Everyone,

since I have a few months of winter cold before I can ride, I have some questions for the experienced riders out there.

Tar snakes - Help me out with these.
Are they always dangerous?
Are they all created equal? Are some worse?
What is your "work around" how do you handle them?
Are they only bad for you only at high speeds ( highway) vs city riding ( I'm in Chicago)?
At what speed range do they become a concern?
What techniques work for you and what have you learned about dealing with them?

Thanks in advance,

Patrick

 

I just ride right over them and squish them. Only concerned about them if it is wet.

 

They are very slippery in hot weather and in cold. Normally in 60-70 degree weather they will have the same grip as the road does. I am still careful when riding over them, especially when the run with the road. Slow down and try keeping your tires off them if possible.. :-)

 

As rwhisen said...wet ones are a concern. So are white painted wet lines.
Try to avoid all. Usually you'll just feel a slight slip but they do suck. I wish there was a rule to mix a light mixture of anti skid sand in with that snake stuff so when a bike hit it we wouldn't loose traction.

 

Only dangerous if you dont have a clue about them.

They can be a little squirly. Avoid them if possible. Ive herd some states they protrude out of the road surface up to about an inch or so, but all the ones I've dealt with are flat with the road but will cause a slip. I like to think of them as a small strip of loose sand or gravel in the road. Dont lean much while on them and you'll be fine, but best to avoid when you can. I have felt some slip from them while going through curves and its a little butt puckering but nothing you cant handle if you are aware its a tar snake and dont freak out and try to correct.

Watching the road ahead is the best way to avoid them. doesnt take much maneuver around them, but I'll only avoid them if they run parallel to the road and in corners.

 

I tend to avoid them, but if not choice on going over them try to stay straight and steady on the throttle.

 

Not so bad on a straight road but a little scary in the curves , I slow down a bit and hang on.

 

Asked the exact same question of two experienced Motor Officers. Here's what they said:

In the vast majority of situations, tar snakes are not a problem. Yes, you do wiggle as you go over them, and it will definitely make your butt pucker, but just relax, ride it out, and you'll be fine. The tire will hook up again a split second later when it hits the pavement.

The exception is when you're already riding at 100% of your personal skill level, and 100% of your bike's ability to handle the curve. Of course, that's simply an explanation of what will happen every time you're at 100% and something unexpected happens.

Never ride at 100%.

 

I think tar snakes are deceptively slippery. Like wet road paint. I try to avoid them, but if I have to ride over them I like to hit them square and straight up, to maximize traction.

Like the previous post says they aren't a problem if you aren't living on the edge, I just don't like that squirrelly feeling.

 

Never ride at 100% on the street