SIWA: Oil patches on the road?

[Brettus]

Afternoon all, sorry, I've created another acronym, if only I use it that is enough for me as it will let me find my threads again but who knows, it might come in handy.

The SIWA stands for: Should I Worry About.....
and I suspect this will be a series of threads, hence the prefix, which once each thread has been answered (if deemed useful) could be compiled into an FAQ style thread with the question and most popular answer in one post with a link to the thread for the full story.

Anyway, this thought has come from my habit of avoiding the small drop of oil that you see on the roads after a rain shower. I'm quite averse to riding over them, to the extent that I'll compromise my line to avoid them.
Am I right to avoid them? has anyone fallen off from them?
I know you should generally avoid any oil but being a small (and common) occurrence
is it something I should move off my line to avoid or is the compromised line and potential reduced visibility/increased hazard worse than anything that could happen from the oil spot?

[Runako]

I think you've pretty much answered your question. Don't ride over them unless you have to. Which means your planning and observations skills should be used more readily when riding in these types of conditions, allowing you to anticipate further down the road. Needless to say avoid oil on corners, go really slow on a cleaner line if you have to. In most cases riding in oil in a straight line is fine, but just be cautious and adjust speed accordingly.

[oOTomOo]

I avoid it.

This one time (at band camp) I was on my way home on damp roads and there was a thick snail trail of rainbow goodness cutting across my lane. I went over it (I had too) but I felt the bike have a bit of a two wheel drift over it and re-gain grip at the other side.

Needless to say I nearly filled my pants, I continue to avoid any patches of oil / diesel to this day.

[missyburd]

I try to avoid patches completely but if unavoidable then I avoid braking, accelerating or making the bike move in any sudden manner if I'm going over them. Seeing as the patches are mostly visible in wet weather, I would far rather avoid making sudden swervy movements anyway so if it's not possible to alter your bike's path then riding over without doing owt daft is good enough. Worked so far for me***

*** Unless of course you have come into contact with a large spill on an incline where you have no choice but to brake to avoid crossing the path of a fast moving car. Then you'll fall off (voice of experience).

[Fallout]

I try to avoid patches completely but if unavoidable then I avoid braking, accelerating or making the bike move in any sudden manner if I'm going over them. Seeing as the patches are mostly visible in wet weather, I would far rather avoid making sudden swervy movements anyway so if it's not possible to alter your bike's path then riding over without doing owt daft is good enough. Worked so far for me***

This! Avoid them if you see them in good time, but don't allow yourself to swerve round them if you see them too late. That's a recipe for disasster. Same applies to manhole covers. Spot em early, then ride round em; spot em late, then don't brake, steer or gas it, and they'll cause you no problem. If you're going over them while cornering, same applies. Keep your little bit of throttle on, don't change your line and don't tense up. If you slide, you'll slide laterally and it'll sort itself out ... unless it's a massive spill, and then you're fudged. :rolleyes:

[Bibio]

they are getting to much of an occurrence up here at the moment. they are everywhere as well as the lines from speed bumps where someone has smashed their sump.

yes i avoid them like the plague.

[missyburd]

This! Avoid them if you see them in good time, but don't allow yourself to swerve round them if you see them too late. That's a recipe for disasster. Same applies to manhole covers. Spot em early, then ride round em; spot em late, then don't brake, steer or gas it, and they'll cause you no problem. If you're going over them while cornering, same applies. Keep your little bit of throttle on, don't change your line and don't tense up. If you slide, you'll slide laterally and it'll sort itself out ... unless it's a massive spill, and then you're fudged. :rolleyes:
Manhole covers are a right royal pain. Same rule applies but can feel the front tyre slip every time it happens. But seeing as most manhole covers are not very big the tyre soon finds grip again and all is right. I avoid manhole covers more than I do the odd oil patch. Tis ok on a normal route to work, I soon memorise where all the irritating ones are on bends :rolleyes:

[Runako]

... Yes i avoid them like the plague.

Haha, Loving the Avatar! :)