Can somebody tell me where these things come from!!!!
In my understanding they are to seal cracks in - usually - asphalt pavement so ground water doesn't seep down,They are placed all over Texas to simply screw with motorcyclists. Seriously, especially in the coastal regions, the ground beneath the roads shifts so much, that possibly the tar helps keep the areas surrounding the cracks from separating further. Getting onto areas where the separation and shifting has happened, is even scarier than tar snakes. Very common occurrence around here.
freeze and destroy the pavement well beyond the original crack 1/2" width.
In non-freezing climates, Texas?, I don't understand the function except guess maybe to deny plants the moisture needed to sprout in middle of road.
Common in NW USA.
Shortly after buying me C14, I took a 3000 mile trip across several states with some friends out to Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah. After staying there a few days, we went on to Bryce Canyon, and then across the Grand Staircase Escalante. The trip went great... until we started down the Staircase.I had to read your entire post in a pirate voice after that.
At the bottom, there's a sharp hairpin curve... about 120 degrees worth.
Halfway into the curve, they had filled hundreds of cracks with tar... no chat, no aggregate... just oily tar! Those sorry stock BT-016 Bridgestones are terrible on them! Yikes!
I came very close to dropping my new bike 3 times on that curve! Felt like the front end moved 6" at warp 10, Sulu! Then, even after recovering, going slow and upright...for the next 10 miles I could feel it slip every time I went across them... and they were everywhere!
Freaked me out! I now watch out for them.
I've also noticed the Michelin PR2's don't do that on them as bad. Way better tires!
I hate those tar snakes. They suck, and I agree that the DOT must do it to sabotage bikers, and hide in the bushes laughing when we crash!
Lol...
Must be a northern thing.
I had to read your entire post in a pirate voice after that.