Gravel b!tch

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bcarlson · #1 Post by **bcarlson** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:49 am

OK what's the deal with this loose gravel that gets dumped on the road. What purpose does it serve? All the roads around where I work were just dumped on yesterday so now its the cage for the next several days until the gravel goes wherever it goes after a few days of traffic.

The ride home last night was particularly brutal, I could hear the stones scraping the insides of my mudguards and also bouncing off my fairing, could also feel the bike sliding around like I was riding on ball bearings or something. I guess I should at least commend the county, they posted loose gravel signs; of course they are on the gravel road itself so if someone turns onto one of these roads without slowing WAAY down, they're going down.

cherokeepati · #2 Post by **cherokeepati** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 1:14 am

The road crews have been out this way also with the gravel/tar gunk. It's cheaper than paving the road so it's a temporary fix. The last turn I make coming home goes thru two miles of turns and twists. My hubby called me at work and gave me an alternate route until this mess solidifies! Now they've plastered both lanes coming and going ..ARRRGGGGHHH!

#3 Post by **9000white** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:08 am

ever notice that this road "improvement" always happens in an election year?

roscowgo · #4 Post by **roscowgo** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:40 am

i wish it was only election times here. every summer the road crews block off the same 6 mile stretch of road.

and then huddle together like scared lemmings within 50 feet of each other.

suppose i could do the slalom thing with the cones though...

Scott58 · #5 Post by **Scott58** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 4:53 am

The one thing about there being more motorcycles on the road is that we are becoming a political force. With safety issues and concerns on our side we will be able to make this problem go away in the near future.

cherokeepati · #6 Post by **cherokeepati** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:58 am

Love the idea of weaving the cones-that might wake them up! On another note :I had heard on some local thread here in N.C. that last Wednesday was a National "Ride your bike to work day". I think I counted seven motorcycles total on my way in and out from work at 1/2 hour each way. Heck, I was hoping the roads would be LINED in all makes and models!!

Kim · #7 Post by **Kim** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:44 pm

9000white wrote:ever notice that this road "improvement" always happens in an election year?

Speaking of election year....have you noticed that the "vote for me" signs are getting bigger? A few more years and the sign will cover your whole house!

#8 Post by **9000white** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 1:00 am

if the ones here running for election had to include their police rap sheet on them signs a house wouldnt be big enough to display them.

flynrider · #9 Post by **flynrider** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:00 am

The repaving process with all the gravel is called "chip-seal". It's only used in the summer because it uses the sun to heat up tar and gravel mixture, so the gravel will stick. It's not a very efficient way of paving and is getting less popular (thank goodness).

In the Phoenix area, they used to chip-seal large sections of all of the main roads every summer. That hardly happens anymore. Now, chip-sealing is relegated to low use neighborhood streets and alleys.

BuzZz · #10 Post by **BuzZz** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:31 am

We just call it 'chipping' around here. And it is a dedicated process in the surfacing of all our hiways.

They re-pave, widen and improve large distances of hiway every summer. By fall, they leave a beautiful, freshly paved, bare asphalt..... Man, it's georgeous stuff.....

The next spring the cones are back up, the flaggirls are wandering around bored and they are chipping the entire road they just finished 6 months ago. From white line to white line, they don't do the shoulders. Busted windshields and bruised bikers continue for another 6 months.

But it hides the frost heaves that will appear in the next few years.....