Potholes
For most road users, a pothole is an inconvenience. For cyclists, it can be a crash waiting to happen.
A small depression in the tarmac might look harmless from a car seat. From the saddle of a bike — especially at 18–25 mph on a club run — it can mean pinch punctures, buckled wheels, broken components, or worse, a sudden trip to A&E.
Why Potholes Are So Dangerous on a Bike
Unlike cars, bicycles have:
- Narrow tyres with limited contact area
- High tyre pressures, especially on road bikes
- Minimal suspension
- Less stability at speed
Hit a pothole square-on and you risk:
- Snakebite punctures
- Cracked rims or carbon damage
- Broken spokes
- Loss of control
- Being thrown over the bars
Add water into the equation and the danger multiplies. A water-filled pothole hides its depth. What looks like a shallow puddle can conceal a wheel-swallowing crater.
For group riders, the risks increase further. One rider swerving suddenly can bring down half the bunch.
How to Avoid Pothole Incidents
The good news? Many pothole-related crashes are preventable with awareness and technique.
- Look Where You’re Going — Not at Your Front Wheel
- Scan 10–20 metres ahead. Your bike follows your eyes. If you stare at the hole, you’re more likely to hit it.
Read the Road Surface
Watch for:
- Dark patches (possible standing water)
- Cracked “alligator” tarmac
- Gravel wash from verges
- Shiny patches after rain
- Long cracks along the road that could be wider than your tyre
Winter and early spring are peak pothole seasons due to freeze–thaw cycles.
Choose Your Line Early
- Avoid last-second swerves. In a group, call hazards clearly:
- “Hole left!”
- “Hole centre!”
- “Gravel!”
- Consistency prevents panic.
Lighten the Front Wheel
If you can’t avoid a hole:
- Stop pedalling
- Shift weight slightly back
- Relax your arms
- Let the bike move beneath you
- Unweighting the front wheel slightly can reduce impact.
Tyre Setup Matters
- Don’t overinflate
- Consider slightly wider tyres for rough roads
- Tubeless setups eliminate pinch punctures but can bring other issues
- Comfort and control often beat marginal speed gains on poor surfaces.
Maintain Safe Spacing
- In club rides, leave enough room to react. Overlapping wheels limits your escape route.
In the Event of an Accident
- Make sure everyone is safe
- Carry out First Aid
- Report the accident to the club (As soon as possible)
After a Strike: What To Check
If you hit a pothole hard, get to a safe place and:
- Inspect tyres for cuts or bulges
- Check rim braking surface or disc alignment
- Spin wheels to check for buckling
- Listen for spoke pinging
- Check your frame and fork for cracks
Carbon damage can be subtle — if in doubt, get it inspected.
Reporting Potholes Saves Crashes
Councils rely on public reporting. If you find a dangerous defect:
- Weather conditions
- Exact time and date
- Size of pothole
- Make a list of damage or injury
- Note the location precisely – “whatthreewords” or Pothole Apps
- Take several photographs if safe
- Report via your local authority website
- One report could prevent multiple injuries.
If the there is paint around the hole means the council has identified it, if not report the hole before you make a claim.
Links to to local Councils
You must report the pothole and or Incident as soon as possible, the longer you leave it the less chance you have of taking legal action if necessary, see links below: –
Wiltshire
Gloucester
Oxfordshire
Berkshire
Taking Legal Action
You can take legal action whenever you wish but the longer it’s left the less chance of a successful outcome, it can be a long process 2-3 years keep all the correspondence between your legal team because as they will keep asking for the same information over and over. It’s worth joining British cycling for the legal help.
Insurance
As always it is worth having cycling insurance and there are several places you can go, including the following: –
- British Cycling, Membership comes with benefits depending on which level of membership you have – Legal and insurance benefits for members | British Cycling
- Cycling UK – Insurance for cycling | Cycling UK
- Compare the Market and Go Compare can offer competitive rates
Bike Recovery
If you need to be recovered you maybe covered by your own insurance or you could take a recovery policy with ETA Cycling Insurance