Katy Flatlander - Good first metric ride??

[OakLeaf]

the main advantage is that it won't start melting or oozing oil the way tar does

That just reinforces what I said about materials and care in application. The main *dis*advantage of chipseal in Ohio is that the tar melts when it's hot (like over 90, which probably wouldn't even be considered hot in Texas). Rarely does it pool - that pretty much only happens when the tar was overapplied in spots - but the first thing you notice is a crackling sound when the tar sticks to your tires. You really notice the rolling resistance. Then you have to clean it off your tires and frame.

That doesn't happen, here, with real asphalt, at least at the bicycle level ... freeways with a lot of truck traffic do develop ruts in hot weather if they were poorly paved. Parking lot paving, you can really tell the difference in construction quality when you park a motorcycle in hot weather ... can you put the sidestand down for a five-minute run into the building without a support? If you use a sidestand support, does that sink into the asphalt too? You get to know which parking lots are "safe."