

Never heard of the term trolleybus before either, but that's what I pictured when I read it.

Now see..thats a diesel POS. And that apparently is not a trolleybus according to Ziemas.

Or according to Wikipedia.......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolleybus

i like how in the wikipedia entry the Muni bus pictured is just one of the regular busses...

i like how in the wikipedia entry the Muni bus pictured is just one of the regular busses...

yeah which is diesel.
there something fishy goin on.

Philly has a few trackless trolleys too. Better for the environment too, I guess.

My real gripe is in Old City/Society Hill. For the old trolley lines, SEPTA didn't actually remove the tracks, but they just paved over it. Lumpy as crap.

Also, cobblestones.

Ja ne!
$peabody

Cobblestones are the worst idea. Ever.

When the other alternative was this, they were a good idea. :)

http://www.sntc.org.sz/sdphotos/photos/scarinmud.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i278/psychlist43/trolley.jpg


yep, that's what i meant. sorry, i had no idea my post would lead to such confusion. sike!!!

When the other alternative was this, they were a good idea. :)

http://www.sntc.org.sz/sdphotos/photos/scarinmud.jpg

Fackin' LOLD.

The cobblestones are so bad in society hill that I just walk my bike. It's ironic that they keep these original stones yet, from what I can tell, those streets hardly pull tourists from the Mall.

And us natives sure don't like em.

Ja ne!
$peabody

ten years ago, when i had just moved back to toronto i was making a left over STREETCAR tracks whilst checking someone out... wheel got stuck, bike kept going... i still recall seeing pavement passing before my eyes thinking, "that's not good". luckily i peeled myself off the road and said someone ran over to help me. despite the dripping blood spashing on my shoes i said i'd just "go home and put a bandaid on it". thankfully i was convinced to have a look taken at it, and when i heard "oh f***" i reconsidered and went to the nearby emergency instead. several hours later, i ended up with several lovely stitches and a healthy respect for the bite 'o the rails.

checking someone out doesnt make you a hero

And us natives sure don't like em.

I thought you were just in philly for school.

I thought you were just in philly for school.

A close suburbanite, yes. :p Makes no difference.

Ja ne!
$peabody

what iv found is if you can tame west philly drunk and in the rain you can tear it up pretty much anywhere . even the south street bridge is covered in those cement square steel things. oh and the tracks at like 38th or 39th and spruce are the devil. not to mention southwest mine as well beat yourself on the head with a baseball bat now.