PA backroads sorta suck
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,808
Likes: 3
PA backroads sorta suck
Rode through Pennsylvania this weekend. Man, some of the backroads are awful. One one of them... 55 speed limit... sign pops up saying be prepared to stop, stoplight ahead. Ok, cool. Thanks for the warning, I appreciate it. Seriously. So....
I cover the brake and start to apply just a bit, when BAM!
HUGE bump across the entire road... looks like from massive frost heave... can't see it until you are on top of it. It threw me straight up and right off the saddle...
Now, what happens as an involuntary reaction when you get tossed from the saddle? That's right, your grip tightens, like a death grip...
I came down to the pavement still on the bike, but the front tire locked up. I have no idea how I stayed on the bike, but I did and continued on with no mishaps. But i damn near **** myself.
ha.
I cover the brake and start to apply just a bit, when BAM!
HUGE bump across the entire road... looks like from massive frost heave... can't see it until you are on top of it. It threw me straight up and right off the saddle...
Now, what happens as an involuntary reaction when you get tossed from the saddle? That's right, your grip tightens, like a death grip...
I came down to the pavement still on the bike, but the front tire locked up. I have no idea how I stayed on the bike, but I did and continued on with no mishaps. But i damn near **** myself.
ha.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 502
From: Northern WV
I like PA's little back roads. They are basically just old dirt roads that have been paved or chip sealed over the years, without otherwise "improving" them. They are constantly chipping one here and there but you can always just move on to another one. The other thing, at least in SW PA (as well as parts of WV), is where they're putting in a shale gas well most all the roads in that area will be torn up.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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don't get me wrong guys, the scenery was great and the roads were generally nice and curvy... just once in a while there would be what amounts to a natural made speed bump coming out of nowhere.
I think it would have been easier to stay planted on the seat on something other than an Iron 883. Man, I bet I would have bit it bad on a rigid...
I think it would have been easier to stay planted on the seat on something other than an Iron 883. Man, I bet I would have bit it bad on a rigid...
Pa Roads
From a long time Pa resident and rider, I don't think the roads are any worse here than the other states in the Mid Atlantic region. Shoot, here you have to be more concerned about the deer than road hazards. But I know what you're talking about, my worst was in the late 70s on a 74 Sportster, hit a hummer expansion joint on I64 in Va. at about 70 mph. Next thing I knew I was on the rear fender hanging on for dear life, scared the you know what out of me. I can't imagine how the guys that ride rigids don't have major back problems.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Hershey, Pennsylvania
I like the back roads here in SE Pa, Chester and Lancaster, but I agree with the OP that they cause things to go from a scenic drive to hanging on for dear life. Bumps in the road from winter weather, chip sealed roads leaving gravel spills on turns, Deer...oh the deer, and blind turns that either whip into a stop or the stop sign hidden behind greenery when you suddenly find yourself at an intersection.
It makes for an interesting ride though. Then again, it does kinda suck when things get too interesting when all you wanted was a little scenery and a quite ride.
It makes for an interesting ride though. Then again, it does kinda suck when things get too interesting when all you wanted was a little scenery and a quite ride.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
From: Havertown, PA
I like the back roads here in SE Pa, Chester and Lancaster, but I agree with the OP that they cause things to go from a scenic drive to hanging on for dear life. Bumps in the road from winter weather, chip sealed roads leaving gravel spills on turns, Deer...oh the deer, and blind turns that either whip into a stop or the stop sign hidden behind greenery when you suddenly find yourself at an intersection.
It makes for an interesting ride though. Then again, it does kinda suck when things get too interesting when all you wanted was a little scenery and a quite ride.
It makes for an interesting ride though. Then again, it does kinda suck when things get too interesting when all you wanted was a little scenery and a quite ride.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 669
From: The Rust Belt!
Yes the roads in Pa are terrable!! Pot holes ,cracks, construction, wash outs and rocks everywhere, tar and chip roads throwing stones everywhere! They patch the pot holes and there right back the following year! Poor economy + bad weather and cold + state corruption and not giving a crap= crapy roads and alot of other stuff i wont go into! Oh and the roads in Michigan are crapy too!