Brutal.Roadrnr

Last night I got the hint, it couldn't be anymore obvious. Major government officials from several large countries combined with big business CEO's don't want me to lose weight and have conspired to stop me from riding

Attack dogs, sharp rocks, CIA assassin posing as little old ladies who didn't see me, global warming, etc etc etc, I overcame it all.

But they won...
They took away my road.

This wonderful, low-traffic, good condition country road that I use...last night I got onto it and saw what was left. A bumpy, rock strewn dirt path that leads for miles and miles. Some sort of industrial road-eating machine ripped the pavement off leaving a surface pock-marked with little square dents, loose dirt and more sharp rocks than you can count.

Ah ha! I have an alternate route...ride down this side road, okay this little road hasn't been touched, a mile later I get to it...and THEY TORE THAT ROAD UP TOO!

So I am down to unsafe farm roads (high speed limit, no shoulder), highway access roads, and another path that I use on the weekends because traffic on it is far too high during the week.

Any thoughts on the lesser of these evils?

indyfabz

Perhaps the road was milled in preparation for repaving in a short while. In my neck of the woods, the milling crews do several different roads that are scheduled for repaving. Then the paving crews follow later and do all the milled roads. I believe it's more cost-effective.

Boyd Reynolds

Hopefully they tore the road up to repave it. Sort of like sanding before you paint.

CraigB

I'm sure indyfabz is right - the road was milled in prep for new pavement. Soon you'll know the unalloyed joy of riding on fresh, new asphalt. It'll feel like velvet. For a while.

txvintage

All correct except for one minor detail. He's in Small town North Texas, so he'll most likely get fresh chip seal!

Brutal.Roadrnr

I have this crazy-odd feeling that it will be spring before it is finished...

Of the 3 nasty alternatives, any thoughts, how are access-roads? I used to do them on my MTB before I got a flat from a nail? The other two scare me a bit, but maybe that access road should scare me more.

CraigB

You may be right, txvintage, but I've never personally seen a road get milled only to be covered in chipseal. That may be a Texas thing. In the midwest they usually just pile the chipseal on, over and over again until they have no choice but to mill and repave, then start the process all over again.

CraigB

Access roads can be a mixed bag. Sometimes they're almost vacant, as most motorists will stick to the higher-speed roads they parallel. Others will be crowded because people want to be able to get to local destinations more easily than they can on the higher-speed limited access roads.

You'll have to take a look at the traffic in the area, and consider the width of the road in question, the quality of its pavement, and make your decision. One little tip - a mirror helps a lot as far as psychological comfort goes in a narrow road situation.

Brutal.Roadrnr

Well at least the oil chip road will match the other roads I have seen them redo...I can look forward to symmetically craptastic roads!

CraigB

Chipseal isn't all that bad. A little rougher than asphalt or concrete (excepting concrete's propensity to crack and crumble), but the only times I assiduously avoid it are when it's brand new (I hate getting oil on the bike) and when it's blazing hot and there are bare patches all over (I hate getting oil on the bike).

Brutal.Roadrnr

(post removed) reading fail...

engstrom

Out of those options I think I'd take the FM roads...but with a caveat. I absolutely positively would invest in the best brightest blinkiest tail-light possible. I know those lights are really expensive, but like you I'm scared of all 3 of the roads you mentioned while riding solo. I've seen the difference a really bright light can make and even during the day it could literally be a lifesaver.

engstrom

Oh, I forgot to mention another option I thought of. Can you load your bike in your car and drive somewhere else like Benbrook, Burleson, Cleburne which might have better roads for riding?

Brutal.Roadrnr

Somehow I totally overlooked CraigB's views on access roads...

These are my evening rides and I don't get home until late, getting on the bike and starting the minute I get home is crucial, until my summer hours end and I get back to a reasonable schedule.

I will look at investing in a light, I have considered them for a time now and figured they would be good for winter riding anyway.

volosong

Take up mountain/off-road biking?

Doohickie

Yes: Come do the Critical Mass ride tomorrow. Start from Burnett Park on 7th Street in downtown Fort Worth. There are rides in Fort Worth most days in the week. Come check 'em out.



EDIT: Sounds like you picked a good username; the roads down your way are brutal!


EDIT AGAIN: if you are interested in Saturday-Sunday morning rides in Ft Worth, PM me; I can tell about some options.

mthayer

They normally will mill a road for if there is alot of water runs on the section of road and stopping or traction is an issue, or to lay new asphalt. They will not chip seal over a milled section of road.

Brutal.Roadrnr

Your offer is most appreciated and tempting
But I need a bit more time on my roadbike before I would consider group rides, I am finding the transition from mountainbike to roadbike a bit rough on my body.

Rhodabike

Be thankful that they're milling before re-paving. Here in Saskatchewan, they just put a gravel "patch" in the potholes, wait until it's far worse than the pothole ever was, then do a real patch in lumpy asphalt. I wish they would just grind the roads down and start over.
I'll say this for the crappy roads, though, they probably have me using the bike more for transportation. It's easier to do the "Saskatoon slalom" around the holes on a bike than in a car.

himespau 

that fact that they were milled is promising in a way. It means you're probably going to get real asphalt and not chip seal when they finally get around to repaving. I don't mind chipseal when it's been down for a while, but if these are low trafficked roads, it'd be a while before enough cars drove over them to get the pea gravel pushed into the tar.