Tar or Road Snakes
If you ever watched the movie, “Raiders of the Lost Arc”, Indiana Jones let us know in know uncertain terms, that he hated snakes. I hate certain snakes too, and not all of them are alive.
Take a drive or go for a ride, and I bet you will see or drive over those squiggly things on the road called “tar” or “road” snakes. If you were driving a car or another “caged” vehicle, you probably didn’t take much notice in them other than the fact they can be a bit distracting.
However, for those of us who ride motorcycles, whether they be two wheeled or three, it is a totally different matter. These snakes can change smooth, or predictable asphalt roads into some of the most unpredictable, uneven, and downright scary pieces of highway you will ever travel on. Just the same as Indiana Jones found on the floor of the chamber that had all the snakes he hated.
So, where do these “snakes” come from ? Is it a sinister plot by highway crews to make sure bikers are paying attention and test their abilities, or is there some logical reason that they put those snakes on the road in the first place?
As the road surface ages and has been undergoing a lot of traffic, cracks begin to form in the asphalt surface. From the constant pounding it receives. In Northern Climes like where I live, the drastic changes in temperature, from one season to the next, also creates havoc on the roads surface over time. Think of it as a person, whom at the age of 18 has a smooth skin surface, and then someone like myself, who is slightly older…. by a lot, has developed numerous cracks in my skins surface (I like to think that I earned every one of them). To help combat the roadway from completely falling apart, road engineers have discovered a technology that allows them to fill in these cracks, even if it is temporary. Unfortunately, like most highway designs, it doesn’t take the motorcyclist, or bicycle rider into consideration.
From an engineering standpoint, and maybe even more importantly, from the usually underfunded transportation departments, the use of tar or a tar like substance to fill in the cracks makes sense. It is designed to adhere to the existing asphalt, fill in the crack, and keep water, and in colder areas, ice, from doing even more damage. Unfortunately, for us riders, in order to fill in the crack, the crack has to be made larger first, which means the tar substance they use is wider as well, and harder to miss. So, what do you get…. Random patterns in every direction, and each is rather crooked, thereby looking like a snake.
These tar snakes are never smooth or are they consistent. They change according to a number of reasons. One reason is the material used, and how tar-like it is. Some newer material have a more asphalt / sand base to it. However, the main reason for snakes being inconsistent has to do with the weather. If the road surface is hot, the material expands somewhat and becomes a gooey hump to ride over. If the road surface is cold, the material will contract and become more trough-like to ride through. If it is wet, regardless of the temperature, they becomes extremely slippery, period.
Take a drive or go for a ride, and I bet you will see or drive over those squiggly things on the road called “tar” or “road” snakes. If you were driving a car or another “caged” vehicle, you probably didn’t take much notice in them other than the fact they can be a bit distracting.
However, for those of us who ride motorcycles, whether they be two wheeled or three, it is a totally different matter. These snakes can change smooth, or predictable asphalt roads into some of the most unpredictable, uneven, and downright scary pieces of highway you will ever travel on. Just the same as Indiana Jones found on the floor of the chamber that had all the snakes he hated.
So, where do these “snakes” come from ? Is it a sinister plot by highway crews to make sure bikers are paying attention and test their abilities, or is there some logical reason that they put those snakes on the road in the first place?
As the road surface ages and has been undergoing a lot of traffic, cracks begin to form in the asphalt surface. From the constant pounding it receives. In Northern Climes like where I live, the drastic changes in temperature, from one season to the next, also creates havoc on the roads surface over time. Think of it as a person, whom at the age of 18 has a smooth skin surface, and then someone like myself, who is slightly older…. by a lot, has developed numerous cracks in my skins surface (I like to think that I earned every one of them). To help combat the roadway from completely falling apart, road engineers have discovered a technology that allows them to fill in these cracks, even if it is temporary. Unfortunately, like most highway designs, it doesn’t take the motorcyclist, or bicycle rider into consideration.
From an engineering standpoint, and maybe even more importantly, from the usually underfunded transportation departments, the use of tar or a tar like substance to fill in the cracks makes sense. It is designed to adhere to the existing asphalt, fill in the crack, and keep water, and in colder areas, ice, from doing even more damage. Unfortunately, for us riders, in order to fill in the crack, the crack has to be made larger first, which means the tar substance they use is wider as well, and harder to miss. So, what do you get…. Random patterns in every direction, and each is rather crooked, thereby looking like a snake.
These tar snakes are never smooth or are they consistent. They change according to a number of reasons. One reason is the material used, and how tar-like it is. Some newer material have a more asphalt / sand base to it. However, the main reason for snakes being inconsistent has to do with the weather. If the road surface is hot, the material expands somewhat and becomes a gooey hump to ride over. If the road surface is cold, the material will contract and become more trough-like to ride through. If it is wet, regardless of the temperature, they becomes extremely slippery, period.
What Can We Do When We Have To Ride “The Snakes”?
Tar snakes are usually found on secondary roads, you know, the ones with plenty of curves we like to ride on.
As already mentioned, road snakes can be hazardous to us riders because they are put down without us riders in mind. If you have to ride on roads with tar snakes, you should be prepared because you Ride Skilled, Ride Smart, and Ride Safe
Tar snakes are usually found on secondary roads, you know, the ones with plenty of curves we like to ride on.
- Tar snakes tend to be placed on the road in clusters, so if you scan the road ahead and note their presence, slow down, reduce your speed. Keep in mind the road conditions have changed, so approach them like you would any other obstacles on the road.
- The use of the throttle and brakes should be done in a gradual, slow, and smooth way.
- Try to ride over the snakes at a 90-degree angle if possible, or no less than 45 degrees if you can. However, those snake clusters could be what Indiana Jones found and that they are moving in all directions, so you may not be able to alter your course to get the best angle on them.
- Stay loose on the handlebars, as you have already been doing. Your bike will probably move about by shuddering or wobbling as you ride over them. Just relax. Let your tires find the way and know that your traction is less than ideal, but not insurmountable. If you invoke the “Death Grip” you are likely only going to make the situation worse.
- Think Positive! Trust your skill.
As already mentioned, road snakes can be hazardous to us riders because they are put down without us riders in mind. If you have to ride on roads with tar snakes, you should be prepared because you Ride Skilled, Ride Smart, and Ride Safe