I posted this on my local tri club website but maybe someone on here nows about the condition of the road:
North Birch Trail is completely covered in gravel. The first time I did the loop I suffered through the gravel thinking “it’s got to end soon” but it stayed covered in gravel through the first two of the sister hills or whatever they are called. I was fish tailing all over the place and was terrified of falling and getting a flat. Second time I just turned around and did the first half of the loop backwards because I didn’t want to risk falling or getting a flat. Anyone have any idea how long its been this way and how long it’s staying this way? Any ideas as to a detour around this section of the loop?
I’d hope they are going to re-pave this section… I hope. Thanks for the heads up.
When did you ride it? That gravel must be new, as I did two loops last Saturday and didn’t see any…
If what you are talking about is tiny pea sized gravel, then that is the resurface. It is common on less used roads. They lay down a batch of tar/oil to make the road sticky and then dump on the tiny gravel. After a couple of weeks the cars compact it and it is ok. I think a couple years ago they did some roads very close to race time. Be careful for a week. It will get better.
chris
Yep, it is the tiny pea sized gravel. They must have just dumped it because it was pretty thick and I didn’t see any of the underlying tar.
i was on it on tuesday, and i’m sure its going to be resurfaced soon, i’m not a road tec guy, but i think this is what they do before its paved. i went through the gravel as well,…nothing like your wheels spinning while going up hill