The state of our roads these days!

[Sea of vapours]

Those are all due to complete by the end of April when the race ends in Settle though, and they started a few days ago. It's all quite impressively dug/scraped up at the moment with a comprehensive array of diversion signs as far as about three to four miles from Settle (the race does a loop through Settle, with a sprint point, back out again and finishes in the centre). There's a multi-hour road closure on about 20 miles of the A65 too - the delays and diversions for that are going to be 'interesting' (it's a fairly major road and pretty busy).

 

[Tim Hall]

Dappled light through trees and potholes on a down hill...nightmare scenario...had it today and you simply hope fate is on your side again.

Or slow down...

 

[classic33]

Those are all due to complete by the end of April when the race ends in Settle though, and they started a few days ago. It's all quite impressively dug/scraped up at the moment with a comprehensive array of diversion signs as far as about three to four miles from Settle (the race does a loop through Settle, with a sprint point, back out again and finishes in the centre). There's a multi-hour road closure on about 20 miles of the A65 too - the delays and diversions for that are going to be 'interesting' (it's a fairly major road and pretty busy).

Some start the end of April, and I see what you mean about the A65. Not too good in either direction.

 

[Origamist]

Avoidable if the people were travelling slower?

After all, roads aren't inherently dangerous, just the users that go too fast for the conditions, and are unable to stop in what they can see is safe.

At least, that's what we hear when the topic is cars not bicycles

I can almost here the defence barrister: "It is not known with any certainty why Mr Origamist stopped on the rural A Road, but Mr Impatient Driver had no opportunity to avoid Mr O as the cyclist's behaviour was erratic and unexpected".

I'm only going to stop if it's a sink hole, not poor tarmac or a pot hole.

 

[fossyant]

You do know we will need full sussers soon to ride anywhere !!!! I'm planning my N+1

 

[Accy cyclist]

Like a few have said, when the sun shines through trees it's hard to distinguish between shadows and what could be holes. The group i go out with on a Wednesday worry me. They fly down these shadow or pothole roads at a fair pace. I don't follow them too closely as we're supposed to point at potholes and other dangers to those following closely behind,but some of them are too busy chatting about this and that they don't point out the dangers. I keep well back so i'm not all of a sudden met with a 6 inch deep death trap that someone didn't point out!

 

[Lonestar]

Anyone else in despair about what we're supposed to cycle on? I find myself these days moving from side to side when i ride, as opposed to say 10 years ago when i could keep in a straight line. The reason being i have to sway about to avoid the potholes and the patched up bits,much to the annoyance of the driver behind who sees cyclists in the TdF riding in a straight line on pristine roads and thinks why isn't he doing the same. Some serious deep holes have opened up recently on some of my regular descents. One in particular stands out. It's about 2ft long and 6" deep, at the bottom of a hill i once came down doing 46 mph without pedaling, it's that steep. When you reach where the hole is you'll be doing about 40 mph as you level out, so imagine hitting the thing at that speed! My average speed has dropped a bit over the last few years even though i've doubled my annual mileage, due to me covering my brakes all the time on descents. What can we do about it?

It's all cyclists faults for digging up the road and not paying road tax.....

It's the road tax thing that irk's me,bloody freeloaders...

 

[Accy cyclist]

It's all cyclists faults for digging up the road and not paying road tax.....

It's the road tax thing that irk's me,bloody freeloaders...

To think about half the motorists think we should pay "road tax" because they think they do!

 

[winjim]

Here we go, somebody's had a lovely idea:

 

[ColinJ]

Here we go, somebody's had a lovely idea:

Yeah - potholes are a growing problem round here too!

 

[Accy cyclist]

Today's club ride was scary! The sun was shining creating shadows all over the road from the trees. I shouted many times to those a few yards in front to point out the potholes,but they seemed oblivious! We discussed this at the cafe stop. They said the holes weren't that deep, but they are when they impact puncture your tyres or you avoid them and head into oncoming traffic! I point them out all the time. I've even started doing it when i'm out on my own.

 

[mark c]

On my ride today i came across my first sign of spring The council have been out top dressing :-( (or that should read top Bodging)

 

[mustang1]

I think the thread title is somewhat misleading as it assumes roads. This a reason I'm looking at a wide tired bike and also a 4x4 as my next car: the roads seem more like off-road paths.

 

[MiK1138]

According to what a highways officer told North Somerset Cycle Forum in a presentation a few years ago: at least 9 years if done properly. Surface dressing can extend the life for another 4 years if done properly before the surface starts to fail - the last two years of surface dressing in Norfolk seems to have consisted of dumping a half-inch depth of chippings, failing to sweep them up and then leaving the loose chippings to scrub away the ones that did stick as vehicles turn and leave it bald, worse than before.

Report potholes where you can see stones with the magic words "subsurface exposed and holding standing water" and in my experience that often gets them fixed sooner.

As for reporting the whole city of Sheffield as potholed: that could make for some nice headlines

Did The Beatles not write a song about that....oh wait that was Blackburn

 

[MiK1138]

i have just searched my local area on Fillthathole.org.uk , I am never going out again.