How to Ride Over Potholes Without Losing Control

Potholes are easiest to handle when you spot them early. The common mistake is to wait until the front wheel is almost at the hole, then brake hard or jerk the handlebar. That can unsettle the bike more than the pothole itself.

The basic strategy is simple: look ahead, decide whether you can safely avoid the hole, and keep your movements smooth. If you can’t avoid it, reduce speed before the hazard, hold a stable line, and briefly take weight off the wheels as you pass.

Scan beyond the road directly in front of you

Your front wheel follows your eyes more than you may realize. If you stare at a pothole, you can drift toward it while trying to avoid it. Keep your head up and scan several seconds ahead, checking both the road surface and the traffic around you.

Look for more than obvious dark holes. Road hazards can include:

Cracks running across the lane
Sunken utility covers
Raised pavement or broken patches
Gravel gathered near the edge of the road
Puddles that may hide damage
Drainage grates, especially those with gaps or awkward angles
Debris that could move under your tire

The farther ahead you look, the more options you have. On a quiet road, you may be able to move around a pothole. In traffic, your best option may be to slow down and ride through it in a controlled way.

Decide whether avoiding the pothole is actually safer

Avoiding a pothole isn’t automatically the safest choice. A sudden move into another lane, toward a parked car, or into the path of another rider can create a greater hazard.

Before changing direction, check the space beside and behind you. Consider:

Whether a vehicle or cyclist is approaching
Whether the road shoulder is clear and usable
Whether the surface beside the pothole is loose or broken
Whether you have enough room to return to your original line
Whether other riders can predict what you’re about to do

On an empty road, a gradual line change is usually preferable to riding directly over a deep hole. In traffic, staying predictable may matter more than making a last-second avoidance maneuver.

If you’re riding with others, call out the hazard early and point toward it without making a sudden sideways movement. A warning such as “hole left” or “hole right” gives riders behind you time to choose their own line.

Check the conditions before choosing your line: Road damage, traffic patterns, visibility, and local cycling rules can vary. Make your maneuver based on what you can see now, and don’t assume a shoulder or passing space is safe just because it was clear on a previous ride.

Slow down before you reach the hazard

Braking is most effective before the pothole, not while your wheels are inside it. Apply the brakes smoothly while the bike is upright and traveling in a straight line. Once you’re close to the hole, release or ease off the brakes so the wheels can roll over the edge without the suspension-like effect of locked or heavily loaded wheels.

Road bikes have relatively narrow tires and limited clearance, so speed matters. You don’t need to make an abrupt stop for every imperfection, but reducing speed gives you more control and lessens the impact.

Use both brakes as needed, with a measured squeeze rather than a grab. The front brake provides substantial stopping power, but a sudden front-brake application while turning or descending can shift your weight abruptly. Keep your hands firmly on the controls, especially on unfamiliar roads or rough descents.

If the pothole is deep, traffic is close, or you can’t judge its depth, slowing significantly or stopping may be wiser than trying to roll through it. There is no prize for preserving speed when you don’t have a clear exit.

Choose a line that crosses the hole squarely

If you must ride over a pothole, aim to cross it as close to perpendicular as the road and traffic allow. A wheel that meets the edge at a shallow angle can be deflected sideways, particularly if the hole has a sharp lip.

Keep the bike pointed in the direction you want to travel. Avoid twisting the handlebar to make tiny corrections at the last moment. Your line should be deliberate and smooth.

Try to keep your weight centered rather than leaning heavily over the front wheel. Bend your elbows and knees so your arms and legs can absorb some movement. Don’t lock your joints; rigid arms transfer more of the impact into the handlebar and your upper body.

For a small, unavoidable pothole, this may be all you need:

Reduce speed while approaching.
Keep your hands secure on the bars.
Relax your elbows and knees.
Keep the bike straight through the hole.
Resume normal pedaling after the rear wheel clears it.

Unweight the wheels without forcing a jump

“Unweighting” means briefly reducing pressure on a wheel as it crosses the obstacle. It doesn’t necessarily mean performing a full bunny hop, and you shouldn’t try to launch the bike over a hazard unless you’ve practiced that skill in a controlled area.

For the front wheel, move your weight slightly rearward and lighten your grip as the wheel reaches the pothole. Let your arms extend enough for the front wheel to rise or roll through without being driven hard into the edge. Keep your torso stable and avoid pulling sharply on the bars.

For the rear wheel, shift your weight slightly forward after the front wheel passes, then lift your weight from the saddle. A small rise on the pedals can reduce the force going through the rear wheel. Keep the movement subtle; a panicked, exaggerated lift can disturb your balance.

You can practice this on a quiet, flat surface using a painted line or a small stick, not a deep hole. First learn to bend and extend your arms and legs while keeping the bike straight. Build control before attempting to clear larger obstacles.

Keep pedaling, but don’t fight the bike

A light, steady pedal stroke can help you maintain balance, particularly when the pothole is shallow and your speed is already controlled. Avoid standing abruptly or stamping on the pedals as the front wheel reaches the hole.

On a larger hazard, stop pedaling briefly if that helps you focus on steering and weight distribution. The priority is stable control, not maintaining your cadence.

Your upper body should remain relatively relaxed, while your hands stay ready on the brake levers. A tight grip can make the bike harder to guide and can increase discomfort when the road surface is rough.

When braking or avoidance is the better choice

Some potholes shouldn't be ridden through at normal speed. Choose a stronger response when:

You can’t see the bottom because of water, shadow, or poor light
The hole is wide or deep enough to threaten the rim
The road edge gives you no safe escape route
You’re descending quickly and can’t establish a clean line
A vehicle, cyclist, or pedestrian limits your available space
Your tires are already damaged or underinflated

If you have room, brake in a straight line and move around the hazard only after you’ve checked the path. If you don’t have room to avoid it, reduce speed as much as possible, stabilize the bike, and use the unweighting technique rather than making a sudden turn.

On a wet road, painted surfaces, metal covers, and loose material may be more slippery than ordinary pavement. Keep the bike upright, avoid abrupt braking or steering, and give yourself additional stopping distance.

After the impact, check the bike

A pothole can cause damage even when you remain upright. Once you’re safely clear of traffic, check the tires, rims, brakes, and steering.

Look for:

A new bulge, cut, or exposed casing on a tire
A tire that is losing air
A dent or visible deformation in the rim
Brake rub or a wheel that no longer spins freely
A handlebar or saddle that has shifted
Unusual looseness, vibration, or pulling while riding

If the bike feels unstable or a tire is damaged, stop riding and repair it or arrange another way home. Continuing on a compromised wheel can turn a manageable impact into a crash.

Build the habit before the next rough road

Pothole control depends less on a dramatic maneuver than on preparation. Keep your eyes moving, leave yourself time to choose, and make the smallest safe correction. Slow before the hazard, avoid heavy braking while crossing it, and use relaxed arms and legs to let the bike move beneath you.

On your next ride, practice scanning several seconds ahead and identifying two possible lines through your lane. Then rehearse a smooth brake-and-release action on clear pavement. Those simple habits will help you respond earlier, when you still have room to stay in control.