Scary roads.. Own Up

[Offday]

I have to say after reading some of the other threads that
I don't mind wet, unless first rain of the season,
Kinda actually like curves and twisting roads. I've dealt with
Sand and gravel.
But now I have to say that the scariest for me might be
ANYTHING with large random wildlife. Like DEER

[Amos Iron Wolf]

Just saw the first episode (I think) of United Stats of America with the twins that kind of put things into perspective about certain stats. The animal that kills the most humans is, you guessed it, DEER! Oh, and while your chances of dying in an aircraft crash are 1 in 5 million or more, the odds for dying in a motor vehicle accident are 1 in 88. Now ain't that fun to think about.

At this stage and with the Shadow I'd have to say gravel roads are my scariest roads so far. Oddly enough, I love ripping down gravel roads on my old Sears 106 back in the mid 70s. Heck, I pretty much ripped around any and every road, trail, and rabbit path on that thing with no worries and loving every minute of it. That which does not kill you will make you look back and say, "What the H, was I thinking!"

I loved slamming and sliding around on gravel roads back then. On my bike now I just don't feel confident when I feel it squiggling around on me. Maybe someday. Maybe I just have a fear of dumping and messing up my much newer, larger, and nice (many payments left) bike than what I had back then. Dump the Puchinelli Special and you mainly just broke the rear engine mounting bolt that held the pegs on. Shove the pegs in your pocket and ride home with your heels hooked on the swing arm and cut another section of threaded rod, shove it through the pegs and mounting holes then cinch down the nuts and washers until the next time.

As for the rain, I just got in from a 20 mile rain ride on Highway 90. I went the other side road to go the long way out to the highway because the short way floods after a heavy rain. Well, I ease up into third gear and WHOOSH! I hit heavy standing water on my alternative route and set a cascade of water up both sides, soaking my boots and gloves. I downshifted to second, eased on the throttle and powered on out and continued on. Not as bad as simply sliding sideways off a water crossing on the old 106cc and into the stream. I was still upright on the bike and powered out of that one before the bike died (no air cleaner in place and the carb was right behind the single cylinder. With that in mind, I powered on out of the standing water and my sweet little Shadow just kept right on going.

As others noted, the side streets were worse than the freeway. Slicker, more troublesome and changing surfaces, and harder really see with all the many reflections from so many angles on them. If you run the access road along the highway you have a good chance of hitting run off water and standing water spots you won't see until it's too late. The freeway was/is a lot better to run on in the rain. I waited out the worst of the rain while letting the second shift traffic go on ahead of me. Then I went out after the hardest rains had passed. I felt better after I got out of town and was running more rural towards home. I kind of hated to finish the ride at home as I was enjoying it. My boots are soaked though. Hope they dry before work tomorrow.

I know I'm going to be a bit nervous if I get to run the Three Sisters this weekend. Once section of RR337 has a sign stating, "Since January, 10 motorcyclist have died in the next 12 miles." I'm looking forward to the ride, but also going to be one of those going slow cruisers just trundling along. If the squiggly curve sign says 20 MPH as the recommended speed, THAT'S what I'm going.

So I guess heavy traffic city streets in the rain and gravel roads are my "Scary Roads" at this point.

[Cranman]

Any roadtop that has been ground in order to repave is pretty sketchy. One strech of road in particular is Southwood Road, between Severn Bridge and Gravenhurst. Nice twists and turns and ups and downs, but if you don't know the road...look out!

[Dcocch]

Pretty much any road in the Columbus, GA or Phenix City, AL area scare me.
1/2 the cagers are going 15mph over the limit and the other 1/2 are going 15mph under the speed limit. It's constant dodging if you want to go the speed limit.

But +1000 to anything but asphalt in a curve!

[indybp57]

Stopping for on-coming traffic so I can turn left into our neighborhood. It's on a busy road, and there is a pull out for traffic to go around someone turning left, but traffic flies up behind you and you never know until the last second if they are going to take the pull-out or plow into you. I even clinch when I'm in the car.

[maxtrax]

Riding a road last night which was spot chip and sealed. I was on sharp downhill corner, and there was loose chips all over. You never know how good the chips are set into the tar, if the tar is set up or still slippery from the sun, or if its just a big gravel trap.

[sanoke]

I-25 south of Denver when traffic is heavy but still moving at a good 10-20 mph over the speed limit. Living in small towns prior to moving out here 28 years ago meant I wasn't prepared for that kind of driving. I think I've finally got the hang of it but it still scares the crap out of me at times. Just love finding those chairs or tire chunks in the middle of my lane when the guy in front just swerved out of the way.

sanoke

[Endy]

Spring roads that still have the sand left on them from winter.

[Paulie]

Originally Posted by vito

Very interesting post......and funny you mention steep, curvy sections of roads.....these are my biggest 'fear' in that I get vertigo or some distorted view of angles when on these types of roads. A 'steeper' downhill left curve makes me feel as if the bike is going to tip over and I get very uneasy......like a fear of heights kind of feeling that seems out of my control. I go slow and deal with it. An uphill left curve I don't mind at all......go figure.

This is my problem too. I pucker up going down a steep mountain road, especially if my lane is on the cliff side. I just slow down and piss off all the cagers. They are willing to pass and yell out the window, but; not stop and meet the ballpeen hammer, so they don't matter.

[nolls]

Spring roads up in Northern MN scare the crap out of me I have to admit. They pump so much sand and crap out in the winter that its really scaring turning on some residential and even hi way areas until they street sweep....or it rains a lot.....With it being int he 70's in March a few times..I still went out, but it really put my driving skills to the test a few times as far as being careful and speed on turns.....