Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

How to go fast on chip seal roads?

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

How to go fast on chip seal roads?

Old 08-04-19, 10:30 PM
  #1  
robnol
Banned
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 333
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 277 Post(s)
Liked 18 Times in 15 Posts
How to go fast on chip seal roads?

they are covering all the roads near me with chip seal....i hate that crap ass pavement...anybody have any tips on how to ride faster and make chip seal riding less of a pain in the as....its a speed killing but numbing garbage pavement
robnol is offline  
Likes For robnol:
Old 08-04-19, 10:37 PM
  #2  
General Geoff
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Posts: 780

Bikes: 2018 Lynskey Cooper CX; 2007 Cannondale F4

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 368 Post(s)
Liked 155 Times in 64 Posts
Wider tires and lower tire pressures will make the ride much smoother and more comfortable, though not necessarily faster.
General Geoff is offline  
Likes For General Geoff:
Old 08-04-19, 11:00 PM
  #3  
HTupolev
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Seattle
Posts: 4,261
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1971 Post(s)
Liked 1,297 Times in 629 Posts
Originally Posted by General Geoff
Wider tires and lower tire pressures will make the ride much smoother and more comfortable, though not necessarily faster.
If increasing compliance makes the ride smoother and more comfortable, there's a very good chance that it's directly improving your performance in addition to reducing fatigue. The energy used to rattle a rider on rough surfaces is stolen from that rider's forward motion.
HTupolev is offline  
Likes For HTupolev:
Old 08-04-19, 11:03 PM
  #4  
downtube42
Senior Member
 
downtube42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,802

Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Focus Mares AL, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Volae Team, Nimbus MUni

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 878 Post(s)
Liked 2,019 Times in 1,055 Posts
Chip/Seal near Sterling, TX was so course you could almost steer around the chips of 1" #2 gravel. It was beyond belief. In San Angelo, they used chip/seal on the city streets. My solution was to move out of west Texas.

But yeah, for your run of the mill chip-seal, get some supple tires as wide as will fit your frame, and run them as low as you dare. You will be faster, though the lack of buzz coming through the bars will make you think you're slow.
downtube42 is offline  
Old 08-05-19, 12:08 AM
  #5  
canklecat
Me duelen las nalgas
 
canklecat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,522

Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel

Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4558 Post(s)
Liked 2,798 Times in 1,798 Posts
Ditto, fatter tires, lower pressure. Until we're holding 25-30 mph average over distance, the aero penalty isn't enough to offset the advantages.

I switched from 700x23 to 700x25 on one bike and from 700x20 to 700x23 on another. I usually run the 700x25 tires at 90 psi rear, 70 front, and could go lower. Much more comfortable -- I don't feel beaten up after miles and hours on chipseal -- and no slower. But my average speed over distances of 20-50 miles is only 16 mph, so the main aero factor is my own body, position and clothing, not the bike or tire size.

If my bikes could handle it I'd run 700x28 tires, but there's only enough clearance for 700x25 unless I modify the brake bridge and calipers.

If money is no object there are tires made especially for racing on cobbles and similarly rough terrain. Especially if we're willing to switch to tubulars. Those tires cost around $75 or more each.

And double wrap bar tape. Yeah, it's a little heavier and thicker so it's less aero. Won't make any difference for most of us mere mortals. On my Trek 5900 carbon bike I use generic black foam tape, over-wrapped with Arundel Synth Gecko. Much more comfortable. And I'm about to try 700x25, if the new tires I ordered will fit.

Some folks use bar tape or other thin padding on pedals to reduce vibration on the feet. I haven't tried that yet, but might give it a try on my old Look pedals if it doesn't interfere with clipping in securely.

Good insoles also help. Profoot Miracle insoles cost less than $10 and are the best I've found. Very thin and lightweight but effective in reducing hotspots on metatarsals.
canklecat is offline  
Old 08-05-19, 12:27 AM
  #6  
79pmooney
Senior Member
 
79pmooney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,825

Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder

Mentioned: 128 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4742 Post(s)
Liked 3,860 Times in 2,509 Posts
Originally Posted by robnol
....its a speed killing but numbing garbage pavement
I've been riding steel and titanium bikes for decades with shallow aluminum rims and light spokes. I hadn't noticed. I have gone to 28c tires on most of my wheels but I run ~90 psi. (Never liked the feel of underinflated tires except off road when traction rules. I wouldn't ride a bike that required it to be ride-able. (Not much of an issue since I won't be buying CF or aluminum bikes anyway for other reasons.)

I don't love chipseal but it has never been a deal breaker or occupied much of my thought.

Edit: I do doublewrap my bars now, but that is since, in my 60s, my hands prefer the bigger diameter, better grip and less chafe. Also cloth tape looks respectable and lasts longer.

Ben

Last edited by 79pmooney; 08-05-19 at 12:31 AM.
79pmooney is offline  
Likes For 79pmooney:
Old 08-05-19, 01:28 AM
  #7  
ironwood
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Boston area
Posts: 2,039

Bikes: 1984 Bridgestone 400 1985Univega nouevo sport 650b conversion 1993b'stone RBT 1985 Schwinn Tempo

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 542 Post(s)
Liked 151 Times in 100 Posts
42mm wide tires are even better.
ironwood is offline  
Likes For ironwood:
Old 08-05-19, 04:40 AM
  #8  
nomadmax 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 2,409
Mentioned: 93 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1103 Post(s)
Liked 1,823 Times in 878 Posts
Ride on the part of the road that has been packed down or swept of most of the loose stuff by car tires, usually the wheel tracks. Stay out of mounded stone and move to another line immediately when the wheels become noisy (ie acoustically or vibration). If you do find the front wheel plowing, resist the urge to decrease pedal speed or add braking, that will only make the yaw worse. Add power to keep the front light and find a better line with gradual counter/steering inputs. Sometimes, the best place to ride on a rough road is on the edge; not usually the case with chip seal as the excess is pushed to the sides. That said, when it comes to rough roads, road bikes and going as fast as you can, you gotta think outside the box.
nomadmax is offline  
Likes For nomadmax:
Old 08-05-19, 05:30 AM
  #9  
noimagination
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 718
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 362 Post(s)
Liked 414 Times in 244 Posts
Pedal harder.
noimagination is offline  
Old 08-05-19, 05:42 AM
  #10  
shelbyfv
Expired Member
 
shelbyfv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,455
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3634 Post(s)
Liked 5,311 Times in 2,699 Posts
Ti bike.
shelbyfv is online now  
Old 08-05-19, 05:45 AM
  #11  
bobwysiwyg
Senior Member
 
bobwysiwyg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: 961' 42.28° N, 83.78° W (A2)
Posts: 2,344

Bikes: Mongoose Selous, Trek DS

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 941 Post(s)
Liked 319 Times in 189 Posts
Originally Posted by noimagination
Pedal harder.

Around here, chip seal is an acknowledgement that they're finally addressing an improvement of said road's poor condition. Worst part is this means center lines and fog lines are obliterated for a period of time and drivers seem lost, practically wandering in the wilderness lost until they are repainted.
bobwysiwyg is offline  
Old 08-05-19, 05:53 AM
  #12  
superpletch
faster downhill
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 260

Bikes: more than my wife can keep track of

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 147 Post(s)
Liked 6 Times in 6 Posts
700x30c in a great, low rolling resistance tubeless tire @ 65psi
superpletch is offline  
Old 08-05-19, 07:16 AM
  #13  
55murray
Full Member
 
55murray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Lafayette, Indiana
Posts: 464
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 207 Post(s)
Liked 108 Times in 58 Posts
I hate it too, and encounter it a lot here in Indiana. I compromise on the tires and pressure since I'm not always on it, so I run 28s at 70/75 psi front/back.
55murray is offline  
Likes For 55murray:
Old 08-05-19, 09:42 AM
  #14  
wipekitty
vespertine member
 
wipekitty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Land of Angora, Turkey
Posts: 2,476

Bikes: Yes

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 687 Post(s)
Liked 220 Times in 163 Posts
+1 on wider tires and lower pressure.

If it's a low-traffic road, choosing a line wisely can help. Riding gravel has helped me immensely with learning this concept. Obviously, if it's a high traffic road, riding around in the lane might not be possible.
wipekitty is offline  
Old 08-05-19, 09:50 AM
  #15  
livedarklions
Tragically Ignorant
 
livedarklions's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613

Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM

Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,094 Times in 5,053 Posts
The good news is that next year, after there's been enough packing by cars, that surface is going to be great!
livedarklions is offline  
Likes For livedarklions:
Old 08-05-19, 10:46 AM
  #16  
Atlas Shrugged
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,629
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1217 Post(s)
Liked 1,281 Times in 653 Posts
As mentioned above enjoyment of chip seal is very equipment dependent.

Used to ride Colnago C60 with 23mm tires. Even though ran very supple tires with latex tubes still found Chip Seal a pain.

Now ride S Works Roubaix with 30mm Schwalbe G One speed tubeless @ 70psi max can ride chip seal all day and don’t give it a second thought.

Run the widest most supple tire either tubeless or with latex tubes at lower pressures and enjoy.
Atlas Shrugged is offline  
Old 08-05-19, 11:52 AM
  #17  
noimagination
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 718
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 362 Post(s)
Liked 414 Times in 244 Posts
Originally Posted by bobwysiwyg

Around here, chip seal is an acknowledgement that they're finally addressing an improvement of said road's poor condition. Worst part is this means center lines and fog lines are obliterated for a period of time and drivers seem lost, practically wandering in the wilderness lost until they are repainted.
Agreed, chip n' seal is vastly preferable to potholes and broken pavement. Where I ride, at least, they use pretty small stones, so once it's packed down it's not that bad, though of course nothing beats new blacktop.

Falling on chip n' seal, unless its very old, is nasty though. Try to avoid it.
noimagination is offline  
Old 08-05-19, 12:40 PM
  #18  
jamesdak 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,823

Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,

Mentioned: 154 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2300 Post(s)
Liked 4,764 Times in 1,725 Posts
Originally Posted by livedarklions
The good news is that next year, after there's been enough packing by cars, that surface is going to be great!

?? How so? We get nothing but chipseal where I live. It's not great for nothing. It still potholes like crazy, and it's full of cracks all over within a year. And then they never fix the damaged roads before they lay a new coat. It's just pour down the tar and throw gravel on top. So now all the cracks and holes are still there, just harder to see. I hate the stuff yet it's all we get so I deal with it.
__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
jamesdak is offline  
Old 08-05-19, 12:47 PM
  #19  
livedarklions
Tragically Ignorant
 
livedarklions's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613

Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM

Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,094 Times in 5,053 Posts
Originally Posted by jamesdak
?? How so? We get nothing but chipseal where I live. It's not great for nothing. It still potholes like crazy, and it's full of cracks all over within a year. And then they never fix the damaged roads before they lay a new coat. It's just pour down the tar and throw gravel on top. So now all the cracks and holes are still there, just harder to see. I hate the stuff yet it's all we get so I deal with it.
I don't know much about pavement except that some types work better in some environments than others. The chipseal in New England follows the pattern I describe, hell for the first year, then pretty great for a few years. Everything potholes over time, however.

Maybe it's just a really bad surface for Utah roads for some reason?
livedarklions is offline  
Old 08-05-19, 12:51 PM
  #20  
Last ride 76 
1/2 as far in 2x the time
 
Last ride 76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Northern Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 1,935

Bikes: Yes, Please.

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 499 Post(s)
Liked 285 Times in 222 Posts
Originally Posted by livedarklions
The good news is that next year, after there's been enough packing by cars, that surface is going to be great!
+1 Wahoo! Personally I find the annoying buzz of chipseal beats the heck out of riding hundred yard stretches of bumpy and cracked pavement.
Last ride 76 is offline  
Old 08-05-19, 12:52 PM
  #21  
Last ride 76 
1/2 as far in 2x the time
 
Last ride 76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Northern Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 1,935

Bikes: Yes, Please.

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 499 Post(s)
Liked 285 Times in 222 Posts
Originally Posted by livedarklions
The good news is that next year, after there's been enough packing by cars, that surface is going to be great!
+1 Wahoo! Personally I find the annoying buzz of chipseal beats the heck out of riding hundred yard stretches of bumpy and cracked pavement. Even on my 23s...
Last ride 76 is offline  
Old 08-05-19, 01:45 PM
  #22  
Murray Missile 
Senior Member
 
Murray Missile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: 700 Ft. above sea level.
Posts: 3,205

Bikes: More than there were awhile ago.

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 620 Post(s)
Liked 1,205 Times in 575 Posts
I've been riding on chip/seal and limestone gravel all my life, I just thought it was normal.
Murray Missile is offline  
Old 08-05-19, 02:06 PM
  #23  
canklecat
Me duelen las nalgas
 
canklecat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,522

Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel

Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4558 Post(s)
Liked 2,798 Times in 1,798 Posts
Originally Posted by bobwysiwyg

Around here, chip seal is an acknowledgement that they're finally addressing an improvement of said road's poor condition. Worst part is this means center lines and fog lines are obliterated for a period of time and drivers seem lost, practically wandering in the wilderness lost until they are repainted.
Yup. Sad commentary on infrastructure when we've come to regard chipseal as an improvement.

Ditto, the lost sheep behind the wheel. One route I ride often is the classic "wide enough to share the road without cyclists taking the lane." Until it was recently resurfaced there was a painted "bike lane" that was really just a street side parking zone. The actual lane was wide enough to accommodate both cars and bikes.

But without the painted lines I've noticed some drivers have no idea what to do. I can ride to the right, leaving a lane wide enough for a tractor trailer rig with outboard mirrors. But some drivers still hesitate to pass. Other than the occasional @$$holes who still brush-by pass no matter how much room they have, or think the bike/parking lane is their personal passing lane.
canklecat is offline  
Old 08-05-19, 02:27 PM
  #24  
Kapusta
Advanced Slacker
 
Kapusta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,187

Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2749 Post(s)
Liked 2,516 Times in 1,422 Posts
The problem is not chipseal, the problem is your tires.

Get some supple 32-38mm tires run at the right pressure and you will be largely indifferent to road surface conditions.
Kapusta is offline  
Old 08-05-19, 02:27 PM
  #25  
jamesdak 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,823

Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,

Mentioned: 154 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2300 Post(s)
Liked 4,764 Times in 1,725 Posts
Originally Posted by livedarklions
I don't know much about pavement except that some types work better in some environments than others. The chipseal in New England follows the pattern I describe, hell for the first year, then pretty great for a few years. Everything potholes over time, however.

Maybe it's just a really bad surface for Utah roads for some reason?

I think they just cheap out on us here with it. They really do a bad job putting it down like 90% of the time.
__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
jamesdak is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.