Railroard Tracks and 23MM Tires Hard Crash
09-28-14, 09:39 PM
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09-29-14, 03:42 AM
#28
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Posts like this (along with many others) is one of the reasons why I will NEVER have clipless pedals & cleats or anything like that on a road bike. At best, I would use the "old school" platform pedal w/ toe cage & strap. But even then, in situations like crossing a railroad track, it becomes very tricky.
Had a sometime riding partner fracture an elbow and get a severe case of rash when he dropped a wheel into a concrete joint when changing lanes in the middle of it. I wasn't there but heard they were hauling when it happened.
edit:
That was an unusually wide expansion joint and they were riding recklessly through a railroad underpass with no bike lane trying to beat traffic from a stoplight behind them. The guy was running 25c tires I know because I finished truing his rim later on.
Now that I think about it the only time I dropped a wheel into a storm grating is when I was riding where I shouldn't have been taking a shortcut. Luckily I was going slow at the time but had to do a field wheel repair to get back home.
Angled RR tracks can come up fast if you aren't aware they're there so you'd better try and risk a swerve for a better angle over them if at all possible. Even if it means hitting the ditch after you cross.....at least it's softer.
Last edited by Zinger; 09-29-14 at 04:22 PM.
09-29-14, 03:49 AM
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RR Tracks and Construction Zones, both require extreme caution.
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09-29-14, 05:30 AM
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The problem with the width for the gap is that poorly maintained, older, crossings have irregular and even wider gaps that 32's wouldn't help you cross, and are even wider/rougher than the tolerance TGT1 gave us. My peeve
is when the asphalt pavement on older crossing has began buckling from the weight of the train cars and vehicle traffic over the area. Thankfully the major crossings here are getting the modern style covers and panels
that are built to not buckle or remain deformed. The irregular paved surface wants to steer the front wheel, and sometimes the rear wheel for you
.
Even wide tired motorcycles have issues with a lot of the crossings, the MSF rider courses stress the being at a right angle to the rails as you cross them. I had some friends learn the hard way about this on rides when I was riding and racing motorcycles for many years. A high speed run at a rail crossing in the dirt, with knobbies when its wet out, and the least bit off perpendicular to the rails, can give you religion very fast
.
Bill
is when the asphalt pavement on older crossing has began buckling from the weight of the train cars and vehicle traffic over the area. Thankfully the major crossings here are getting the modern style covers and panels that are built to not buckle or remain deformed. The irregular paved surface wants to steer the front wheel, and sometimes the rear wheel for you.Even wide tired motorcycles have issues with a lot of the crossings, the MSF rider courses stress the being at a right angle to the rails as you cross them. I had some friends learn the hard way about this on rides when I was riding and racing motorcycles for many years. A high speed run at a rail crossing in the dirt, with knobbies when its wet out, and the least bit off perpendicular to the rails, can give you religion very fast
.Bill
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09-29-14, 07:06 AM
#32
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Speed helps a lot, as long as there is nothing standing proud enough of the road surface to cause a pinch. The faster you go, the less time the tire has to fall into a crack, be deflected, or slide. Right angle is best but the faster you go the more acute the crossing angle can be. Most rail related crashes I've ween were due to riders overreacting to tracks with sudden hard braking, swerving, tensing up or otherwise freaking out.
09-29-14, 08:42 AM
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Railroad crossings are one hazard for bikes but there are plenty others such are surprise potholes and all sorts of debris and deteriorated surfaces. I began using 25 and 28 mm tires to soften the ride to deal with a troublesome back. Now, I'm also glad for wider tires as they will be more forgiving of poor road conditions. Yesterday's club ride, which took place on a very beautiful autumn day, saw long stretches of brand new, smooth as a babies bottom pavement and some surfaces that were so deteriorated as to jar your fillings loose.
09-29-14, 09:17 AM
#35
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I sure will have a different outlook when approaching rr tracks now. I knew they were there, i knew the angle was odd and still it happens. I am starting to feel pretty good as i have been allowed to start putting pressure on the left side and sure can tell its coming along quite nicely. It has only been 8 days since it happen and already have the itch to ride soon again. I went and bought ome calcium and vitamin d tablets just to see if this might aid things along for me too. My strict and regimental diet is still intact and think possibly of being in pretty decent condition, possibly spared me a bit..?
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09-29-14, 09:18 AM
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09-29-14, 09:41 AM
#37
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Hope you heal well and quickly.
Agree with some others that the width of the tire is less a factor than the angle of attack.
Agree with some others that the width of the tire is less a factor than the angle of attack.
09-29-14, 10:20 AM
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Ouch... 
Heal up quickly!
Posts like this (along with many others) is one of the reasons why I will NEVER have clipless pedals & cleats or anything like that on a road bike. At best, I would use the "old school" platform pedal w/ toe cage & strap. But even then, in situations like crossing a railroad track, it becomes very tricky.
Edit: Thinking about this again, scenarios like this are also important for us motorcycle riders too. Even crossing a railroad track on a motorcycle can be a challenge!
Heal up quickly! Posts like this (along with many others) is one of the reasons why I will NEVER have clipless pedals & cleats or anything like that on a road bike. At best, I would use the "old school" platform pedal w/ toe cage & strap. But even then, in situations like crossing a railroad track, it becomes very tricky.
Edit: Thinking about this again, scenarios like this are also important for us motorcycle riders too. Even crossing a railroad track on a motorcycle can be a challenge!
ALWAYS cross tracks as close to perpendicular as possible, and if there's even a trace of moisture on them, stop, dismount, and walk the bike across.
The small width difference between 23mm and 25mm tires also won't help at most RR crossings that I see. The gap is wide enough to wedge even a 38mm tire.
09-29-14, 10:44 AM
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Platform pedals wouldn't have made an iota of difference in this type of crash. When a bike tire wedges in the space between the track and the crossing, you go over almost instantly. Same as with a road crack of the right width, or a raised edge of pavement that you edge against. Wait, I'll take that back. One difference they would have made would be the broken ankle he might have suffered if he extended a leg to try to stop the crash.
ALWAYS cross tracks as close to perpendicular as possible, and if there's even a trace of moisture on them, stop, dismount, and walk the bike across.
The small width difference between 23mm and 25mm tires also won't help at most RR crossings that I see. The gap is wide enough to wedge even a 38mm tire.
ALWAYS cross tracks as close to perpendicular as possible, and if there's even a trace of moisture on them, stop, dismount, and walk the bike across.
The small width difference between 23mm and 25mm tires also won't help at most RR crossings that I see. The gap is wide enough to wedge even a 38mm tire.
09-29-14, 11:42 AM
#40
Beicwyr Hapus
Platform pedals wouldn't have made an iota of difference in this type of crash. When a bike tire wedges in the space between the track and the crossing, you go over almost instantly. Same as with a road crack of the right width, or a raised edge of pavement that you edge against. Wait, I'll take that back. One difference they would have made would be the broken ankle he might have suffered if he extended a leg to try to stop the crash.
In a similar crash three years ago I put out my left leg to break the fall and ended up with two torn knee ligaments and nerve damage to my upper leg which still gives trouble. If I had been clipped in I would probably just have had a few more cuts and bruises.
Last edited by Gerryattrick; 09-30-14 at 02:14 AM.
09-29-14, 12:29 PM
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hey trek, sorry about your accident. Where are you located at in N.W.Ohio? I am by the Wabash Cannonball trail.
09-29-14, 01:05 PM
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I had a similar issue with some diagonal tracks but with less severe injuries. In my case, I simply didn't give the situation enough attention, was travelling at a slow speed (just coming out of a left turn). All it cost me was a superflash blinky and some scuffs on my bar-ends. It could easily have been much worse. Get well soon!
09-29-14, 03:33 PM
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09-29-14, 03:56 PM
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Sorry to here about your accident first off and hope you recover very soon and get back to riding soon.
My approach to RR tracks especially those really bad ones is to make sure I am diagonal to the tracks which means maneuvering into that line as much as possible, and I will also unload the front wheel when I get to it as I go over.
My approach to RR tracks especially those really bad ones is to make sure I am diagonal to the tracks which means maneuvering into that line as much as possible, and I will also unload the front wheel when I get to it as I go over.
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09-29-14, 06:43 PM
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09-29-14, 07:08 PM
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There are a lot of diagonal RR track crossings in my home area; in fact I can see one from my house! I'm extremely cautious with them. If I can't take the whole width of the road to cut a perpendicular track across them, I'll dismount. I'm sorry to hear about the road rash, and glad to hear you don't need surgery or a full-body cast! (Do they do those anymore?)
09-30-14, 03:58 AM
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I just need to heal up quickly so that i can ride again. Sure notice a big difference after one week..
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09-30-14, 10:45 AM
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There are a lot of diagonal RR track crossings in my home area; in fact I can see one from my house! I'm extremely cautious with them. If I can't take the whole width of the road to cut a perpendicular track across them, I'll dismount. I'm sorry to hear about the road rash, and glad to hear you don't need surgery or a full-body cast! (Do they do those anymore?)
10-04-14, 07:46 PM
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I can relate! In March I hit an oil slick while making a sharp corner and did a body slam on to the pavement. Broke my pelvis in three places; glad it wasn't my hip. Six weeks before I was riding around the neighborhood... eight weeks before I was riding the local mountain.
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