Go Back  Bike Forums > Community Connections > Regional Discussions > Southern California
Reload this Page >

Chip Seal on Angeles Crest Highway

Notices
Southern California Southern California

Chip Seal on Angeles Crest Highway

Old 08-26-13, 10:16 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
m2tiguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Manhattan Beach
Posts: 93

Bikes: Lynskey, Helix

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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 ?
m2tiguy is offline  
Old 08-26-13, 10:47 PM
  #2  
Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 35
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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!
Quasipun is offline  
Old 08-27-13, 07:53 AM
  #3  
www.ocrebels.com
 
Rick@OCRR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Los Angeles area
Posts: 6,186

Bikes: Several bikes, Road, Mountain, Commute, etc.

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 83 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 2 Posts
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
Rick@OCRR is offline  
Old 08-27-13, 02:04 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Williamsburg, Tennesse.
Posts: 1,093

Bikes: All have flats.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
It's... Okay. Could feel the rumbling through my aluminum frame. But nothing too bonejarring.
sleepy is offline  
Old 08-27-13, 04:32 PM
  #5  
jmX
Senior Member
 
jmX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orange, CA
Posts: 2,201

Bikes: Roubaix / Shiv

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
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
jmX is offline  
Old 08-27-13, 10:03 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
m2tiguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Manhattan Beach
Posts: 93

Bikes: Lynskey, Helix

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Rick@OCRR
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
I'm moving to the 23-25 combo after doing a bit of reading - =
m2tiguy is offline  
Old 08-28-13, 01:00 PM
  #7  
Slow
 
mtrider05's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 198

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
It's been on the Wrightwood side of the highway since last year, it's terrible.
mtrider05 is offline  
Old 08-28-13, 03:08 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
big john's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,107
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8191 Post(s)
Liked 8,851 Times in 4,396 Posts
Originally Posted by mtrider05
It's been on the Wrightwood side of the highway since last year, it's terrible.
Are you doing the ride from Encanto/ACH/hwy 39 this Saturday? I think it will be too hot but I'm considering doing part of it.
big john is offline  
Old 08-29-13, 09:05 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Valley Glen Ca.
Posts: 1,170
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by big john
Are you doing the ride from Encanto/ACH/hwy 39 this Saturday? I think it will be too hot but I'm considering doing part of it.
starting at Red Box 7am
vertical bob is offline  
Old 08-29-13, 10:00 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Williamsburg, Tennesse.
Posts: 1,093

Bikes: All have flats.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by vertical bob
starting at Red Box 7am


Wait, isn't that Encanto-39-ACH?

Oh, Red Box to Encanto and back? Nice.
Are you parking up near Red Box?
sleepy is offline  
Old 08-29-13, 10:17 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
big john's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,107
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8191 Post(s)
Liked 8,851 Times in 4,396 Posts
Originally Posted by vertical bob
starting at Red Box 7am
Grassy Hollow? You do know there is a group doing the loop and another climbing 39 to Dawson?
I was thinking about meeting up with the first group somewhere along the way, or just go to Ventura with the club.
big john is offline  
Old 09-16-13, 07:07 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Valley Glen Ca.
Posts: 1,170
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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/
vertical bob is offline  
Old 09-17-13, 11:24 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
peckma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: MANHATTAN BEACH, CA
Posts: 209

Bikes: 2013 BMC GRAN FONDO GF01, 2010 SPECIALIZED ROUBAIX, 2004 TREK FX7000, 2013 SPECIALIZED ALLEZ

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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.
peckma is offline  
Old 09-17-13, 02:10 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Williamsburg, Tennesse.
Posts: 1,093

Bikes: All have flats.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
It's a Cal-Trans conspiracy with Bike manufacturers to sell more Gravel bikes.
sleepy is offline  
Old 09-21-13, 04:31 PM
  #15  
Embracing the fredness
 
herbm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Beautiful Downtown Burbank
Posts: 4,672

Bikes: Habanero Ti ,Trek Pilot 2.1 , Niner Jet9 29'r, Giant Cadex 380

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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..
__________________
Wheel Sucker Extraordinaire
herbm is offline  
Old 09-22-13, 03:10 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Valley Glen Ca.
Posts: 1,170
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by herbm
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..
We rode 80 miles on it yesterday Red Box to Grassy Hollow and back. Ya kinda get used to it but it sure beats me up. I'm not gonna let it keep me from riding my favorite mountains I guess. Herb, or anyone else, I'm gonna go to that Cal Trans meeting Friday am if you would like to go with. Take the Red Line for $1.50 If we don't scream about this nothing will ever get done about it.
vertical bob is offline  
Old 09-22-13, 07:22 PM
  #17  
Embracing the fredness
 
herbm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Beautiful Downtown Burbank
Posts: 4,672

Bikes: Habanero Ti ,Trek Pilot 2.1 , Niner Jet9 29'r, Giant Cadex 380

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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
__________________
Wheel Sucker Extraordinaire
herbm is offline  
Old 09-23-13, 11:20 AM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
peckma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: MANHATTAN BEACH, CA
Posts: 209

Bikes: 2013 BMC GRAN FONDO GF01, 2010 SPECIALIZED ROUBAIX, 2004 TREK FX7000, 2013 SPECIALIZED ALLEZ

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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.
peckma is offline  
Old 09-23-13, 03:08 PM
  #19  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Valley Glen Ca.
Posts: 1,170
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by peckma
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.
That's great news, now to go to the meeting and stink up the place
https://la.streetsblog.org/2013/09/01...y-committee-5/
vertical bob is offline  
Old 09-26-13, 11:26 AM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
Lesper4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: So Cal - Fontana
Posts: 1,274

Bikes: 2008 Cannondale CAAD9 5, 1995 Cannondale CAD F300 hardtail

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Sign up Everyone!
https://www.change.org/petitions/cal...-such-highways
Lesper4 is offline  
Old 09-29-13, 08:12 PM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Valley Glen Ca.
Posts: 1,170
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Lesper4
I went to the Cal trans meeting on this issue on Friday. They are aware of our objections but I don't think the state cares much about us. Our best weapon is to sign this petition and make sure it gets in front of the right people. Re: the proposed fix on Hwy 1, they are coating a test portion that will be evaluated by UC Davis and if this is deemed a good fix they will then evaluate using it on AC. If we can't get them to re-coat the chip seal then it will be 8-10 years before anything else is scheduled to be done. How ya like them apples? Sign the petition please.
vertical bob is offline  
Old 09-30-13, 12:11 AM
  #22  
Senior Member
 
Lesper4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: So Cal - Fontana
Posts: 1,274

Bikes: 2008 Cannondale CAAD9 5, 1995 Cannondale CAD F300 hardtail

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
That link might not be working so here is a different one. https://www.change.org/petitions/cal...-such-highways
Lesper4 is offline  
Old 09-30-13, 02:40 PM
  #23  
jmX
Senior Member
 
jmX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orange, CA
Posts: 2,201

Bikes: Roubaix / Shiv

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
Originally Posted by vertical bob
If we can't get them to re-coat the chip seal then it will be 8-10 years before anything else is scheduled to be done. How ya like them apples? Sign the petition please.
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.
jmX is offline  
Old 09-30-13, 03:55 PM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Valley Glen Ca.
Posts: 1,170
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by jmX
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.
What ? Do you work for Cal Trans? You are the only person I have heard from who feels that way.
vertical bob is offline  
Old 09-30-13, 04:18 PM
  #25  
jmX
Senior Member
 
jmX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orange, CA
Posts: 2,201

Bikes: Roubaix / Shiv

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
Originally Posted by vertical bob
What ? Do you work for Cal Trans? You are the only person I have heard from who feels that way.
I rode Angels Crest to Dawson saddle a few days after they finished chipsealing it, and aside from the gravel it was fine. The descent obviously had a bit of buzz in the handlebars (boo hoo?), and I'd certainly not want to crash on it, but I'm not sure what the legitimate complaint would be. It's not the optimal surface for cyclists, but its a lightly traveled road up in the mountains...I'm not gonna complain.

The baldy ski lifts I'll avoid until next spring. No way I'd descend those switchbacks if they're covered in fresh gravel.
jmX is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.