FYI - 226A ruined with tar snakes (Little Switzerland)

[gradus]

Just laid down about 10 days ago and hit every little crack in the road.  (Think GA60 on the Suches loop)  These are still really soft and rubbery.    
Hopefully they will add a new top coat in the spring when it gets warm.    

Still have Hwy 80 and 181 for going up and down off of the Parkway.  Nice little ride around Lake James to connect the 2 roads.  

[eFnJustRide]

Say it isn't so....
Let's hope new pavement is in the near future.
It sure has made 60...let's say "interesting"

[TwoWhldTerror]

Rode Hwy 60 this past weekend. Extensive tar snakes and cool weather make for a "not fun ride".

[R Doug]

Damn, I glad I was able to get in a ride on the road before the tar snakes.

Honestly, I am surprised they haven't covered the Snake and Dragon with the slick little bastards.  

[Windblown]

Bummer, I fondly recall riding that road on my trip down there (and also unfondly recall the tar snakes on 60 in a cold rain).

[sprint_st]

Damn, I glad I was able to get in a ride on the road before the tar snakes.

Honestly, I am surprised they haven't covered the Snake and Dragon with the slick little bastards.  

Don't give them any ideas  

[beachy]

yup couldnt believe it, a great road down the hopper

[sprint_st]

yup couldnt believe it, a great road down the hopper

True, BUT, there are LOTS more!!!  NC80 just to the South.  NC181 just to the North.  Too many to name from Lil Swiz to the Ohio River and NE to Sparta and N. of Mt. Airey.

[wilmar13]

Wow... I found this thread with googling tarsnakes 226a...

I am so disappointed. Just got back from a great ride with perfect weather; 70 deg and sunny. Perfect day except for my favorite road, 226A, is now ruined for anything with two wheels. I can't believe how slippery they are on a sunny day with clean pavement and warm sticky tires. It would be impossible to ride without losing the front if it was raining, no matter how slow you go. It is really a safety hazard. It is like a street version of riding over hidden wet tree roots at 45 degree approach angles.

Sorry for just complaining, but I am in disbelief at just how unridable it is now. I have read about tarsnakes but never understood until I experienced them today.

I can't help but wonder if it was intentional to dissuade motorcyclists from  the area? The road is tight enough hopefully no one gets injured, but there will certainly be a lot of slow speed low-sides for many poor motorcyclists that happen to ride that road this year I'm afraid.

[exploring/carolina]

Have avoided 226A lately on the south side of the BRP because of tar snakes complaints. A few years ago DOT chip & sealed Rt. 80 on the north side of Rt. 19 & took a couple years for it to get well.  Hope they don't chip & seal 226A on the south side of the BRP.  Rode 226A on the north side of Rt. 19 yesterday and the pavement was "great"! Beachy & I with two other riders rode Rt. 80 north & south of the BRP yesterday and the pavement was looking good!

[FJRacer]

Is it not possible to file a class action suit siting public safety concerns?

[sprint_st]

Is it not possible to file a class action suit siting public safety concerns?

Yep, it is possible, but ever hear of snowballs in hell?  There are a bunch of us that believe that the NC DOT is actually trying to kill bike riders.  Notice, no smiley face.  We are serious.

[Tyrroneous]

Crap.  226A was on one of the routes I had planned for my upcoming trip.  Thanks for the heads-up though.  Woulda sucked to get all the over there only to be confronted with such a nasty situation.

[wilmar13]

There are a bunch of us that believe that the NC DOT is actually trying to kill bike riders.  Notice, no smiley face.  We are serious.

Yeah really, I mean no conspiracy theory needed. The way it is applied all over the road, seemingly in strategic ways on every turn as to make conditions as bad as possible for motorcycles (and bicycles i would imagine, no way to descend now, only climb) leads me to believe it is intentional. No way it is applied only to cracks, as if sealing a crack, it would be impossible to have that many cracks. I have no idea how it is actually applied, but best case it is extreme incompetence just throwing tar material all over the road in copious amounts with more being at the turns because the Truck applying it went slower through that section and making a mess, more likely it is done on purpose to intentionally make a mess. Either way it sucks, but no one cares except the motorcyclists which are in the extreme minority.

[exploring/carolina]

Looked on the NC DOT site and don't see additional planned maintenance for 226A, yet.

http://www.ncdot.gov/projects/search/#t=McDowell

[sprint_st]

226A has some tar snakes and so do a lot of other roads.  Almost all of the county roads have them.  My Anakee's hate tar snakes too, however, you can still move along pretty quick if you are careful and ride in a cooler part of the day.  Drop down to NC 80, it will get your adrenalin up.