Tar Snakes

"MountainCommand" (MountainCommand) 07/22/2014 at 16:46 • Filed to: None

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Didn't realize how incredibly scary it is the first time I realized these upset traction on the motorcycle, especially when no one mentioned this in any of my readings... Its hard to describe what happens but it feels like you're balance is lost. I'm curious how this affects cars to a certain extent during a limit of grip exercize.

Alex B > MountainCommand 07/22/2014 at 16:48

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I hate these.

Wacko > MountainCommand 07/22/2014 at 16:53

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I just searched Tar snakes and this is the first thing that came up:

http://www.bikebandit.com/community/blog…

Brian Silvestro > MountainCommand 07/22/2014 at 16:53

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Have you ever actually reached down and touched them? They FEEL slippery. Who thought they were a good idea?

MountainCommand > Wacko 07/22/2014 at 16:56

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Yep. I found that article too. The MSF course i took never mentioned tar snakes, and it was only earlier this week i found out first hand what happens when you hit them just right...

JGrabowMSt > MountainCommand 07/22/2014 at 16:56

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These are ridiculous around me. I went over one road a few years ago, and they were so evenly spaced, I seriously thought I had a flat tire until I turned off the road to check.

MountainCommand > Brian Silvestro 07/22/2014 at 16:57

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The same people who think road salt is a good idea. They cause millions, if not billions of damage to all sort of vehicles. So one can assume tar snakes were their baby child.

And yeah, they are like soft if you push into it but very slick.

Brian Silvestro > MountainCommand 07/22/2014 at 16:59

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I hate people.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > MountainCommand 07/22/2014 at 17:03

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At normal country road speeds (55-65mph), I have not noticed any significant loss of grip on these, even in the rain.

MountainCommand > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 07/22/2014 at 17:07

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Bike or car?

I was only going about 40 and on a 85degree day, hit a parallel one and it scares you real good, especially in a lean.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > MountainCommand 07/22/2014 at 17:12

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Oops sorry. Car. With AWD.

Rico > MountainCommand 07/22/2014 at 17:15

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What's their purpose?

E30Joe drives a Subaru > MountainCommand 07/22/2014 at 17:19

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It's pretty terrifying even when you know it's gonna happen.

cabarne4 > Rico 07/22/2014 at 17:25

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It's a cheap way to fill in cracks in the road.

Winter comes, water freezes / melts / re-freezes underneath the road, breaking the surface. Then they "patch" it. It's basically the road equivalent of a bead of caulk.

Rico > cabarne4 07/22/2014 at 17:27

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Ah I understand now, I've seen them from time to time but in NY they never fill the holes.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Brian Silvestro 07/22/2014 at 17:34

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I've walked on them in the summer and felt my foot rotate under me. Not a comfortable feeling.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Rico 07/22/2014 at 17:35

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Nope not until they tear up the entire road. Syracuse and Oswego county are terrible/

The Ghost of Oppo > MountainCommand 07/22/2014 at 17:35

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Same thing happened to me the first time I hit gravel.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > MountainCommand 07/22/2014 at 17:37

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I haven't driven a bike but I've felt them as a passenger, not fun when you're on the back of a bike either.

Rico > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 07/22/2014 at 18:24

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Good to know our friends up north have it just as bad as us folks in the city.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Rico 07/22/2014 at 18:32

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Oh yeah it's terrible. They like to tear up the smooth roads and leave potholed roads the way there were.

Conan > MountainCommand 07/22/2014 at 19:53

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I'm just totally underthrilled with their existence on the roads around my apartment complex. They ruin the joy of those first acceleration moments.

MountainCommand > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 07/22/2014 at 20:30

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both those things help for sure haha.

MountainCommand > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 07/22/2014 at 21:02

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being a passenger is already scary, factor in tar snakes, must be terrifying.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > MountainCommand 07/22/2014 at 21:10

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I don't find it scary to be on the back. It's just a shock when you feel the rear wheel slide out from under you.

MountainCommand > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 07/22/2014 at 21:23

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Hmm. I havent actually been on the back yet, but everyone keeps telling me its scary. My bad.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > MountainCommand 07/22/2014 at 21:26

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Well I've been doing it for a long time, maybe 10 years so it's not scary, it's actually very fun. If you trust the person controlling the bike.

MountainCommand > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 07/22/2014 at 21:41

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True that. I hope i can find someone who will have that same trust. It seems like a lot of fun riding around with a passenger. I mean if i was the passenger, many shenanigans would be had: high fives, fist bumps, silly string, air horn, chinese fire drills....