Dangerous slippy tarmac

Commuting, Day rides, Audax, Incidents, etc.
User avatar
Mick F
Spambuster
Posts: 56359
Joined: 7 Jan 2007, 11:24am
Location: Tamar Valley, Cornwall

Dangerous slippy tarmac

Post by Mick F »

Out riding yesterday, doing some of the bridges over the A38, and was getting to the penultimate bridge of the day - Bridge 32.
Came along the road to a junction to turn left for the bridge, and pulled over to stop and put my foot on the kerb to have a look at my Garmin map.

The weather was wet - to say the least! - and the tarmac by the kerb was hyper slippy. I nearly came off as I braked to stop. Both brakes as usual, and both wheels locked up almost immediately. Very very nearly came a cropper, and it was only that I was going slowly that saved my bacon.

I turned left, then downhill over the bridge, to stop again ready to do a U turn with a gap in the traffic to go back up and left for Bridge 33, and as I stopped by the kerb, it happened again, but I was ready for it and only used the rear brake. Rear wheel locked up instantly.

A couple of Google Streetview links.
Pulled over here at the junction.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.37973 ... 384!8i8192

Stopped here on the other side of the bridge.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.37762 ... 384!8i8192

Zoomed in, and you see the problem.
Yes, it's bone dry in these links, but the non-grippy edge (maybe a foot wide) is smooth and not at all grippy.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.37762 ... 384!8i8192

This has been a warning to me, and I hope to other cyclists too, as I'm sure this sort of tarmac is ubiquitous on main roads all over the country.

I all my years of cycling, I have never ever had a problem like those yesterday.

Any other of us had this issue?
Mick F. Cornwall
thirdcrank
Posts: 36776
Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm

Re: Dangerous slippy tarmac

Post by thirdcrank »

"slippy tarmac" IIRC slippy is a word that "does horizon's head in" although he probably wouldn't express it like that.
User avatar
Mick F
Spambuster
Posts: 56359
Joined: 7 Jan 2007, 11:24am
Location: Tamar Valley, Cornwall

Re: Dangerous slippy tarmac

Post by Mick F »

Ok, slippery then! :lol:

Seriously though, the issue is dangerous. The smooth tarmac was like wet ice.
Mick F. Cornwall
User avatar
Mick F
Spambuster
Posts: 56359
Joined: 7 Jan 2007, 11:24am
Location: Tamar Valley, Cornwall

Re: Dangerous slippy tarmac

Post by Mick F »

Just checked.
Slippy is fine.
Screen Shot 2021-05-16 at 09.22.00.png
Mick F. Cornwall
User avatar
[XAP]Bob
Posts: 19793
Joined: 26 Sep 2008, 4:12pm

Re: Dangerous slippy tarmac

Post by [XAP]Bob »

Haven’t looked in an English dictionary yet, but that looks likely to be an American one. Completely different language :p


Just checked - Google licenses Oxford dictionaries for their English (British and US) definitions.
A shortcut has to be a challenge, otherwise it would just be the way. No situation is so dire that panic cannot make it worse.
There are two kinds of people in this world: those can extrapolate from incomplete data.
Mike Sales
Posts: 7883
Joined: 7 Mar 2009, 3:31pm

Re: Dangerous slippy tarmac

Post by Mike Sales »

[XAP]Bob wrote: 16 May 2021, 11:06am Haven’t looked in an English dictionary yet, but that looks likely to be an American one. Completely different language :p


Just checked - Google licenses Oxford dictionaries for their English (British and US) definitions.
How about "slape"?
a. 1. Slippery; smooth; crafty; hypocritical.
Cumbrian I think.
It's the same the whole world over
It's the poor what gets the blame
It's the rich what gets the pleasure
Isn't it a blooming shame?
User avatar
Audax67
Posts: 6001
Joined: 25 Aug 2011, 9:02am
Location: Alsace, France
Contact:

Re: Dangerous slippy tarmac

Post by Audax67 »

It's in Chambers with no mention of nationality. I'd call it regional.
Have we got time for another cuppa?
Jdsk
Posts: 24639
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Dangerous slippy tarmac

Post by Jdsk »

slippy is standard English usage. But OED only gives it 3 red dots out of eight for frequency. It has examples for several centuries. And another meaning that I haven't heard: slim.

And has slape as Northern dialect, Norse origin. I don't think that I've ever heard it.

Jonathan
Mike Sales
Posts: 7883
Joined: 7 Mar 2009, 3:31pm

Re: Dangerous slippy tarmac

Post by Mike Sales »

Jdsk wrote: 16 May 2021, 11:16am slippy is standard English usage. But OED only gives it 3 red dots out of eight for frequency. It has examples for several centuries. And another meaning that I haven't heard: slim.

And has slape as Northern dialect, Norse origin. I don't think that I've ever heard it.

Jonathan
There is a rock climbing route in the Llanberis Pass called Slape. Next to Brant which I understand is Cumbrian for steep.
It's the same the whole world over
It's the poor what gets the blame
It's the rich what gets the pleasure
Isn't it a blooming shame?
Jdsk
Posts: 24639
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Dangerous slippy tarmac

Post by Jdsk »

Yes. Also in Lancashire dialect. Norse origin, which is always going to be likely.

Brent in Scots. Probably not related to Brent goose or Brentford.

Jonathan
User avatar
Mick F
Spambuster
Posts: 56359
Joined: 7 Jan 2007, 11:24am
Location: Tamar Valley, Cornwall

Re: Dangerous slippy tarmac

Post by Mick F »

Any road up ................ :lol: :lol: :lol:


Has anyone else noticed the "lack of friction" on the smooth tarmac strips on the kerbsides of modern main roads?

I for one, will be very very wary of it in future.
Mick F. Cornwall
Mike Sales
Posts: 7883
Joined: 7 Mar 2009, 3:31pm

Re: Dangerous slippy tarmac

Post by Mike Sales »

Mick F wrote: 16 May 2021, 12:19pm Any road up ................ :lol: :lol: :lol:


Has anyone else noticed the "lack of friction" on the smooth tarmac strips on the kerbsides of modern main roads?

I for one, will be very very wary of it in future.
I had not noticed but I will be very wary too in future. Thanks.
It's the same the whole world over
It's the poor what gets the blame
It's the rich what gets the pleasure
Isn't it a blooming shame?
oldtimer99
Posts: 105
Joined: 19 Mar 2013, 8:26pm

Re: Dangerous slippy tarmac

Post by oldtimer99 »

Not sure there's anywhere round here with enough tarmac to be slippy.
Potholes a plenty and lots of surface which once did, I am sure, have tarmac.
Grumble grumble rumble
jo' bo
Posts: 121
Joined: 8 May 2021, 8:21pm

Re: Dangerous slippy tarmac

Post by jo' bo »

Mick F wrote: 16 May 2021, 9:21am Ok, slippery then! :lol:

Seriously though, the issue is dangerous. The smooth tarmac was like wet ice.
Wet ice? Dry ice is a bit rare on the highway
ClappedOut
Posts: 585
Joined: 30 May 2020, 12:43am

Re: Dangerous slippy tarmac

Post by ClappedOut »

Highbridge has a bridge that was resurfaced many years ago, I rode over it and it had skid warnings, like riding on ice.
Is it the new tarmac or tarmac substitute?
Post Reply