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How to prevent front tire washout?

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How to prevent front tire washout?

Old 08-28-21, 10:29 AM
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JohnnyMordoc
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How to prevent front tire washout?

Folks,

This may be a silly question - giving it a try anyway.

I was on a nice leisurely bike ride a couple weeks back - following the bike lane up in Lakeport CA, along Lakeshore Blvd.

Next thing you know, I am laying on my back looking at the sky and wondering what the heck happened?

As I replay the video on my head.... I was in a bit of a narrow section of the bike path, along the road and following the white line.

In slow motion, I saw my front tire just catch some part of the thermal painted white line and just take me right down. (it was raised up a bit)

Fortunately, I was not seriously injured - looks like my handle bars kind of broke the fall, but did put my right arm out to break my fall and jammed my shoulder into the asphalt.... thank goodness no broken bones.

I run my tires at about 100 lbs. front/rear.

Anybody have similar issues of front tire washout??

Was it my tire pressure or just a bad spot in the road - than goodness no traffic coming at the time!

I have been riding bikes and motorcycles/dirt bikes for some time - this was a first on a bike.

Maybe do not follow so close to the white thermal striping in the bike lane?

Just sharing my experience and wondering if others have had same thing happen.

Stay safe everyone!
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Old 08-28-21, 11:07 AM
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tyrion
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Those painted lines can be super slick with just a hint of moisture (morning dew, etc.), so if it's moist out try to take those painted areas straight ahead straight upright. And 100psi tire pressure seems high unless the tires are 25mm or narrower.
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Old 08-28-21, 11:17 AM
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Slippery when wet.... Bon Jovi?

Seriously, can be slippery when very hot and sun is shining on them as well. Even though they are white. I have felt them move under my wheels.
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Old 08-28-21, 01:49 PM
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Painted lines aren't good for riding on. And 100 psi?! That's a lot of pressure. Didn't even run that high on my 700 x 25 road bike tires. And front tire is usually run with less pressure than the back.
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Old 08-28-21, 03:11 PM
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Don’t ride on painted lines.

They also have tiny reflective dust particles put on them that are extra slippery.
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Old 08-28-21, 04:39 PM
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It’s not just painted lines. Leaves, wet or dry mud, dew, sand, oil spill… there’s not much that’s not going to reduce traction.

I look ahead for these conditions and slow down so I can roll over them in a straight line without braking.
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Old 08-29-21, 08:42 AM
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Thanks everyone for the response - will work on trying to figure out the front tire pressure.

Yeah... it was a combo or the painted line and the part of where they repaved the road.... was trying to stay out of that gravely stuff we all know about and have experienced.

This experience has defiantly been added to the "note to self" section of the my bike riding experiences....

Stay safe everyone!
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Old 08-29-21, 02:18 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnnyMordoc
Thanks everyone for the response - will work on trying to figure out the front tire pressure.

Yeah... it was a combo or the painted line and the part of where they repaved the road.... was trying to stay out of that gravely stuff we all know about and have experienced.

This experience has defiantly been added to the "note to self" section of the my bike riding experiences....

Stay safe everyone!
What bike is it? What tires and how wide? Maybe we can help.

And yeah, riding on paint is bad. Glad you weren’t badly hurt.
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Old 08-31-21, 01:40 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnnyMordoc
As I replay the video on my head.... I was in a bit of a narrow section of the bike path, along the road and following the white line.

In slow motion, I saw my front tire just catch some part of the thermal painted white line and just take me right down. (it was raised up a bit)
You've just described an "Edge Trap" - They'll throw you to the ground in the blink of an eye. Functionally it "traps" your wheel preventing tracking to one side while the rest of your momentum keeps going in that direction. Bam, you're on the ground.I wouldn't think one of those lines would have enough of an edge to do what happened, but if they'd added layers perhaps it did.

See this article/video showing examples in motorcycling: https://www.rideapart.com/features/3...ap-motorcycle/

The way to mitigate edge traps is to cross them at a substantial angle so your tire goes up and over the edge instead of being forced to follow the edge.

(the other posts about painted stripes being slippery are also correct, through if your front wheel slips a couple inches and regains traction you'd often be able to recover even if you left a pucker mark on your seat)
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Old 09-05-21, 09:10 AM
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JohnnyMordoc
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Been riding for a years and first it happened on my bike - then again - listening to music, taking in the scenery and trying to watch the road...... that split second loss of concentration did me in. It was like slow motion and next thing you know I am on the ground and wondering WTF?
Thanks again everyone for the feedback!

Stay safe!
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Old 09-05-21, 02:38 PM
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My sin for hitting an edge trap just today was because I was looking at the computer for speed and cadence to match the heart rate. Almost spilled but managed to grab it back in time. Stupid! However, I don't use headphones when riding, unless it's a bike lane only trip, and those are rare. I want to be able to hear cars coming up behind me. With e-cars everywhere, it's very easy for them to be suddenly right next to you and doing something stupid, just because I didn't look at the mirror!
Originally Posted by JohnnyMordoc
Been riding for a years and first it happened on my bike - then again - listening to music, taking in the scenery and trying to watch the road...... that split second loss of concentration did me in. It was like slow motion and next thing you know I am on the ground and wondering WTF?
Thanks again everyone for the feedback!

Stay safe!
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Old 09-07-21, 01:15 PM
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100 psi?!! Cripes!!!

What bike is this?
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