Road Cycling - Trashed roads

The roads here in central MA are trashed after this winter. The are lots of potholes, ripped up pavement and sand everywhere. I'm afaraid to ride my lovely bike until the debris is cleared up a little but I want to get out :( . Should I just suck it up and risk damage or wait a little and take it to a track for now?

Same for Ct. Folks thought that snow removal was big $s, road repair will be next

RI is pretty ugly too. I've found the roads to clear up significantly in the past 5 days or so. There are some serious potholes that come up quickly too.

That is why I have my old mtn bike, which I will be riding today!!

I guess this is my perfect excuse to get an MTB. I think I can sell it to the lady with the checkbook. :D

Hi,
same here in Maine. Potholes, sand traps, my commute in to work this morning was 35F with a headwind. I hadn't counted on a freaking headwind.
Anyway, I'd say the answer depends more on you and your bike than anything else. My bike is called a touring bike these days; but it greatly resembles the Schwinn Varsity I rode and loved over 30 years ago. The large-ish tires and mellow geometry survive potholes and suck up bumps. Which is the way a bike ought to be, IMHO. So my answer is, dig out the stretch thermal underwear; it's a good day to ride. Brrrr!

I remember when I was living in North Dakota, the spring thaw usually left the roads pretty nasty from the winter wear and tear. In some places, roads would literally disappear and have to be completely rebuilt.

Stor Mand, I live and ride in central mass also, I just can't or won't take my beautiful touring and road bike out on these roads. I built up a commuter bike from an old mountain bike, I upgraded the drive trane, installed fenders and racks for my trunk bag and panniers, a nightrider classic head and tail light and a set of nokian mount and ground studded tires, oh, and of course a brooks B-17 saddle. I ride to work all year and put on a lot of weekend miles on this bike, it's tough, heavy and indestructable, it takes all I give it and seems to like it. I found that the winters here are way too long to wait for them to be over so I built up a bike that can take the winter. It works for me.

You probably shoun't come to Quebec then, our roads are trashed 365 days a year! The roads here are in general terrible. You can actually see the improvement as your cross the border into Ontario :D.

Does this mean you gotta "VOTE FOR HIGHER ROAD TAXES"?

I think we got the taxes covered here in Taxachusetts: property, sales, excise, service, meal & income tax to name a few. There are many others.

IMHO...If you have to wait for the roads to get fixed, your no doubt going to wait a long time. Get out there! Take it a little more slowly, find an alternate route, the more traveled roads are usually a little better, and of course you'll have to spend time cleaning-up afterwards.

Originally posted by lsd87
IMHO...If you have to wait for the roads to get fixed, your no doubt going to wait a long time. Get out there! Take it a little more slowly, find an alternate route, the more traveled roads are usually a little better, and of course you'll have to spend time cleaning-up afterwards.

Okay - I just did that!!

Had to carry my bike through 1/2 mile of foot-deep snow (but figured out a better way to get back with no carrying), but the trail was wonderfully plowed. Just did 20 miles, but it was great. The trail was smooth, the creek was full with snow melt, the sky was blue with a bright sun, the temperature was 45F and a nice 10mph headwind to keep me honest.

Great day!! First decent ride since the BLIZZARD OF 2003 (most snow in 90 years) last week.

Originally posted by lsd87
IMHO...If you have to wait for the roads to get fixed, your no doubt going to wait a long time. Get out there! Take it a little more slowly, find an alternate route, the more traveled roads are usually a little better, and of course you'll have to spend time cleaning-up afterwards.

Actually, the city will be sending out the street sweepers soon so that will get rid of the debris which will make the potholes much more navigable. Still think it's a good excuse to get an MTB. :D

same here in New Jersey.. leaves or little rocks not sure until you hit them.. puddles or wheel eating holes... and with the war on I don't think they are going to fix them anytime soon.. I use them to improve my bike handling skills... until I find that perfect road...
K

Montreal is known for its bad roads, many of which remain unpaved and unfixed for years. Some of them are like the Koppenberg!

And I thought it was just our local council that were cheap skates !!!

Originally posted by greywolf
And I thought it was just our local council that were cheap skates !!!

Na!. Not just in the States, our taxes are directed any where except on road improvements.

In the county where I reside (Northumberland) we are slap-bang bottom of the national county road maintainence survey, no surprise when you ride a bike on them.
The winter has just added more potholes etc to the roads, but it is just wishfull thinking to expect any repairs. So if you want to ride roads it is just put up with it.