Riding in road construction area

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Jul 10, 2017 | 10:26 PM

balloo

Thread Starter

Tourer

Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 447

Likes: 55

From: Seattle area

Riding in road construction area

Recently I was in an area where they were doing "chip seal" - - this is a process where they spread oil/tar, and then cover with gravel. Sometimes they roll it and even then the gravel flips up when driving over. Other times they just wave traffic through the newly oil and gravel road.

My worry is this small gravel could get into the belt and pulley and cause damage or even cause the belt to break.

What do you folks do in these situations?

On my last trip, I re-routed myself around the area. Fortunately I had a road map with me.

Thanks,
Balloo

Jul 10, 2017 | 11:21 PM

TriGeezer

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 32,934

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From: Carlsbad, CA

I try to avoid it. Chips in the finish as well.

Jul 11, 2017 | 12:34 AM

Prot

Club Member

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 22,866

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From: Lafayette, Louisiana

Try to avoid it because it is hard to get off like tar.

As long as you have your belt guards in place, you will be fine.

Jul 11, 2017 | 01:46 PM

Geoff

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 10,946

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From: Nevada

I avoid areas under construction, even if it means going out of my way.

Jul 11, 2017 | 02:16 PM

load97

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2012

Posts: 2,370

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From: Bumfuk Egypt

I got stuck in it this spring and it definitely screwed up my bikes paint. Plenty of microchips. It was like going through a 100 yard sand storm it was that bad. I couldn't hardly see ****. I've never had it anywhere near as bad as that before. If there wasn't a truck and I think an 18 wheeler ahead of me it probably wouldn't have been so bad.

Last edited by load97; Jul 12, 2017 at 08:46 AM.

Jul 11, 2017 | 02:51 PM

jam436

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Joined: Jun 2012

Posts: 2,912

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From: Pittsburgh, PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by balloo

I had to have a belt and rear sprocket replaced under warranty on my last bike for exactly this reason.
They love "tar and chips" around here because it's cheaper than paving.

In my case they did the street right in front of my house so I couldn't avoid it.
Fortunately the dealer caught it during a regular service and fixed it for free.
The sprocket had a few gouges in it and the belt was starting to look chewed up due to some lodged gravel...

At the time they even mentioned that it was a good thing I hadn't removed my belt guard, as many do, since that would have voided the free replacements.