Bad Roads Bad On The Bike

For a road bike... Bad roads really take a toll on the bike. Road bikes are just not designed for rough roads like a mountain bike. You can still ride it through the bad roads but you run the risk of damaging or "cracking" the frames, especially the carbon fiber and aluminum allow ones. I use a sturdier, more durable road bike that has a chromoly steel frame that withstands these occasional rough roads. So I think, a steel road bike is the exception and can survive these tough road conditions.

I'm also curious about this. My city is full of bad roads and sometimes I just can't avoid them. I try to go really slow but I don't really know how much it affects the bike. My bike is actually made of steel so according to Jojo63 it should be a little more durable, but better be safe than sorry.

Huh, I've never really thought about this before. Most of the roads where I ride are in fairly good shape, but of course like everywhere you get the odd stretch of bumpy, hole-filled road. I've always been more concerned about the effects of the bumpy roads on me than on the bike, getting bounced around like that isn't terribly comfortable so I tend to slow down on such roads. Other than redirecting your route to try avoid bad roads is there anything that can be done to minimize the damage? (both to the rider and the bike!)

I have a Norco upright bike which has a pretty sturdy frame, it's rather heavy compared to real sport or road bikes. I routinely ride several blocks of a road that is not in good condition because the city doesn't have the money to fix it. I feel like my bike can handle it, but it definitely does contribute to the adjustments I have needed when I get a tune up. I really hate the feeling when I hit something I couldn't avoid and it's kind of jarring. I also hate having to try to dodge tree roots on a section of another street when someone is trying to pass me at the same time. That's a little rough because I usually just have to go over them. I slow down when I'm on a rougher section of road, it feels like it helps.

For comfort, put on the largest tires you can fit, which would probably be a 26 to 28c, and ride. Those carbon parts are more than strong enough. The parts are designed to endure cobblestone races with riders capable to producing far more power/torque than yourself.

Well, we'll see ... pothole season has struck with a vengance - 2nd coldest February on record, now a thaw.

Pot holes bend rims. Beyond that most road conditions will not hurt a bike, unless you fall.

Find places where you like the roads and ride there.

An old Guy said:

Find places where you like the roads and ride there.

Ah but that isn't always possible unfortunately, for example if you're cycling to commute, etc. :/

BeachyKeen said:

Ah but that isn't always possible unfortunately, for example if you're cycling to commute, etc. :/

That does not seem to be the OPs problem. He is wiling to drive to someplace to ride.

But you do have a point. If there is only one road, then you use it

An old Guy said:

That does not seem to be the OPs problem. He is wiling to drive to someplace to ride.

But you do have a point. If there is only one road, then you use it

Yup, it's only my road bike that concerns me. I don't know if that's actually valid - it may be just as tough or more-so than my other bikes. It just cost more, for one thing ...

Seriously, if some of you from other states could see the condition of Michigan roads, you would be shocked. We're like a 3rd world country when it comes to road conditions, and we spend less per mile, by far, than any other of the Great Lakes states. It shows.

It definitely is bad for the bike. Not too bad though. Frame wont get hurt that much, but the wheels might. They can get bent easily, I have had this happen to me. So in my opinion, definitely ride on the better pavement, dont risk your bike.

How bad are the roads? Small pot holes? Larger potholes? Stalingrad mortar fire potholes? 😄

If you can't avoid the potholes then maybe driving a bit farther to a nice road might make sense. If I remember correctly you have a full-on race bike for Roubaix races... These are pretty tough races, so the bike should be tough enough, but if you use it on a regular basis... If I also remember correctly it's a 10k euro bike. Hmmm. 😄

One of things that would probably happen would be the rims becoming untrue often and needing truing on the shop... This is cheap here, like 10 euro or something but I heard of places charging alot for that.

Maybe you could just get a cheap-er road bike for those roads and keep the expensive one for these "special" rides? :P That's what I would do when I get my Look Super Rigid... 😄

Our potholes are often mistaken by geologists for the impact craters of asteroids crashing into earth. Our DNR just ropes them off when they fill with water and declare them wetlands. Mapmakers name them and declare them new Great Lakes.

Yeah, they're big ....

So, what you're saying is, I'm not sure about this, they're big?

Maybe as opposed to customizing your bike to the garbage road conditions you can try complaining to someone who will hear you about the road conditions? Riding a bike more often is a pretty good argument for fixing the street let alone the cost of your & your neighbours cars.

Michigan's terrible roads have been a hot button issue in state politics for 20 years, and it never gets better.

I am happiest apolitical, ignorant of the news, and concentrating on staying alive and healthy.

Michigan's terrible roads have been a hot button issue in state politics for 20 years, and it never gets better.

I am happiest apolitical, ignorant of the news, and concentrating on staying alive and healthy.

I wouldn't risk damaging my bike on bad roads like that unless you are very profficient at manueving around them. I'd say try an alternative route rather than destorying your bike on them. Trust me, that would be one of the worst experiences if you bent a tire while biking up a mad steep hill.

Frames aren't as delicate as you would think. The rims run the biggest risk.

Rims are more at risk, but they are more than strong enough for the average rider on a rough road. I stress tested a front aluminum rim late last summer by hitting a brick laying in the road square on at 25mph. At 100kg, I put a lot of impact into that front wheel and carbon fork. Two spokes broke, the tire burst instantly and I went for a nice slide down the shoulder, but the rim and fork live on.

Using a larger tire, 25c or up will provide enough cushion to protect the more expensive parts of the bike.

Of course, nothing short of a Fat bike will protect you from the killer long, lengthwise cracks and holes that can develop. I dread the day I unintentionally get my wheel wedged in one of those tire grabbers.