Can anyone tell me what riding on metal grated bridge decking is like? I'd like to ride across the Mackinac bridge this weekend, but there's no guarantee that the paved lanes will be open. Just curious if it's same as usual, or anything I need to know about as far as handling my bike? I've only been riding for 1.5 years, so I'm trying to be smart about this.

 

Slick feeling, like rain water covered roads. Sometimes not, but I was in a shipyard for a year with one of those and it always felt slick crossing it on a bike. Center the bike on your line, keep your butt in the center of the seat and don't exaggerate your movements (Tell any passengers the same thing, stay in the center, do not try to help me lean into turns or move around abruptly.). If you have to move side to side, try not to be too abrupt with it, smooth transitions...See your line, take it and roll on.

 

I don't find it to be challenging. You may get a slight squirrley feeling but I never noticed any deadly issues. Just relax on the grating and keep your speed down until you become comfortable with it. If it is raining I'd be real cautious. But as long as the deck is dry you shouldn't have an issue.

 

Maintain your speed and try to stay as straight as possible. Other than that you should be golden how long is the bridge I am not familar with this particular bridge.

 

Relax your grip, don't coast with the clutch pulled in. All our intracoastal bridges are like those, they feel squirrely but never seen a bike go down on one. Don't look down!

 

it can feel kind of squirely, dont look down through the grate if you get vertigo.

 

Don't hold the bars with a death grip. Relax it is going to move a little just ride like all the previous posters mentioned and you will be fine. On that bridge be prepared for wind.

 

I have crossed the Mackinaw a few times on a bike. The grating will cause your the bike to "track" back and forth a little because the tires are trying to find a line. I haven't crossed in the rain but it never felt slick to me. If it was raining I would prefer to be on the inside on the open grate and not the smooth cement on the outside.

Make sure you ride the hurricane hwy from Grand Maraias to Shingleton while your up there!

 

I crossed the Big Mac the week before Memorial Day. Incredibly foggy, rainy and there was construction in the paved lane. I turned on my four-ways and dropped in behind a maintenance truck with yellow flashing lights. The grating was a little squirrely but it has little teeth in it so the grip was OK. Just go with it and stay loose. I looked down but it was so foggy I couldn't see the water.

 

Thanks everyone - very helpful. WG2011 - the total bridge is 5 miles, but I think the grated section is only 1-2 of it. The Mackinac is the third longest suspension bridge in the world and connects the lower peninsula of Michigan to the upper peninsula.