Originally Posted by
thumpism
Traction might be an issue, metal to metal. And the dished section of a bike rim would provide even less contact than the flanged wheel of a train car would. And even less weight pressing the rim to the rail. Try it and report back. Twenty bucks is nothing for a research project like that.
If I lived in Sacramento I would be on the bike already right now! Yes traction obviously would be less than rubber...but I would be willing to bet you'd have plenty for any steady speed you could maintain. Might just need to accelerate a bit more slowly than normal. It's not like you need to worry about cornering traction...