Tar Snakes...

**Biff** · 5th January 2006, 23:11

...they're out to get you. Glistening with the sheen of recent hail and rains.

Not one - but dozens, everywhere - no way of avoiding them, on the apex of a corner.

"Slide on me", they call.

Like a moth, drawn.....then "FUCK ME, where did my front wheel just go?"

Twitches galore today. Then I was bombarded by enourmous chunks of ice (ok - big hail stones). Each one stinging like fk for about half a second. Quite nice actually. I think I'm going to ask ms Biff to get out the nipple clamps tonight.

The joys of communting.

**Holy Roller** · 5th January 2006, 23:31

Funny you mention them, I was just thinking the other day how they dont affect me as much as they used to on the old bike must be the extra weight. I can ride along them with out the "you are coming with me feel". There are not many around here as most of the roads have been resealed including the Rotoma's with a great layer of hot mix much better than than the chip seal that used be on there.

**Motu** · 6th January 2006, 07:09

They have never been a concern to me,my bikes have never been effected - but then I don't use street tyres and would be going much slower than all the guys on expensive bikes.

**NordieBoy** · 6th January 2006, 07:39

Originally Posted by Motu

They have never been a concern to me,my bikes have never been effected - but then I don't use street tyres and would be going much slower than all the guys on expensive bikes.

And they don't do tar-snakes on gravel

**Oakie** · 6th January 2006, 08:05

'Tar snakes'. Ok, thanks. Now I know what to call them. Worse than white paint IMHO as they're so much harder to see when they're wet and they're just as slippery.

**Postie** · 6th January 2006, 08:20

Bugjuice was saying a little while back that he saw some guys doing road works and when they put the tar snakes down, one guy was chucking sand on top of them, quite a nice idea, if only they did it to all the tar snakes.

**Grahameeboy** · 6th January 2006, 08:29

Originally Posted by Postie

Bugjuice was saying a little while back that he saw some guys doing road works and when they put the tar snakes down, one guy was chucking sand on top of them, quite a nice idea, if only they did it to all the tar snakes.

Nah he was feeding the snakes silly!!!

**tl_tub** · 6th January 2006, 09:15

Mmm, they put sand down on all of them them so when the cars roll over it while its still fresh it doesnt pick up one end of it and wrap around the tyre

**nudemetalz** · 6th January 2006, 09:33

Originally Posted by Postie

Bugjuice was saying a little while back that he saw some guys doing road works and when they put the tar snakes down, one guy was chucking sand on top of them, quite a nice idea, if only they did it to all the tar snakes.

The actual technical term for that is called sand sealing and the "tar snakes" are called crack sealing. There's a particularily bad road for that down here in Wellington which is currently being looked at. Signs have gone up and it's really up to the rider to exercise caution more than anything else.

**dangerous** · 6th January 2006, 09:45

I dont think they are so much as slippery (in dry) as they are funny feeling, ie: its when the bike rides up on them and down again (like a boat in high seas) and this gives the false feeling of the loss of grip.
However in the heat of the day they seem to melt easy causing a loss of traction.

Originally Posted by Biff

Tar Snakes...

Nothing like a trouser snake right Biff?

**Pixie** · 6th January 2006, 10:00

Are they like the vindscreen vipers I had on my volkswagen?

**Oakie** · 6th January 2006, 10:05

Originally Posted by Pixie

Are they like the vindscreen vipers I had on my volkswagen?

Dat just a road of old cobras...

**Pixie** · 6th January 2006, 10:10

Kiss my asp

**Blackbird** · 6th January 2006, 10:15

Originally Posted by Biff

...they're out to get you. Glistening with the sheen of recent hail and rains......

Hi Rhod - Happy New Year. You and me both mate. Went to pass a car towing a boat on a back road. Got half way past and ran over a tar snake on the other side of the road. I wasn't feeding in a lot of power but the rear wheel spun up and stepped out, then suddenly gripped and gave me an almighty tank-slapper. I thought I was a goner, but she sorted herself out without my intervention. Didn't quite soil my leathers, but the car driver just about went off the road!

Safe riding

Geoff