Sodding Road Repairs
- Thread starter SteveH80
- Start date
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steverob
Guru
- Location
- Buckinghamshire
https://one.network/public is your new best friend. All the roadworks listed in map format, many announced well in advance.
- Location
- Inside my skull
It is what I consult
nogoodnamesleft
Senior Member
I find in my locality most "Road Closed"s you can actually pass OK (even on tadpole recumbent). Round me over ½ you can drive through hardly slowing as nobody working and barriered off bit is less than half one lane ie just ¼ of road.
Also often scheduled works actually take a lot less time. eg near me last year advanced warning signs up "closed 10th to 17th ..." and on 10th (first closed day) afternoon I walked past and asked the person removing the closure signs what happened ... "they finished".
Some roads round me are really horrible to cycle on, fast cars but lots of gentle bends resulting cars going far faster than they can see as the bends (restricting visibility) don't need to be slowed down for. Far too often "Road Closed" diversions might add 10 miles and put you on a nasty road. No consideration of cyclists.
Also often scheduled works actually take a lot less time. eg near me last year advanced warning signs up "closed 10th to 17th ..." and on 10th (first closed day) afternoon I walked past and asked the person removing the closure signs what happened ... "they finished".
Some roads round me are really horrible to cycle on, fast cars but lots of gentle bends resulting cars going far faster than they can see as the bends (restricting visibility) don't need to be slowed down for. Far too often "Road Closed" diversions might add 10 miles and put you on a nasty road. No consideration of cyclists.
sevenfourate
Devotee of OCD
- Location
- Lowestoft, Suffolk
Yup ! It comes with age Dear 🤣
My complaining is most often about the fact that in 2026: predicting the Weather / listening to a forecast is seemingly pointless and utter tripe.
I’m an outdoor person for work and home. I’d probably be no less confused / wet / annoyed / if I took no notice of any and every forecast and just went about my business.
Shocking.
nogoodnamesleft
Senior Member
(Off-topic, sorry) Check the rainfall radar rather than forecast when looking at next few hours. Radar shows what is really happening up to a couple of minutes ago. You can see what's coming, how dense it is (showers or continuous) and if it’s just weather pattern moving through or if new rain is forming and dissipating.
Many times forecast has had me think I'll stay home but check radar and nothing coming and I get a good dry ride.
N0bodyOfTheGoat
Ãœber Member
- Location
- Hampshire, UK
I usually consult Google Maps before I head out to check for roadworks among other things like busy roads, but they aren't always right regarding road closures around here in Hampshire.
- Location
- Inside my skull
I had a shocker of a wet ride this morning, torrential rain and hail, roads running with water, thunder and lightning. Could have been on a pedalo. I did not check rain radar but did take my waterproof with me.
- Location
- Glasgow
Here in Glasgow city it was like that yesterday.
I was already at work, didn't have to ride in it.
annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Canonbie
And then it headed south to Langholm. And left the showery bits around for today.
fritz katzenjammer
Der Ubergrosserbudgie
Road repair season… that season which falls after spring and before fall .
recognizable by the giant cloud of dust just where you wanted to go.
recognizable by the giant cloud of dust just where you wanted to go.
nogoodnamesleft
Senior Member
And the tar ending up on tyres. Then a bit later piles of grit built-up at road junctions (when you're looking around for vehicles not watching the road surface). Round me surface dressing contractors often don't bother with the sweep up excess grit stage on rural less busy roads (cheaper for them = higher profits).
I've used pothole reporting apps to report large piles of grit built up in some dangerous places.
MadMalx
Senior Member
- Location
- Settle, Yorkshire Dales
but most of them shown are just signs with no action. As mentioned, even those in progress are usually passable on a bike
Punkawallah
Veteran
While one could complain both about pot-holes -and- the road works to fix them affecting pedalling, it would seem churlish to do so.
G-Zero
Guru
- Location
- Kirkcudbright, SW Scotland
Part of Monday’s ride saw me using the A711, which forms part of the NCN7 route through the region and I came across a ‘Road Closed Ahead’ sign. There was no indication of where it was closed, but I thought I’d continue to see if there was actually a closure in place and double back to one of the numerous country lane diversions if I had to.
After 5 minutes or so there was a ‘Road Closed’ sign and cones across the carriageway, but in the distance I could see a works truck. I rode up to where a couple of guys were working on the verge, which was obvious was not the reason for the full closure. I very politely asked about my chances of walking my bike past whatever was ahead and they said I would be fine, but would need to walk through the works.
Sure enough, after half a mile, there was a surface dressing team in full flow, with tar, chippings and clouds of dust. One half of the carriageway was finished and as I approached, I got off the bike and pushed it past the machinery without any issues at all, getting a couple of waves and smiles on my way through.
After 5 minutes or so there was a ‘Road Closed’ sign and cones across the carriageway, but in the distance I could see a works truck. I rode up to where a couple of guys were working on the verge, which was obvious was not the reason for the full closure. I very politely asked about my chances of walking my bike past whatever was ahead and they said I would be fine, but would need to walk through the works.
Sure enough, after half a mile, there was a surface dressing team in full flow, with tar, chippings and clouds of dust. One half of the carriageway was finished and as I approached, I got off the bike and pushed it past the machinery without any issues at all, getting a couple of waves and smiles on my way through.
