Anyone have any advise for making a trip across the mackinaw bridge. Travelled over it many times in car even walked it once but have not yet crossed on the bike. Looking at going to Memorial weekend bike show in St ignace and the wife is nervous about crossing on the bike.

 

slow and steady - just like in your car only slower in truck lane. if really gusty you can ask for an escort (they do this for trucks etc) and the lead bridge athority vehicle will block the on coming wind but you might still get a cross breeze.

i cross it a couple of times a year at least in vehicle. I plan on doing a U.P. ride this may and that will be the first actual time i cross riding a bike. but, thats how i plan on taking it

I look forward to seeing other posts of people who ACTUALLY have ridden accross.

 

Crosswinds on the bridge can be dangerous. I am planning a crossing in June and before I cross am going to check about the gusts. If too high it looks like I might be staying in the UP until they subside. I've been on the road riding in near Tornado levels of wind gusts so going across the bridge shouldn't be that bad as long as you take it easy.

 

Stay on the paved side, not on the iron grid in the centre, and do not hang on too tight. Let the bike move around a bit, or else you will be dead tired after just the crossing. Also the winds on the lakes traditionally are much calmer in the morning, so try to be there early rather than at the end of the day.

Joe

 

I've always thought a night crossing would be spectacular...

 

My wife and I crossed 2 summers ago, it was a fairly windy day and we had no problems, just take it slow and easy. My wife was pretty nervous about driving her bike across but when we got to the other side she pulled up next to me and said it was no big deal. As far as staying off the grated lane, good luck with that, all summer long the paved lane is usually closed as they are doing maintenance to the bridge.
After we crossed we stopped to gas up and there were 2 bikes there as well, the guys wives wouldn't ride on the back of the bikes to cross so the husbands paid some guy to drive themacross. All I can say is if you don't like heights (me) don't look down through the grates as your crossing.

 

pic I took right b/4 heading across

[IMG]local://upfiles/15103/F13FAA8BF16041488CF1873989603E0B.jpg[/IMG]

 

Outstanding picture!!!!!!!!

 

I don't know if there is something special about this bridge. I know it's long, has iron gratings and gets a lot of wind.

Sounds like the bridges I cross all the time.

Before hitting the bridge, loosen your grip, loosen your body, and just go with it... like riding a horse.
Your bike is not going to fall down... repeat this a few times...

Going too slow on iron gratings makes the bike wiggle more. Same for grooved pavement. Same for high wind.

Several of us cross big bridges here every day and after a while you just get used to it.

Remember... mellow

 

What's special about it is that untill the bridge to P.E.I. was built it was the longest in the world.It is very serious. Take a look at the link attached.

http://www.mackinacbridge.org/about-the-bridge-8/

http://www.mackinacbridge.org/



Joe