Watch out for train tracks... i wrecked...

[neptronix]

Well, i learned a valuable lesson today.
Brake for train tracks at bad angles!!

Can't say i really remember what happened too well. Was traveling along and next thing i know, i see a track, i hear the clank of the bike, feel my shoulders hit something, realize i'm down, and see some guy pull over to the side of the road almost the second it happened.

Very thankful that i was wearing my helmet ( yes, it took a blow for me ), jacket ( which now is trash ), and gloves ( my hand was scraped up very bad everywhere there wasn't glove material ). Very thankful i was doing just 20mph as well.

No broken bones.... no concussion.. just some road rash & very very sore and i can't lift my arms up very fast at the moment

I've got no feckin' idea how i scraped up BOTH handlebars..

The cycle analyst lived, with the mount breaking very gracefully.

the handlebar i had strapped down to my cargo rack, and the rear cargo beams helped slow the bike down and are pretty scratched up but OK.

Not sure what can be done about these tracks but i'm gonna talk to the city about these. The guy who helped me up after i regained my senses told me that he wrecked his bike on the same road. I wonder how many bikes have wrecked here.
I'm sure my tire literally got sucked right into the track as the groove was deep and the angle very slight.

So here's a word of wisdom to you guys.... watch out for this, especially at higher speeds.

 

[dogman dan]

I'm a bit surprised that a biker with your experience would ride across tracks at an angle.

You gotta jog to make the actual crossing at a 90, or close to it when tracks angle across the road. A popular bike area in Tucson has a trolley track hazard. A few years back, a biker got a wheel trapped in a track, then got hit by a car not expecting him to stop. It can get serious in a hurry.

I've had problems also, with the crack between pavement and cement curb. One of the issues with ebikes is that you have less time to see such hazards at 30 mph than you do pedaling at 15 mph. It's part of why I tend to ride 20 mph on street bikes, rather than ride 30 mph. 30 is great of course on a known route with no hazards.

Anybody that raced, or tried to race learns all this stuff, one road rash at a time. But people that never regularly rode 30 mph, it's all new at that speed.

 

[Eskimo]

Every second street here has four tramtracks on it, that are below the surface, like four canals on the street. They look like rivers during the spring, water flows downwards. You have to keep your eye on them all the time. I have mistaken once with them around ten years ago, flew over the bars. 45-degree angle works good, but anything less than that won"t, so your downtown ride occasionally looks like a kind of zig-zagging. Straight-sharp turn-over the track-sharp turn-straight. They are under the surface, so you don"t hit them, you fall to them if you screw up.

 

[Brentis]

Been there, done that, have a couple of sweet scars as a reminder.
For me it was on a pedal bike at 20kph+ and the only time I have crashed without any warning.
These tracks a particularly brutal because of advanced age/poor maintenance they are bike wheel trap.
Until someone is killed the city or track owners will do nothing.



Here's to a quick heal.

 

[MadRhino]

Last time I did a slide on a train track was in the "70s with a Yam RD 400
I recall I left about one pound of skin on the pavement that day.

I wish you fix everything and ride soon.

 

[Ykick]

Well, i learned a valuable lesson today.
Brake for train tracks at bad angles!!

Can't say i really remember what happened too well. Was traveling along and next thing i know, i see a track, i hear the clank of the bike, feel my shoulders hit something, realize i'm down, and see some guy pull over to the side of the road almost the second it happened.

Very thankful that i was wearing my helmet ( yes, it took a blow for me ), jacket ( which now is trash ), and gloves ( my hand was scraped up very bad everywhere there wasn't glove material ). Very thankful i was doing just 20mph as well.

No broken bones.... no concussion.. just some road rash & very very sore and i can't lift my arms up very fast at the moment

I've got no feckin' idea how i scraped up BOTH handlebars..

The cycle analyst lived, with the mount breaking very gracefully.

the handlebar i had strapped down to my cargo rack, and the rear cargo beams helped slow the bike down and are pretty scratched up but OK.

Not sure what can be done about these tracks but i'm gonna talk to the city about these. The guy who helped me up after i regained my senses told me that he wrecked his bike on the same road. I wonder how many bikes have wrecked here.
I'm sure my tire literally got sucked right into the track as the groove was deep and the angle very slight.

So here's a word of wisdom to you guys.... watch out for this, especially at higher speeds.

Sorry to hear bro. At least it was solo vehicle mishap and a train wasn't coming. Hope your shoulders okay?

If you stretched your arms out to break your fall (instinct) and you can't quickly raise your arms, good chance you might have suffered clavical separation. I've gotta nasty level 3 as well as practically every NHL player. Some bicycle safety folks suggest to tuck in and death grip the bars when going down to help prevent this damage.

But yeah, 90 degrees only for two wheelers across train tracks....

 

[melodious]

I usually put a sticker on a pole somewhere before the hazards to keep people in the "know" to slow down. The best ones that always remind me of it have good reflective properties so one can see it at night. I had a few placed on my route, and within a few years those hazards have "magically" been fixed 8) .

Something similar to train tracks that we take for granted are the borders of dirt & cement (i.e. lawn & sidewalk) as they sometimes can leave a "lip" for our tires to catch on. Thinner profile tires make the probability of a crash increase. Fatter tires, less so. Most of us kinda know this precautionary stuff but it's always good to be re-fed information once in a while so we don't get into "complacency" mode. Even then, the best laid plans can take a backseat to freaking bad luck. I'm still waiting to be doored, even though I ride outside of the "door zone" :wink: .

Glad your OK besides the bruising, rashes, and cuts. The bike looks like it has usage on it now (some people like that) and appears fairly cosmetic damage. Check your battery for damage! (also a petty reminder from one member to another )

 

[docnjoj]

I'm glad you are relatively OK,Nep. Trolly tracks and train tracks are real hazards here too. The trikes do handle them better but nothing is perfect.
otherDoc

 

[The fingers]

Glad to hear it wasn't worse, though it sounds like you took a beating. I'm praying you'll have a swift, full recovery.
Lately they removed some curving, angled tracks on my commute. I always had to slow down there because of the jolt from the uneven pavement, which could bounce stuff right out of my front basket scattering it all over the place.
Maybe we should mark some of the most dangerous spots with orange spray paint to make them more visible as a warning to all cyclists in the area. First make sure no cops see you.

 

[neptronix]

Thanks guys for your input and concern. Still a little shaken today, and doing that thing where you evaluate the merits of your hobby vs the risk.. :lol:

It feels like all of my bones are in the right place this morning, but it is hard to move my shoulders upwards. I am really sore, but there is no sharp pain.

Okay, i'm in my early 30's but i've been riding bikes since i was 17 pretty much nonstop. Lived in 4 different states in the last 5 years. Never ever encountered railroad tracks like this before. I think i just didn't identify it as a road hazard or wasn't looking for it. I'm just surprised that the street was designed that way.

Well, i learned the hard way. No industrial back street shortcuts for me..

My tires are pretty wide, 2.5" 20" scooter tire out back, 2.5" 26" hookworm up front. It's possible that something with knobs on the side, or just a grip pattern could have been helpful though, to grip, maybe? the hookworm on the front can get 'off track' when entering driveways that have a large bump to them, which i guess i didn't consider.

Now i'm thinking about getting rid of basically everything i have and switching to 29er and chain drive.
I'm not sure if it will be safer or not. My wild guess says yes.

 

[liveforphysics]

No bodily carnage pics? I love me some carnage pics.

 

[MadRhino]

It is risky to cross railroad tracks on any bike. Don't believe that another bike would be safer in that situation.
Once you had the experience, you will be careful with them tracks and unlikely to crash there again.
I ride 2 wheelers for 50 years, I have experienced about all the potential danger situations, and close to a hundred crashes.
Crashing is part of the game, but the more experience you have, the more it is your own fault when you crash.

When you fall off the horse, you have to get back on the horse ASAP.

 

[Brentis]

It is risky to cross railroad tracks on any bike. Don't believe that another bike would be safer in that situation.
Once you had the experience, you will be careful with them tracks and unlikely to crash there again.
I ride 2 wheelers for 50 years, I have experienced about all the potential danger situations, and close to a hundred crashes.
Crashing is part of the game, but the more experience you have, the more it is your own fault when you crash.

When you fall off the horse, you have to get back on the horse ASAP.

+1
I think the only way you can avoid the same scenario is caution/experience/Hanebrink wide tires.

Don't second guess the rEVolution.
Give it a few days for the pain to subside and you'll be jonesin' to get back on.

 

[StudEbiker]

Sorry to hear about the accident. Hope you heal up well and fast.

Gotta second the idea that a chain drive wouldn't make a difference.

Lived in Houston for many years and rode a motorcycle for much of the time. Train tracks and various odd cracks/joins in pavement, and even the grooved pavement could make motorcycle riding a very dicey proposition in that city.

Best thing is to slow WAY down and cross at right angles any time you are crossing tracks.

 

[Qwiksand]

Now i'm thinking about getting rid of basically everything i have and switching to 29er and chain drive.
I'm not sure if it will be safer or not. My wild guess says yes.

If it's got two wheels, you'll end up going down again. Unfortunately, the natural resting state for a bike/motorcycle is on it's side.

Heal up quick man, get back on it! I had a nasty encounter with wet track on my road bicycle a couple, three years ago- couldn't bench without feeling a twinge from a small labral (labral as in labrum of shoulder, not labia of vagina 8) ) tear for nearly a year after that. But it healed, and so will you.

 

[zombiess]

No bodily carnage pics? I love me some carnage pics.

Luke, you sick bastard, you must have one heck of a spank bank ranging from torn up flesh to blown up anything :lol:

 

[Popstar]

90 degrees only, 90 degrees only, 90 degrees only.
I was riding in downtown Portland with my father-in-law from China as he rode my electric dahon . I pointed to this sign as we approached streetcar tracks:

Luckily it didn't need translation into cantonese as he avoided the rails, but apparently I can't take my own advice. 30s seconds later while crossing the tracks at 60 degrees, I did my best impression of the sign.

90 degrees only, 90 degrees only, 90 degrees only.

Hope you Feel better and feel wiser soon.
- Popstar

 

[dogman dan]

Well, at least close to 90 as possible. That track must catch a few motorcycles a year too.

I think you'd notice a full three way shoulder separation for sure, mine has the collarbone sticking up at least an inch. But you could easily have torn two of the three ligaments. Go real easy on that arm for about a month if that is so. If it still hurts in a week, I bet you separated your shoulder.

The full three way separation never heals, but in 3-4 years you get used to it.

 

[Punx0r]

Tuck and roll

 

[Ykick]

Pretty good read -

http://www.msgroup.org/forums/mtt/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13870

Most of us with m/c endorsements have probably seen this info before. It was a good refresher for me to dig around a bit in honor of Mr Neptronix recent, unfortunate lesson.



I know most y'all ignore my frequent MSF or similar suggestions but I only mention it because IT WORKS. Over 35 years I've ridden 300k miles on street bikes so of course I'm dreaming this stuff up....

 

[MadRhino]

That article gives good advice, and it doesn't apply only to train tracks.
A branch in a trail, moss or dust on a stone, slippery bumps, etc...
You can cross them at an angle but your bike has to be straight
and you need to unload the wheel at the moment it hits the slippery obstacle

 

[geeeyejo1]

90 degrees only, 90 degrees only, 90 degrees only.
I was riding in downtown Portland with my father-in-law from China as he rode my electric dahon . I pointed to this sign as we approached streetcar tracks:

Luckily it didn't need translation into cantonese as he avoided the rails, but apparently I can't take my own advice. 30s seconds later while crossing the tracks at 60 degrees, I did my best impression of the sign.

90 degrees only, 90 degrees only, 90 degrees only.

Hope you Feel better and feel wiser soon.
- Popstar

Feel better! Second that above - I took my Motorcycle Safety Course a few years ago to get the motorcycle endorsement for my driver's license - I remember them constantly mentioning to go across any obstacles - including tracks as close to 90 deg as possible. Thanks for the reminder though - will be looking out more for tracks in my area!

 

[RLD70]

Cant say Ive ever wrecked on train/trolley tracks but I have wrecked going 15+ mph slipping on snow no less and it hurt like hell too. I do concur about this, SLOW DOWN while crossing tracks no matter what angle youre crossing at especially if the tracks are lower than the pavement, potholes around the tracks, etc. I have to cross tracks everyday unless I want to go to one of 4 places where I can actually go under them but that adds a little time to my commute/ride time and if Im running late to say like work, its not really an option that Ill choose especially since its going the opposite direction Im heading lol. Hope you feel better soon nept because if youre anything like me, its not going to stop you from riding as Im pretty sure everyone on ES will say that too. 8)

 

[Alastor]

Man i am glad you are ok.Everything else will be fixed.

I fell a lot due to the nature of my riding so i wanted to secure my expensive CA in case it happens again l.So i will share with you guys all i have learned all this time using my e-bike on the trails.

There are a lot of components involved and i don't think this will work to all bicycles but it will work 100% in all Mountain Bikes.The simplest thing to do is use your seat spot as a locker for the handlebar what they done to a regular motorcycle frame to ensure that the handlebar can not rotate and kill all wiring in the bike.Same principle with an e-bike if your handlebar spins you will damage your equipment.

Also do not NOT over tighten the screws on your CA so its base can rotate in case something hits it.

I have some nice falls with this setup and my CA is like new the wires never twisted or anything.

 

[ions82]

When it comes to bicycles and tracks, I don't think it matters what kind of tires you're running. Those tracks just pull 'em right out from under you. There is a set here in Albuquerque that is right near a bike path. It has claimed many victims. I haven't had to face them on my e-bike as of yet. I did, however, have a close call over the winter. I was going through a curve at speed (28 mph), and there is a short bridge part way through. There must've been a little ice on the road, because both of my tires slipped for just a split second. I had panniers full of groceries, too. I sure am glad I have a front-mounted battery pack. Probably saved my ass that day.