🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <alanf.720229445@bruce.cs.monash.edu.au> alanf@cs.monash.edu.au (Alan Grant Finlay) writes:
>Every morning I have to negotiate a speed hump at the bottom of a hill.
>I really hate braking to take it comfortably as I could use the speed on
>the other side.  My question is: will this damage my bike, in particular
>the headset?  My body is quite able to take the hump at speed, out of the
>saddle with my weight shifting back and forth to minimise the strain on
>both me and the bike.

just out of curiosity, why don't you just bunny hop the thing? I don't
have any problem hopping over manhole covers and whatnot. Speedbumps
are child's play.

In article <alanf.720229445@bruce.cs.monash.edu.au> alanf@cs.monash.edu.au (Alan Grant Finlay) writes:
>Every morning I have to negotiate a speed hump at the bottom of a hill.
>I really hate braking to take it comfortably as I could use the speed on
>the other side.  My question is: will this damage my bike, in particular
>the headset?  My body is quite able to take the hump at speed, out of the
>saddle with my weight shifting back and forth to minimise the strain on
>both me and the bike.
>
>	Alan Finlay, email: alanf@bruce.cs.monash.edu.au

Depends on what your bike is (you don't specify).  If it's a street bike with
the tires pumped up to 110 psi, then it probably will hurt the bike.  If it's
a cross or mountain bike, then you're probably safe.

One thing you can do if you are on a street bike is learn to hop over the
bump.  It's pretty easy since most street bikes are quite light.  

-Rick

>In article <alanf.720229445@bruce.cs.monash.edu.au>
alanf@cs.monash.edu.au (Alan Grant Finlay) is concerned:
>>Every morning I have to negotiate a speed hump at the bottom of a hill.
>>... My question is: will this damage my bike, in particular
>>the headset?  My body is quite able to take the hump at speed, out
>>of the saddle with my weight shifting back and forth ...

In article <1992Nov3.235155.10636@news2.cis.umn.edu>
kimmel@staff.tc.umn.edu (Eric Kimmel) advises: 

>... If it's a street bike with the tires pumped up to 110 psi, then
>it probably will hurt the bike.  ...

I think not necessarily.  I ride a road bike(s, actually) and
routinely deal with such obsticales by unloading the bike (see
above).  This includes both a touring bike Schwinn Voyageur) and a
road bike (Bianchi Brava).  I routinely pump the Conti tires on these
bikes to over 120 psi.

Unloading the bike as Alan and I do allows the bike to pivot around
the bottom bracket spindle.  This reduces the shock to both the back
and the front wheels, axles, etc.  On the one or two occasions that I
have forgotten to unload when encountering a recurring obsticale,
I envariable snake-bite the front tube and loosen or break spokes on
the rear.  So, I know that unloading does work in many situations.

Jumping the bike will induce a little more shock to the system.  It
should be reserved for significant obsticales like curbs, logs,
large rocks, narrow ravines, etc.
-- 
sam henry <shenry@rice.edu>
Wanna ride?

>>Every morning I have to negotiate a speed hump at the bottom of a hill.
>>I really hate braking to take it comfortably as I could use the speed on
>>the other side.  My question is: will this damage my bike, in particular
>>the headset?  My body is quite able to take the hump at speed, out of the
>>saddle with my weight shifting back and forth to minimise the strain on
>>both me and the bike.
>>
>Depends on what your bike is (you don't specify).  If it's a street bike with
>the tires pumped up to 110 psi, then it probably will hurt the bike. [...]

Doubtful.

With due care and adequate timing this can be done at 30 mph.
Your chain will rattle a little but that's all.

>One thing you can do if you are on a street bike is learn to hop over the
>bump.  It's pretty easy since most street bikes are quite light.  
>

This takes more skill, but it's lots more fun.


-- 
Richard Foulk		richard@pegasus.com