Kiwi roadwork cowboys

[mrchips]

Yesterday i encountered some pretty atrocious road works. Approx. 1 kilometer of windy road with smooth round, loose & deep / uncompacted RIVER STONES (approx. 50 - 100mm diameter). The posted speed limit was 30 km/hr.

I had to stop & wave (sorry) on cars behind me as I really struggled to keep traction & stay on my side of the road. I was also bottoming out in the deep ruts & almost lost it as both front & rears kept on digging in.

Am i just a big wus or is there a secret to tackling this stuff on a large heavy sports bike with smooth tyres. I had my fingers & toes crossed but still felt this wasn't enough.

I have never in my like seen river stones used in roadworks. I'd of thought this type of material inapropriate for road subgrades, anyway.....

Your comments from wisdom & experience are welcome, what would you do ?.

[FJRider]

I have come across "stuff" like that ... FJ1200's dont like it either ...

If you can ... find a wheel track and follow it ...

[mrchips]

I have come across "stuff" like that ... FJ1200's dont like it either ...

If you can ... find a wheel track and follow it ...

Yeah, thanks for that.

The problem was, the only wheel track was on the other side of the road so i had to keep diving back to my side with oncoming traffic.

[ajturbo]

the CR nearly came to grief in same situation... no warning... 5 (yes FIVE) other bikers had same problem... 1 went down...how we ALL didn't go down, not one of us could explain... we all have the same amount of riding experience ... just unlucky...or we were extremely lucky :gob:

[oldrider]

the CR nearly came to grief in same situation... no warning... 5 (yes FIVE) other bikers had same problem... 1 went down...how we ALL didn't go down, not one of us could explain... we all have the same amount of riding experience ... just unlucky...or we were extremely lucky :gob:

ACC & the Govm't would have just put it all in their anti motorcycle statistics had any of you been injured!

Probably recommended you attend a course on how to ride off road!

They are just full of helpful suggestions on everything to do with motorcycles being dangerous and all that! :facepalm:

[oldrider]

Yesterday i encountered some pretty atrocious road works. Approx. 1 kilometer of windy road with smooth round, loose & deep / uncompacted RIVER STONES (approx. 50 - 100mm diameter). The posted speed limit was 30 km/hr.

I had to stop & wave (sorry) on cars behind me as I really struggled to keep traction & stay on my side of the road. I was also bottoming out in the deep ruts & almost lost it as both front & rears kept on digging in.

Am i just a big wus or is there a secret to tackling this stuff on a large heavy sports bike with smooth tyres. I had my fingers & toes crossed but still felt this wasn't enough.

I have never in my like seen river stones used in roadworks. I'd of thought this type of material inapropriate for road subgrades, anyway.....

Your comments from wisdom & experience are welcome, what would you do ?.

Sympathies on that experience!

Back in about 1993 my wife and I struck 11km of that material laid through the Waipu forest on the Dargaville end of the road.

We were riding a Honda ST 1100 and loaded up for the trip, she had to push the bike most of the way (in the darkest of bloody dark) just to get some traction!

Poor wee wife was absolutely knackered when we eventually got to our Dargaville motel.

I reckon the Maori Harley rider that told us the road was "sweet man, sweet" is still laughing! (the bastard!)

Maybe Nick is right, it's not everything else like shitty roads and things (sigh) it's just that motorbikes are so dangerous!

[cold comfort]

After experiencing roads in the US subjected to searing summer heat and arctic winters i return to roads that melt at 18 deg C, constructed of a series of poorly applied patches, and liberally sprinkled with potholes and loose metal. Not only does there appear to be no coherent planning (the newly laid sections being ripped up within months of being laid for cables and drains) but the incompetent cheap-arse job is akin to 3rd world status. A brand new 200m section near the almighty Stadium/White elephant dissolved into potholes with WEEKS of being laid. The frenzied end-of financial- year activity means, during the best motorcycling weather, nowhere is immune from long waits, and 30km limits while they inexplicably make the existing roads WORSE!

[Smifffy]

After experiencing roads in the US subjected to searing summer heat and arctic winters i return to roads that melt at 18 deg C, constructed of a series of poorly applied patches, and liberally sprinkled with potholes and loose metal. Not only does there appear to be no coherent planning (the newly laid sections being ripped up within months of being laid for cables and drains) but the incompetent cheap-arse job is akin to 3rd world status. A brand new 200m section near the almighty Stadium/White elephant dissolved into potholes with WEEKS of being laid. The frenzied end-of financial- year activity means, during the best motorcycling weather, nowhere is immune from long waits, and 30km limits while they inexplicably make the existing roads WORSE!

Exactly this!

"you must spread more... yada etc"

[schrodingers cat]

Aye. Couple of bits of excitment through Gebbies Pass and on the road to Little River today.
My strategy of riding like a nana on the road is paying off.
Lousy way to leave a road tho

[Little Miss Trouble]

Yesterday i encountered some pretty atrocious road works. Approx. 1 kilometer of windy road with smooth round, loose & deep / uncompacted RIVER STONES (approx. 50 - 100mm diameter). The posted speed limit was 30 km/hr.

I had to stop & wave (sorry) on cars behind me as I really struggled to keep traction & stay on my side of the road. I was also bottoming out in the deep ruts & almost lost it as both front & rears kept on digging in.

Am i just a big wus or is there a secret to tackling this stuff on a large heavy sports bike with smooth tyres. I had my fingers & toes crossed but still felt this wasn't enough.

I have never in my like seen river stones used in roadworks. I'd of thought this type of material inapropriate for road subgrades, anyway.....

Your comments from wisdom & experience are welcome, what would you do ?.

It's the un-signposted roadworks that gives me the shits. On my way to Pauanui last year I came around a nice sweeper at a decent clip to find 5km of big pointy almost fist sized rocks that the roading construction crew had lain and 'forgotten' to signpost.

Weight the pegs to lower the bikes centre of gravity, loosen death-grip on the bars, maintain constant throttle and look up and ahead, oh and don't forget to breathe.

[ital916]

Amen to the roads here being bad. I have travelled a lot of countries and New Zealand is high on good scenery and low on road quality.

Rode the partners gsxr600 from Auckland to Welli as she was too busy and man, those gravel roadworks never seem to get easier.

[martybabe]

I had to stop & wave (sorry) on cars behind me as I really struggled to keep traction & stay on my side of the road. I was also bottoming out in the deep ruts & almost lost it as both front & rears kept on digging in.



I encountered exactly this situation a few weeks ago on a major highway, the bloody stuff was just un-ride-able. I too had to wave traffic past as I was axle deep in the stuff !!

I wrote a strongly worded e-mail to the council, culminating in berating them for playing lip service to road safety whilst repeatedly putting my life in danger with their appalling road maintenance practices. I haven't had a reply.

Seriously, having ridden in many 'developed nations' across the world, NZ in my opinion have the poorest quality, worst maintained roads of any of them. I understand that we ain't a rich nation but surely it cannot be that hard to repair the arterial routes properly section by section, instead of having to re-do them all every six months with more molasses and crushed walnuts.

We are the ones most affected by these shit roads and repairs, yet we have to pay more than any one else for the privilege of using them !! :blink:

[avgas]

I take my road bike off the road a little at least once a year to keep my skills intact.
Off road skills have saved my life more than 100 times.

Would be my recommendation. Its more important ATGATT in my eyes.

[avgas]

After experiencing roads in the US subjected to searing summer heat and arctic winters i return to roads that melt at 18 deg C, constructed of a series of poorly applied patches, and liberally sprinkled with potholes and loose metal. Not only does there appear to be no coherent planning (the newly laid sections being ripped up within months of being laid for cables and drains) but the incompetent cheap-arse job is akin to 3rd world status. A brand new 200m section near the almighty Stadium/White elephant dissolved into potholes with WEEKS of being laid. The frenzied end-of financial- year activity means, during the best motorcycling weather, nowhere is immune from long waits, and 30km limits while they inexplicably make the existing roads WORSE!
To be honest I would be happy if they just left the whole bloody thing alone.
Must be a perpetual check-book for them.
I prefer and old fucked road any day then one that has the same road works every 3 months.

[oneofsix]

To be honest I would be happy if they just left the whole bloody thing alone.
Must be a perpetual check-book for them.
I prefer and old fucked road any day then one that has the same road works every 3 months.

But is that the shit of it, they are constantly paying for patch up jobs and still end up with the shittest of roads. It budgets. Rather than pay for a descent job done once with proper safety they only do what this years budget allows and as cheap as possible to get as many patch jobs as possible done. Need a minimum standard of work to make them think harder about what they do. We pay enough in road user taxes to do it properly, pity it gets syphoned off in the general funds to pay politicisations salary increases.:angry2:

[cheshirecat]

In reply to your question - very slowly, especially if carrying a bit of load. Sports bikes don't like this. Narrow bars, 17inch front wheels, limited lock, front brakes liable to grab at v low speeds, blah blah. Especially 'enjoyed' them resurfacing the bit after the Homer Tunnel (main tourist highway so you'd have thought that tunnel would be of a reasonable standard. They had resurfaced the hairpins down to Milford with ball bearings causing the car ahead to role doing all of 40k. They waved me to the opposit lane bit didn't inform oncomming traffic. Did the whole decent at around 20k. Bright lot they are.

[Gone Burger]

Yesterday i encountered some pretty atrocious road works. Approx. 1 kilometer of windy road with smooth round, loose & deep / uncompacted RIVER STONES (approx. 50 - 100mm diameter). The posted speed limit was 30 km/hr.

Last year I took rode my 250 keeway from Welly to Auckland. Came across similar road works. Came to a complete stop at the roadworks and the worker came up to me looking very stressed. He said the trucks had delivered the wrong stone that morning, and they had to use it. Very large stones and freshly dumped. They were not letting any bikes through, and the cars were seriously struggling to climb their way through the loose sea of what looked like river stones. It was deep too. So, I had no option, couldn't go back the way I came, not enough gas to back track. Had to push my bike through it on foot. Me, down a steep back, with bike up on road above me. Took me about 20 minutes to get to the other end and I was utterly exhausted. All I can say was thank #$%* I had the keeway, a very light bike. Imagine me trying to get my Boulevard across that.

Couldn't even walk on the rocks, it was too deep to even get traction with a foot. The worker was so embarrassed and apologetic. He offered to help balance the bike but keep pushing the weight onto me. Told him to just follow and be ready to catch it when if the bike was going to fall on top of me.

[Oblivion]

I hate it when the car in front of me has to flick stones up - especially when the visor is down so I can ride with tinted glasses :innocent:

[scumdog]

After experiencing roads in the US subjected to searing summer heat and arctic winters i return to roads that melt at 18 deg C, constructed of a series of poorly applied patches, and liberally sprinkled with potholes and loose metal. Not only does there appear to be no coherent planning (the newly laid sections being ripped up within months of being laid for cables and drains) but the incompetent cheap-arse job is akin to 3rd world status. A brand new 200m section near the almighty Stadium/White elephant dissolved into potholes with WEEKS of being laid. The frenzied end-of financial- year activity means, during the best motorcycling weather, nowhere is immune from long waits, and 30km limits while they inexplicably make the existing roads WORSE!

Our roads explain what level of developement our country has achieved...
We're 3rd world.

[Rhys]

Why can't we have concrete roads tike the states, use to be some in gracefield the the us army put in when stationed out here and they were only sealed over a few years ago!

[mrchips]

I hate it when the car in front of me has to flick stones up - especially when the visor is down so I can ride with tinted glasses :innocent:

Oh, that's o.k. i had that last week on my way to work early a.m. Not signposted on the Wellytown southern motorway / petone overpass (the sharp left hander), where i was showered by what i can only explain as........ a freshly laid section of 'grit needles'. I wasn't expecting it & it shure woke me up, ha, ha (that'll teach me for snoozing while cruising).

I would like to upskill due to my lack of sportsbike gravel skilz. But to be perfectly honest, if i want to ride deep river stones / boulders i'd get me a dirt / adventure bike.
Interesting reading other peoples experiences tho. I guess i don't feel so bad for waving on those cars.

Guess this explains why 4wd's are so popular in nz.

[oneofsix]

Guess this explains why 4wd's are so popular in nz.

and adventure bikes for commuting. Hang in there folks only a couple of months of weather suitable for new seal left, pity it co-insides with some of the best riding weather :crybaby:

[Smifffy]

EDI Downer - Govt appointed agents to eliminate bikers.

[Sable]

Downer Syndrome, you mean

[GMcC]

To be honest I would be happy if they just left the whole bloody thing alone.
Must be a perpetual check-book for them.
I prefer and old fucked road any day then one that has the same road works every 3 months.

Ha - that about somes the whole farkin roadrepair furkin farce UP !
Pay the monkeys and thats about the high quality of NON repair you would expect !
Oh - and dont forget they get travelling time paid and are supplied with wet gear etc, etc, etc, etc.............
Fuck the f..n monkeys

[george formby]

I traversed a litany of road works & repaired roads with the camouflaged ambush gravel which seems so common now on my way back oop north. Not really a biggie on my bike but one stretch of works in the pi$$ing rain north of Whangarei was unbelievably slippery. I had to let the bike slide down the camber into the lower rut when the front started to move.

Did somebody mention walnuts? I could have cracked one betwixt my butt cheeks.

Normally a steady throttle & looking well ahead to change my line in plenty of time (like trail riding) keeps things hassle free but not yesterday.

[george formby]

I hate it when the car in front of me has to flick stones up - especially when the visor is down so I can ride with tinted glasses :innocent:

I hate to make this public for fear of reprisals but following a certain brand of cruiser yesterday, I think they used to be made in Milwaukee, the rider deliberately gave it a handful as we were riding through chip seal that had been laid 10 minutes before our arrival, peppering me. I was tarred & pebbled or maybe the chips on my helmet were being seasoned.

Simple things for simple....

[carver]

Yesterday i encountered some pretty atrocious road works. Approx. 1 kilometer of windy road with smooth round, loose & deep / uncompacted RIVER STONES (approx. 50 - 100mm diameter). The posted speed limit was 30 km/hr.

I had to stop & wave (sorry) on cars behind me as I really struggled to keep traction & stay on my side of the road. I was also bottoming out in the deep ruts & almost lost it as both front & rears kept on digging in.

Am i just a big wus or is there a secret to tackling this stuff on a large heavy sports bike with smooth tyres. I had my fingers & toes crossed but still felt this wasn't enough.

I have never in my like seen river stones used in roadworks. I'd of thought this type of material inapropriate for road subgrades, anyway.....

Your comments from wisdom & experience are welcome, what would you do ?.

well, how else can you build up the road without using a good base rock?
What do you want, a stop go for 1km 24/7?

Now is a good time to do roadworks, cause once rain gets into the seal it fucks it.

[porky]

Yeah a portion of the track (paihatua) has also recieved the same treatment. River run dont compact, thats why its used for drainage. Cheap fucks use the 40 T trucks to smash it up. No fun on a big bike,

[kiwi cowboy]

ACC & the Govm't would have just put it all in their anti motorcycle statistics had any of you been injured!

Probably recommended you attend a course on how to ride off road!

They are just full of helpful suggestions on everything to do with motorcycles being dangerous and all that! :facepalm:

Have you done this course you talk about and did they have a section in there about how to take off from pubs in omaru and not ending up in the gutter:blink::facepalm:

[mrchips]

well, how else can you build up the road without using a good base rock?
What do you want, a stop go for 1km 24/7?

Now is a good time to do roadworks, cause once rain gets into the seal it fucks it.

It's fucked well before the rain gets in !

Baserock should be mixed granular / crushed rock to enable compaction NOT big arse fucken river boulders !.

I have no objection to road works, but this caveman approach to building nz's goat tracks is bullshit, cheap fuckers !

[Ocean1]

I took the long road to Paeroa last week, spending Saturday riding from Tologa Bay to Whangamata. I reckon someone dispatched the village idiot in a ute full of roadworks signage with instructions to sprinkle it liberally and completely at random around the cape.

I didn't see a single "works end" sign anywhere near what might be considered roadworks. About 08:00 Sat, the bike ahead of me in the fog dropped about two feet into 4" loose river rock base course. A lesser rider would have lost it. 50 metres later there's a "30K" sign. It was a bad joke.

At least they were using sweepers, we passed three going the other way at a great rate of knots, bombarding us with sticky sharp gravel. Still, at least they're consistant, it's like that every year on the way to Paeroa.

[Rhys]

I reckon someone dispatched the village idiot in a ute full of roadworks signage with instructions to sprinkle it liberally and completely at random around the cape.:yes::yes::yes:

[carver]

It's fucked well before the rain gets in !

Baserock should be mixed granular / crushed rock to enable compaction NOT big arse fucken river boulders !.

I have no objection to road works, but this caveman approach to building nz's goat tracks is bullshit, cheap fuckers !

cheapest price wins the tender!