View Full Version : Dirt Road Maintenance... what's the deal?
MattTuck
08-21-2013, 11:21 AM
A bunch of my regular rides have some dirt road sections. Sometimes they are super smooth, sometimes they are like riding a sector of cobbles from exposed rocks, sometimes they've got a series of deep puddle holes.
Can anyone clue me in on what's behind the ever changing surface conditions?
rain? vehicular traffic? ATVs? Global warming?
Lewis Moon
08-21-2013, 11:30 AM
Everything. Precip, cars, yadda.
In this financial climate, expect maintenance to really lag.
PS: Never ride a road within a week after the grader has been through. Rocks get broken up and really tear up tires. I double flatted in a field vehicle (I'm a biologist) 10+ miles from pavement and had no cell service.
oliver1850
08-21-2013, 11:43 AM
In IL, the township road commissioners have total control over what (if any) maintenance gets done on all roads under their jurisdiction. If you want something done, you can try sweet talk or threats to elect someone else at the next election, but he doesn't have to answer to anyone. I attempted to ride a road recently that has ruts 2' deep, well hidden by grass standing 3' high. Ended up walking it to get to the next cross road.
Farmers sometimes have to get in and out of the fields when the roads are soft, hence the ruts and holes. I'm sure there's some mudder truck activity on those kinds of roads too.
sw3759
08-21-2013, 07:10 PM
and lets not forget the ruts and flying rocks by mr redneck in his z71 who loves to see how big of cloud of dust he can leave you in when he puts the pedal to medal..good times..:cool:
pbarry
08-21-2013, 08:16 PM
Heavy trucks rolling over wet, freshly graded dirt roads take a quick toll. Boulder County is pretty good about upkeep in the fall and spring. Some near me are getting washboarded recently, but I can usually find a smooth line. No hazards like 2 foot deep ruts tho! :eek: They feel like the autobahn to me after riding in NYC and Boston--no pot holes.
Thiel
08-21-2013, 11:31 PM
Puddles indicate poor maintenance.
A consistent layer of dirt and rocks often means the road was just "graded" which is how they got rid of the puddles. After grading it should smooth out in a little while. Then a little while later it will start to get puddles... And then they will grade it again.
Lived in Vermont for years. 80% dirt.
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