Riding on a road under construction? - SV650.org

24-03-12, 09:25 AM

On my way to work today, the road up the mountain was under construction... the surface had beeen scraped away, revealing the sub-base (the horrible, uneven layer underneath that's covered in ridges and bumps). Lots of loose chips and raised ironworks too.

This stuff isn't nice in the car, on a bike it feels positively dangerous, and facing bends and steep gradients I turned around and found another route.

Any advice? I was going about 20mph which was appreciated by the unsympathetic cagers behind me.

NTECUK · 24-03-12, 10:11 AM

Don't tense up.
Look were you going as you can get drawn in by the looking at your front wheel syndrome

24-03-12, 10:31 AM

I imagine it's not unlike what offroading feels like, but without appropriate tires for doing so. I was looking where I was going, the problem was the surface was horrific and made you lurch around.

24-03-12, 10:54 AM

On a straight bit of road I would say just potter along at a safe speed, but downhill with bends? I think you did the right thing. If you don't feel comfortable and and you have another option, then take it.

squirrel_hunter · 24-03-12, 10:54 AM

Relax, allow the bike to move around a little underneath you. Just like normal surfaces keep looking where you want to be so you can avoid the big lumps of metal. And finally take your time go at your own pace and screw the cages behind you.

24-03-12, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squirrel_hunter

Relax, allow the bike to move around a little underneath you. Just like normal surfaces keep looking where you want to be so you can avoid the big lumps of metal. And finally take your time go at your own pace and screw the cages behind you.

+1
don't feel under pressure from car drivers, it's not them that could fall off!

Red Herring · 24-03-12, 05:43 PM

As has been said, just try and relax and let the bike twitch about beneath you. Don't worry about the tyres, they're not going to slip unless you go on something loose, they'll just try and track a bit on the ridges. Just ease up a bit when you come to the end as sometimes the step back up onto the good stuff can be a bit big and you don't want to ding a rim or pinch a tyre. Obviously dodge the raised manhole covers as well!

Bibio · 24-03-12, 06:16 PM

head up and crack on.

andrewsmith · 24-03-12, 07:36 PM

Relax and read the road nice and early.

Your not meant to do anymore then 20mph on the sub-bases as it buggers them up more

24-03-12, 09:25 AM	#1
metalangel Guest Posts: n/a	Riding on a road under construction? On my way to work today, the road up the mountain was under construction... the surface had beeen scraped away, revealing the sub-base (the horrible, uneven layer underneath that's covered in ridges and bumps). Lots of loose chips and raised ironworks too. This stuff isn't nice in the car, on a bike it feels positively dangerous, and facing bends and steep gradients I turned around and found another route. Any advice? I was going about 20mph which was appreciated by the unsympathetic cagers behind me. Last edited by metalangel; 24-03-12 at 09:28 AM.

24-03-12, 10:11 AM	#2
NTECUK Member Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: essex Posts: 5,314	Re: Riding on a road under construction? Don't tense up. Look were you going as you can get drawn in by the looking at your front wheel syndrome __________________ Raisin cookies that look like chocolate chip cookies are the reason I have trust issues.

24-03-12, 10:31 AM	#3
metalangel Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Riding on a road under construction? I imagine it's not unlike what offroading feels like, but without appropriate tires for doing so. I was looking where I was going, the problem was the surface was horrific and made you lurch around.

24-03-12, 10:54 AM	#4
WayneL Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Riding on a road under construction? On a straight bit of road I would say just potter along at a safe speed, but downhill with bends? I think you did the right thing. If you don't feel comfortable and and you have another option, then take it.

24-03-12, 10:54 AM	#5
squirrel_hunter Member Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sunny Swindon Posts: 3,570	Re: Riding on a road under construction? Relax, allow the bike to move around a little underneath you. Just like normal surfaces keep looking where you want to be so you can avoid the big lumps of metal. And finally take your time go at your own pace and screw the cages behind you. __________________ "A little enthusiastic?" May I add here, GG is awesome and I think I am in love with Stretchie...he rocks my world! SH2 \| 2MA \| GROM \| YSR

24-03-12, 05:43 PM	#7
Red Herring Member Mega Poster Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,708	Re: Riding on a road under construction? As has been said, just try and relax and let the bike twitch about beneath you. Don't worry about the tyres, they're not going to slip unless you go on something loose, they'll just try and track a bit on the ridges. Just ease up a bit when you come to the end as sometimes the step back up onto the good stuff can be a bit big and you don't want to ding a rim or pinch a tyre. Obviously dodge the raised manhole covers as well!

24-03-12, 06:16 PM	#8
Bibio Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: here as devil's advocate Posts: 11,540	Re: Riding on a road under construction? head up and crack on.

24-03-12, 07:36 PM	#9
andrewsmith Member Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Just south of salad dodging country Posts: 7,750	Re: Riding on a road under construction? Relax and read the road nice and early. Your not meant to do anymore then 20mph on the sub-bases as it buggers them up more __________________ RIP Reeder 20/07/1988 - 21/03/2012. Always missed squire!!! Every year we meet old friends, gain some new ones, lose old ones and you always remember them all. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Mahatma Gandhi

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