NZ roads are shit...

[Tank]

But Im glad that we dont seem to have this stuff:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/.../mfgrip126.xml

The BBC did a doco on it as well and the findings are not good http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programme..._4/4278419.stm

Apparently it can take 2 years for the road to meet the skid resistance levels required by law. And that the bits under the car / truck wheels. Off the usual 4 wheel lines it can remain at a level of 'sliperyness' for many, many years causing no end of danger to motorcyclist. grrr

[vifferman]

Velly interlestink.

But I liked James May's blurb more.

[ManDownUnder]

Great - imagine this stuff combined with cheesecutters...

"Look at the money we're saving. And it's fine for cars after only a very short time!"

[Finn]

I bet the Supermotard boys have their fingers crossed.

[dipshit]

But Im glad that we dont seem to have this stuff:

Think again...
http://www.mwhglobal.co.nz/Files/RD-Conf-02-CW2.pdf

What seems even worse to me down here around Dunedin, is now whenever they put down a new stretch of stone chip on tar, it only seems to last 3 months before all the stone chip is gone! In summer you are left with hot slippery tar and come wintertime it is going to be even worse when it is wet.

It seems to be new tar seal they have been putting down in the last 18 months. Older stretchers of tar seal are nowhere near as bad for losing its stone chip.

[vfxdog]

Considering the size of this country, the topography, the ag-based economy, and the relatively small number of folk who live here and contribute to roadbuilding and maintenance, roads here are extraordinary. I lived and rode in the UK for 27 years and never found anywhere that was close to what we have- even the much-touted Peak District roads don't come close to anything in NZ. One of the reasons I left Britain was simply that it was difficult to go for a decent ride without encountering speed cameras, caravans, oversize lorries, diesel on roundabouts, miles of cones on motorways with nobody actually working on the "roadworks"....etc etc. France is much better.
It's great here.

[Forest]

Considering the size of this country, the topography, the ag-based economy, and the relatively small number of folk who live here and contribute to roadbuilding and maintenance, roads here are extraordinary. I lived and rode in the UK for 27 years and never found anywhere that was close to what we have- even the much-touted Peak District roads don't come close to anything in NZ. One of the reasons I left Britain was simply that it was difficult to go for a decent ride without encountering speed cameras, caravans, oversize lorries, diesel on roundabouts, miles of cones on motorways with nobody actually working on the "roadworks"....etc etc. France is much better.
It's great here.

Depends on what kind of riding you do. I had a wonderful time riding in Scotland last summer.

[vfxdog]

Depends on what kind of riding you do. I had a wonderful time riding in Scotland last summer.

The roads in Scotland (done them) are great compared to the rest of Britain, but in comparison, are NZ roads shit?

[Rotor]

Up north the road works people use a water truck to cool the road down as a maintenence program, so the middle of summer you come around a corner and the f%$ken roads smoth and wet???????? whats with that
BUT on good days the Coromandels have the BEST roads in the world
Thats my 2 cents worth

[YellowDog]

Very interesting article. The UK doesn't have ACC and I can imagine a few test cases coming up in courts to make the councils criminally respnsible for resulting accidents.

The other UK pisser is having cast iron drain covers on bends. Very nice when it's wet. You just get used to ignoring the slide and wait for the grip to return.

What a bunch of irresponsible idiots they are!

[pete376403]

Think again...
http://www.mwhglobal.co.nz/Files/RD-Conf-02-CW2.pdf

It seems to be new tar seal they have been putting down in the last 18 months. Older stretchers of tar seal are nowhere near as bad for losing its stone chip.

Maybe it is related to the "recyclng" they now do - scrape up the old road surface tar and stones, boil it up and relay it as a water based emulsion with a coating of fresh gravel. I've seen freshly laid road surfaces lifting and leaving big bald patches less than a fortnight after they were laid (top of Ngauranga Gorge, northbound, recently)
It's crap, which is bad, but it's cheap, which is good. In Transit-speak, cheap trumps crap.

[dipshit]

It's crap, which is bad, but it's cheap, which is good. In Transit-speak, cheap trumps crap.

Though how cost effective is it, if it needs replaced after six months?

[Bikernereid]

Believe me the UK is one huge road work but the quality of the work leaves something to be desired. Cost over quality!!

I was pillioning recently and we nearly dropped the bike when the back end majorly kicked out. Luckily the rider got his foot down and got the bike upright. When we mentioned this to our friends who had done the same trip in the car the driver mentioned that he had the back end go on his car a number of times on the same stretch of road. I doubt that all the incidents could be attributed to diesel etc on the road; most liklely poor quality road surfacing.

There is a reason why the French have road tolls, so that the quality on their motorways are excellent!!

[jcupit69]

Hmmm, UK roads are good, cus there not as off camber as nz roads and are less bumpy.....however there are constant road works in the uk, and you have to go a fair way out of london to get to a nice pass like the tukas (i.e scotland or the lake district). Some of the A-roads and country lanes in the uk are awsome though and kinda make up for it (scary when their only 1 car wide thow).
Just the fact that in NZ you dont have to go to far to get on a kick ass bit of road is a major +
I love the mountain passes over here, and most of the time i find the roads here are better, but when the roadworks are done you can tell they aren't thinking about the bikes that'll be driving on them, i mean that corner b4 the j'ville off ramp at the top of the gorge in welly is a joke!!!!
Who ever is incharge of the roadworks need to get on a bike and see what its like riding on an unsealed surface, cus it aint fun!!!!
NZ car drivers are much worse and much less respectful and understanding of bike riders.....some of them are just plane shocking!!! But thats another forum for another time.

[Jiminy]

Hum, i just came back from a 3,000+ kms week in the South Island and the amount of road work and gritty newly sealed roads I've encountered in some places was unbelievable, especially between Haast and Wanaka, and on the Arthur's pass (damn, that one was a nightmare).

Is there a reason why all road work has to happen during the tourist season, and why a crap gritty seal has to be used?

Felt like riding on eggs some times...