Chip Seal on Angeles Crest Highway
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Chip Seal on Angeles Crest Highway
Anybody else, less than excited about the new paving job on Angeles Crest ??
additionally, anybody experimenting with larger tires to combat said pavement ?
additionally, anybody experimenting with larger tires to combat said pavement ?
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I've gotten stuck riding through it twice in areas where they were actively working on it now. I was not happy with the part they were working on, or the part they had finished. I'm already riding the largest tires my frame will allow. The condition of the road wasn't even that bad!
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Agreed, there was no need to repave, the road was in very good condition.
That said, I rode the new chip seal from Hwy 39 up to Dawson Saddle and back on Saturday and it wasn't that bad. Not good, of course, but better than the pave' I've ridden in France or England, for example. Tire size-wise I was running 23 on the front and 25 on the rear, so I would say (overall) bad but not horrible.
I think Stefan rode the whole of AC up to Dawson so he would have a more valid opinion (having ridden more miles of it), so hopefully he'll chime in here.
Rick / OCRR
That said, I rode the new chip seal from Hwy 39 up to Dawson Saddle and back on Saturday and it wasn't that bad. Not good, of course, but better than the pave' I've ridden in France or England, for example. Tire size-wise I was running 23 on the front and 25 on the rear, so I would say (overall) bad but not horrible.
I think Stefan rode the whole of AC up to Dawson so he would have a more valid opinion (having ridden more miles of it), so hopefully he'll chime in here.
Rick / OCRR
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It's... Okay. Could feel the rumbling through my aluminum frame. But nothing too bonejarring.
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Chipseal seemed fine to me, altho there was a slight buzz in the handlebars. The only real downside to me is what road rash might look like if I were to touch.
The real issue up there now is all the gravel on the shoulder from the repave job, unless they've taken a street sweeper up there since I last rode it.
Jon
The real issue up there now is all the gravel on the shoulder from the repave job, unless they've taken a street sweeper up there since I last rode it.
Jon
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Agreed, there was no need to repave, the road was in very good condition.
That said, I rode the new chip seal from Hwy 39 up to Dawson Saddle and back on Saturday and it wasn't that bad. Not good, of course, but better than the pave' I've ridden in France or England, for example. Tire size-wise I was running 23 on the front and 25 on the rear, so I would say (overall) bad but not horrible.
I think Stefan rode the whole of AC up to Dawson so he would have a more valid opinion (having ridden more miles of it), so hopefully he'll chime in here.
Rick / OCRR
That said, I rode the new chip seal from Hwy 39 up to Dawson Saddle and back on Saturday and it wasn't that bad. Not good, of course, but better than the pave' I've ridden in France or England, for example. Tire size-wise I was running 23 on the front and 25 on the rear, so I would say (overall) bad but not horrible.
I think Stefan rode the whole of AC up to Dawson so he would have a more valid opinion (having ridden more miles of it), so hopefully he'll chime in here.
Rick / OCRR
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Here's or chance to let Cal Trans what we think of their chip seal lets show up and scream bloody murder https://la.streetsblog.org/2013/09/01...y-committee-5/
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This situation seems to be happening more often when Caltrans decides to chip seal a state highway. Caltrans specified a larger size aggregate, or rock, in the chip seal mix when Hwy 1 above Cambria to Ragged Point was chip-sealed a year ago. Had been 1/4 inch, they went to 1/2# (I believe). The local cycling community up there is in an uproar, along with the residents whose cars and windshields were damaged. So far, a year later - nothing but Caltrans' promises to study the matter. Another highway up in Monterey, I think, go the same deal. Supposedly, the larger aggregate will last longer once the vehicle traffic pushes it into the pavement. Unfortunately, we cyclists riding on the right or on the shoulder don't weigh enough, thus that portion of the pavement stays gravelly.
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It's a Cal-Trans conspiracy with Bike manufacturers to sell more Gravel bikes.
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OMG
Rode AC this AM....awful....very uncomfortable when climbing...the shoulders are nasty....
In the lane its a tad better as the cars have started to smooth it out a bit...
Downhill was so so....took the lane except where I could pull out to a smooth area... its oiled..but dry...
I can believe they couldn't even slurry this to smooth it out...that's not ideal., but better than whats there...
I have to seriously think about riding up there...not fun anymore..
Rode AC this AM....awful....very uncomfortable when climbing...the shoulders are nasty....
In the lane its a tad better as the cars have started to smooth it out a bit...
Downhill was so so....took the lane except where I could pull out to a smooth area... its oiled..but dry...
I can believe they couldn't even slurry this to smooth it out...that's not ideal., but better than whats there...
I have to seriously think about riding up there...not fun anymore..
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OMG
Rode AC this AM....awful....very uncomfortable when climbing...the shoulders are nasty....
In the lane its a tad better as the cars have started to smooth it out a bit...
Downhill was so so....took the lane except where I could pull out to a smooth area... its oiled..but dry...
I can believe they couldn't even slurry this to smooth it out...that's not ideal., but better than whats there...
I have to seriously think about riding up there...not fun anymore..
Rode AC this AM....awful....very uncomfortable when climbing...the shoulders are nasty....
In the lane its a tad better as the cars have started to smooth it out a bit...
Downhill was so so....took the lane except where I could pull out to a smooth area... its oiled..but dry...
I can believe they couldn't even slurry this to smooth it out...that's not ideal., but better than whats there...
I have to seriously think about riding up there...not fun anymore..
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Bob...there should be a large ride organized like the one on pch...take the lane...all the way up AC see if that generates some press....
So fars its Cal Tran 1 cyclists 0
So fars its Cal Tran 1 cyclists 0
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Actually, perhaps there is hope. Caltrans has agreed to fix the crap-seal job done on Hwy 1 from Cambria to Ragged Point. It sounds like they will put a sealing coat on top of the chip sealed surface- sort of like icing on a cake to fill in the rough parts. Here's a link. https://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/project...seal/index.htm With enough of a stink raised on the ACH crap-seal job, and maybe Caltrans will agree to fix it as well.
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Actually, perhaps there is hope. Caltrans has agreed to fix the crap-seal job done on Hwy 1 from Cambria to Ragged Point. It sounds like they will put a sealing coat on top of the chip sealed surface- sort of like icing on a cake to fill in the rough parts. Here's a link. https://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/project...seal/index.htm With enough of a stink raised on the ACH crap-seal job, and maybe Caltrans will agree to fix it as well.
https://la.streetsblog.org/2013/09/01...y-committee-5/
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Sign up Everyone!
https://www.change.org/petitions/cal...-such-highways
https://www.change.org/petitions/cal...-such-highways
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Sign up Everyone!
https://www.change.org/petitions/cal...-such-highways
https://www.change.org/petitions/cal...-such-highways
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That link might not be working so here is a different one. https://www.change.org/petitions/cal...-such-highways
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To be fair, the chipseal is less of an issue once the gravel clears. I'm sure by next summer angels crest will be pretty clean. The next 8 years should be fine.
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The baldy ski lifts I'll avoid until next spring. No way I'd descend those switchbacks if they're covered in fresh gravel.