I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

The Dartford Bridge in particular. Looks very high, don't like it in the car, never done it on the bike, but I have to do it next week otherwise I'll be called a wuss. I did think about using the M11 and Blackwall but as I don't want to fall off and as I don't want herpes and genital warts, it don't seem too good an idea:lol: (Or rather, there are too many 30s, 40s and cameras in east London and I won't have all day.)

Is it scary?

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Only if it's windy and your bike has a side area that can rival an HGV

:rolleyes:;)

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

You're a wuss.

There - the worst has happened. Now you can feel free to do as you like ;)

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

It was scary on a Pan European a few years ago, as TLW says about slab sided structures being affected :)

I haven't been over on my SV, neither have I been thru the Blackwall Tunnel for fear of catching things on my winky...

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Claire managed it no problem. It's not scary, you are miles from the edges and focus on the road. You will be fine.

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

I think it's more about potential sidewinds than the drop over the side - as you say, you are miles from the edges

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Ed, do you suffer from a phobia about bridges? I had a friend with quite a severe case of this - she could do heights as long as not near an edge, but bridges just freaked her out totally and she could not cross.

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Would love to cross the Millau bridge in France and the Humber Bridge in the UK ;)

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

2nd Severn Bridge in gale force winds that had reduced it down to 40mph.

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

I cross the Dartford Bridge about 3 times a week and got used to it fine. Mind you I'm a newbie and still afraid of many things, including the Blackwall Tunnel :rolleyes:

The worst experience I had was on my Burgman 125 a few years back when I managed to get to the bridge in the middle of a surprise storm. I say surpise because when I left Lakeside 10 minutes earlier, it was calm and sunny.

Basically, 2 out of 4 lanes were closed because of the cross winds, traffic speed about 5-10mph but I had to stop and struggle to keep the 160Kg scooter from being blown over. I still can visualise the wind screen flexing like a sheet of paper.

After the event, I was no longer scared of side winds on the motorway :))

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Not exactly a phobia but BP members will know that I feel a bit vulnerable and exposed. Cross winds - yukkkkkkk

I'm going to do the bridge, I'moff tto the mountains so I'd best get used to heights:rolleyes::lol:

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Well if you will ride a little BMX bike...

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

I would have thought it more streamlined than a penny farthing;)

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

floppy chicken arms and you'll be fine (no pun intended)

(or would that be chicken wings?!)

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Nope. And free for bikes :thumbsup:
Was there last year on the bike. Fantastic structure, and totally unnecessary :thumbsup:

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1276621900

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

thats awsome ive not been over a bridge or in tunnel yet altho i hear it is a must once i get new exhuast ....

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Ed----Look on the bright side,once over the bridge you get the choice of two tunnels on the way back.;)
Normally the side wind is no problem but if it is, use one of the middle two lanes and a large vehicle/car alongside as a wind shield,wide lanes so just stay in the middle of your lane

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Ed, it's really not that bad. You hardly know you're on the bridge because it does have side walls that block most of the sidewinds. I've done it plenty of times on my way to Brands Hatch and my ex's place in Whitstable.

The Medway bridge on the M2 is far worse, and it's nowhere near as high up.

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Careful, it'd be a shame if I didn't see you down there and got you stuck in the tyre treads

:p

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Dartford bridge is fine even in high winds, used to use it fairly regularly

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

youll be fine on the bike i go over that bridge in my lorry with a 16"6' trailer most days never feel unstable, just watch out for idots changing there minds which toll booth they want at the end! hth, rhys

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

No.

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Thank you for the reassurance, peeps:D

I didn't realise that there are side walls, so you can't see how long a drop it is over the edge:lol: - it's the crosswind I don't like. On the M5 Sunday I had my camping stuff on the back of the bike, it was very gusty, I hate being blown around the road, especially at speed.

I'm off to the mountains Thursday week, can't wait:cool:

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Seriously tho Ed, if you relax your arms to almost floppy it will help with the wind - well I find it does. I'm always nipping up and down bridges here in London, fair enough they're not so long, but you always get some crosswind, and relaxing the arms helps.

I used to instinctively hold on tighter, but I think it is counterproductive to do so. Well either way, this tip did me a world of good.

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

OMG I hate the Dartford Bridge - have only been over it a few times , but it always seems to be really windy, and something about the design makes you feel like you're going to get blown off the edge and into the abyss below....

Funny cos I have no probs with riding in very windy conditions on motorways, etc. Maybe it's the fact that the bridge just seems to rise into the sky forever and it's really f-ing high!

PS. that said I have always made it over safely so maybe it's all in my head ;-)

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Just what I wanted to read.....:(:(:(:(

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

I find the howling gales when crossing the Thelwall and Barton bridge bad enough.

But the worst side winds I have ever experienced are when I followed Quiff back from the kielder/borders run a few years ago after his incident. Coming down from Shap the winds were blowing us off the motorway. So bad we had to stop and eat expensive pie

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

always nice to have an excuse to stop and eat expensive pie though :)

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Once you are over the bridge make sure you go to the manned booths as the auto coin operated ones dont recognise bikes and you'll end up waiting for someone to come over and let you out. The manned ones are left to middle from memory. Oh an the bridge is fine as there are usually loads of vehicles to cover you..the tunnel is great on the way home :)

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

*Positive mindset kicks in* I will not be beaten by a bridge or by a gust of wind. It's a challenge and I am going to win.

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

:lol: :lol: well I did say that I've always made it over in one piece!

It's only when you try and go fast that it's a problem - if you go over in the slow lane it'll be fine

:grouphug:

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Look where you are going and the bike will lean to compensate for any side wind and keep you going straight.
Don't need to go over there at 4mph. Side winds are worse at low speed because you have less gyroscopic stabilisation from the spinning wheels.


There's that bridge on the M56 (I think, might be M6 or something) which can have some interesting crosswinds, but they are an irritation rather than an "OMFG!"

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

*WANTED* - an org member free on Thursday week to walk in front of me across the Dartford Bridge with a red flag:smt044

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Could guide you over with a bigger Triumph if that helps, I'm all out of red flags:D

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Would do as I'm in Sidcup, but I haven't got my bike down here. Doh.

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Its ****e when you are actually on it. More of a thrill and view on the ol' Erskine bridge!:)

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Been over the Humber and the Forth, big bridges are great. Stand up on the pegs as you go across and see the sights.......its brilliant

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Don't bother with the Dartford bridge. If you have to cross the Thames go to Tilbury and get on the little ferry that goes across to Gravesend. It doesn't take cars, just foot passengers, pushchairs, bicycles and the occasional motorbike. Much more fun!

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...ptoKent073.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...ptoKent074.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...ptoKent078.jpg

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

Definitley giving that a go :D

Re: I'm bored with tunnels. Let's talk about bridges.
 

I love doing bridges on teh bike!

Millau is a fabulous structure but you don't get all that much sensation of height when riding over it because of the sides which stop you seeing into the valley much. Worth a visit though. If you tried getting through Millau before the "viaduc" was built you'll realise why it was built, basically a motorway with a town centre on it.

The Pont de Normandie is great too, quite steep on the southern side. Bikes are free over that one, keep over to the extreme right of the toll booths and there's a bike lane goes straight through. This pic exaggerates the effect a little, but you get the idea.
http://lumerphoto.romandie.com/get/1...3289_1_1_1.JPG



Another nice one is in Nantes.
http://www.emac2009.org/userfiles/im.../bridge570.jpg