It turned out that I did get out and take a ride Sunday, although it was in the heat of the afternoon, and I had to cut the distance to 18 miles. Still, it was good to be back on the bike, and with any luck, I can resume riding more or less regularly. Until the next disruption to my schedule three weeks from now.
I had to change my planned route today, because it turns out that the city has decided to resurface the streets in this part of town. They’re laying down new chip seal, and are in the first stages of that. Right now, the road I would have used today has been covered with crushed stone that will be rolled into the road surface. I’m concerned that my bike’s tires won’t survive a trip through the new stuff until after the chips are sealed. I assume they’ll paint new lines to mark the bike lane along the road as well.
The odd thing about the resurfacing is that the streets around here don’t really need it. They’re in good shape, with no potholes to speak of, and only a few cracks. The biggest problem is the debris that accumulates in the bike lane, and most of the time that’s easily avoidable.
I ride my bike in other parts of town, and out on country roads, and they’re crying for a new surface. I guess City Hall has to keep its more important constituents happy.
For chipseal to work you have to do it before the surface breaks down. Once pot holes form you have to go to the much more expensive total resurface to get a smooth road again. That said I run fairly indestructible tires so flats are not an issue on fresh chipseal but loose stone is still a problem. Ride easy until some good frog choker rains clear off the excess gravel.