Cycling UK Forum

First ride of the year that I've noticed melting tar on the roads - up top of Clent hill things started sticking to my wheels, then noticed pools of tar coming up through the gravel....all on the bits that were relaid last year....wonder if, in these cost cutting days, they are using something that melts more readily?

I was hoping that it being so warm and dry* that I'd not need to clean the bike for ages

*although as I went into rural Shropshire I still managed to find a slightly flooded road.

Yes, I noticed melting tar on Saturday - don't think I've seen any for at least 2 years.

Also saw melting on Sat for the first time in I do not know how long, road I used between Cov and Leam used to regularly have melting tar in warm spell like this. Partly I presume due to it's orientation and lack of tree cover... have even been sprayed by a fine gravel as a 'gritter' came past to lay down some sort of cover for it. Earlier it was warm in my sheltered patio area that I switched my garmin on recorded a temp of 51c

The problem is the mix they use here in the UK. I used to live in Kuwait and they covered the roads there with tarmac but it didn't melt like it does here in the UK. Not sure of the technical details but tarmac could be made to stay solid on UK roads but I suspect it would cost more and they wouldn't be able to top it up by spreading shillies on hot days.

BeeKeeper wrote:The problem is the mix they use here in the UK. I used to live in Kuwait and they covered the roads there with tarmac but it didn't melt like it does here in the UK. Not sure of the technical details but tarmac could be made to stay solid on UK roads but I suspect it would cost more.

I'm no expert but I'd imagine tarmac is a bit like tyre compounds. A high melting point tarmac probably behaves badly at low temperatures (low grip and other possible mechanical issues).

One sees melting tar much less often than when I was a child, when many roads turned to liquid on a sunny summer's day, and mummy was frequently having to remove the tar from my legs. And that was when I lived in wonderfully warm Cumbria.

The road outside my house didn't melt yesterday, but it did soften enough that some pebbles rather larger than the road chip that had rolled out from the banks became pressed into the surface, large enough I could see them as I drove at 25mph in the car. Not very nice for the cyclist.

It was being discussed on Eurosport that on the mountain roads they use an expensive tarmac that withstands high temps in summer and low temps and cracking up in winter.... yes I guess it is probably expensive but more expensive than potholes, replacing the surface, shoddy filling of potholes, and compensation for damage..... seems to me just another example of cheapskate Britain.

I have come across it in France - a minor road become so soft that I was sinking right up to the rims, making cycling all but impossible in places. But that was an exceptionally hot spell. The main problem there is that when tar melts, their quick'n'easy remedy is to just throw some shovelfuls of loose gravel over the stickiest patches - not much fun for cyclists!

It's nothing new for me in the UK either. Way back in 1976 (anyone remember?), the long hot summer and drought, I just happened to unwittingly choose the very start of the really hot spell to do a little mini-tour of England. I distinctly recall getting onto an 'A' road that was so wet and sticky, I wouldn't have been surprised to see woolly mammoths and sabre-tooth cats poking up through the tar. I had to give up on that one, it was totally un-navigable.

Generally always happens on a small bit of road near here. Every single summer. Always has done.

I reckon there's the wrong mix on the tarmac just at that spot. Doesn't happen 10yds further or 10yds nearer.

29degC here this afternoon. Too darn hot for cycling up the Devon and Cornwall hills.

Just got back from a 38 mile ride.
I left at 06:00 to beat the heat.

Been quite pleasant here today....in fact several members of my group were in longs and wearing bin man tops, so it can'[t have been that hot. But still had to have an ice cream stop

I pass quite a few people dressed for winter in the summer! What is it with these people?

It's supposed to be 27 degrees here tomorrow, probably warmer! Im stuck in at work sweating all day with no place to cool off.

Maybe they realise that sunburn can lead to significant problems later? I too tend to keep covered up in the sun nowadays.

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