THURSDAY, March 20, 2008, 2:47 p.m. By Tom Held Motorcyclists warned of winter sand When better weather finally takes hold, motorcyclists will face a lingering obstacle from the snowy winter. The State Department of Transportation issued a warning today alerting cyclists that the large amounts of sand poured on roadways over the past few months will make those same roads slippery. "Motorcyclists can quickly lose traction and balance on sand when accelerating, braking, or leaning into a curve," said Ron Thompson, manager of the Wisconsin Motorcycle Safety Program. Cyclists should be especially wary when entering or exiting highways, according to the DOT advisory. When salt supplies ran short during the winter, snow removal crews used more sand than normal. The Washington County Highway Department used a salt-sand mixture on roads in the latter half of the winter season, as have municipalities throughout Ozaukee and Washington counties.
Good post, This is one of the many reasons why I'm going to track. (Cars,guard rails,gravel.)Something else that changes every riding season is the pot holes. I started out on the streets obviously,I've been riding and a car has came in my lane.I've hit a patch of sand comin out of a corner slid my back and about 3,4 ft.Thankfully I didn't high side.Right across the street was a mail box,electric pole,and trees.I've dodged pot holes and went into the opposite lane. Thank God,nothing was coming.To many things can happen on the street. I'm leaning towards track only.I can't get the satisfaction of riding on the street.It's just not safe,on the street your constantly on the look out for something to happen.Tracks are the only place you can really put your skills to work and ride your bike how it's supposed to be ridin.
Good reminder.It's going to take a while to clean the pours in the concrete/asphalt for sure.We will need a few strong showers after the snow melts.There's alot if dirt trapped in the snow piles,that will drain on the trhe roads while melting.Take it easy for a longer than normal period this year.Not to mention,HUNDREDS of pot holes EVERYWHERE.Some of the blind.Good post.
Good post first of all. However, man honestly the thing that scares me the most on a Michigan road is the potholes!! :shock: I know it's a different state and all, but you could lose your bike, or car in some of the ones up here. :lol:
Potholes +1 on the potholes. Seems with the high number of freeze and thaw cycles this winter in the Chicago area, our normally terrible streets are now down right unsafe, with the addition of garbage barrel size potholes. Normally I wouldn't admit that I *may* sometimes ride a scooter around town cause its fast and cheep to ride (and you can park it on the sidewalk - illegally, but it gets overlooked). Riding it now is more akin to running a land mine field. It's only a matter of time (and that first warm day) until Darwin and the potholes combine to throw folks over their handlebars. Fortunately, most of the scooterazi I see in Chicago have at least some gear and a lid on their kibbie. Still, those scooter wheels are mighty small.... Maybe we should have scooter track days! Um, Yeah.... thats it!
The potholes are bad here in Ohio as well and the Harley's are starting to come out. It will be about another week or two before they are all out and a helmetless wonder looses his bike in a pothole and whipes out.
Then he ends up brain dead and his "Biker Club" holds a poker run to raise money for him and three more go down cause they're so drunk half way through they forgot to put their foot down and a stop light.* *True Story
The other day I was driving down a street near my house.I consider myself a decent,attentive driver.Comming over a crown in the road,I hit a blind pot hole that rocked the car,and bent a wheel.Needless to say I yelled a few explitives,then realized this year,I will ride my bike with utmost care.THAT would have and could have tucked the front and wiped me out.By the way,this was a narrow 2-way street.Hmmmmm,Watch out boy's and girls,this is for real this year.
Yes, the frost heave has wreaked havoc with our roads this winter... I've seem some potholes so large they could swallow a city bus. I'm thinking I'll be busting out my DRZ a lot more on the streets this spring than my Ducati 749... that will be left strictly for coffee shop / bike night posing!!! t
Yea, here in south eastern Wisconsin the potholes are pretty nasty. Gonna have to keep an eye out once I get my baby out of storage. (Aint it spring yet!?)
I see this all the time,Freakin idiots.There was one that died at the end of my street.Speed limit is 55 and of course no helmet.A car pulled out in front of him he tried to stop got swirvey bucked him off and landed on his head.Just don't get it.