If they must chip seal the road...

[tab123]

I was watching the Paris Roubaix race the other day and watching the riders bike over the cobblestones and thinking I knew how they felt.

This is exactly what I thought on my rides this weekend. The roads in SW Michigan are in horrendous shape with huge ruts, many areas torn up from plowing in the winter, etc. I had to do a little cyclocross and go across someone's lawn at one point to avoid a really bad patch. (It was clear they did the same thing with their car so I did not feel bad.) I kept thinking "momentum is my friend; you can make it over this too." My teeth are still chattering.

Karen

[zoom-zoom]

After yesterday's ride I realized that I am a lot faster than I thought I was. On our roads I am generally in the 14-15mph range on a moderate-to-high effort ride (we have quite a few hills and get a lot of wind here, too). On a still day with hills and nice asphalt I was able to go at least 2mph faster and with less effort. This does give me added confidence going into my first duathlon in a couple of weekends, since it's down in the area with the asphalt roads. I figure I am working so much harder on the chip-seal that it's making me a stronger cyclist on race day. That's positive thinking, right?

[chicagogal]

After yesterday's ride I realized that I am a lot faster than I thought I was. On our roads I am generally in the 14-15mph range on a moderate-to-high effort ride (we have quite a few hills and get a lot of wind here, too). On a still day with hills and nice asphalt I was able to go at least 2mph faster and with less effort. This does give me added confidence going into my first duathlon in a couple of weekends, since it's down in the area with the asphalt roads. I figure I am working so much harder on the chip-seal that it's making me a stronger cyclist on race day. That's positive thinking, right?

Lots of chip seal on the roads at our training camp this year. During a long ride and I find myself starting to really fatigue. Then we mercifully reach normal pavement and with the same power output my pace picks way up (a few mph). OK, that suddenly explained why I was starting to fade. That chip seal road surface takes a ton outa you!!!

[zoom-zoom]

That chip seal road surface takes a ton outa you!!!

I think it really does. It makes me feel sorta beat-up. And that hand and feet vibration thing lasts for HOURS afterwards. Drives me bonkers!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Chip-seal makes you stronger.

Chip seal is ultra velvety cushy compared to some of the scary lunar-landscape rocky gravel roads I've also enjoyed. I like variety!

[OakLeaf]

I don't mind it as long as they don't leave deep piles of "chip" in the corners and at the bottoms of hills. Depending on how much traffic the road gets, that stuff can stay there for months.