Sand on the Spring Time Roads

My neighbour wiped out on a street corner with his nice Guzzi cruiser. It was spring time in southern Ontario Canada. He was OK , hurt leg and hurt pride. Blame it on sand on the road left over from winter. Seems at every stop sign or stop light there is a pile of sand or fine gravel just waiting to blindside a biker. With smooth tires on a cruiser  , you really need to be careful out there now that the snow is is dissappearing.     Jim  

Sand?!? Unless the sand is deep enough to grab the front wheel and yank it sideways, sand is one of the most benign dangers you can encounter on the road. It ranks right down there with rain. It's easy to deal with unless you are riding beyond your abilities.

I hope your neighbor isn't one of the folks we see coming to Florida. You can expect sand on every corner you come to, down here, all year long.

regards,
Joe  

I think the fine sand that blows on the road in Florida is a little different then the pea stone and coarse sand they throw on our Canadian roads. It`s like getting into the marbles. But you are right , My buddy  says he was going onto the corner a little hot .  

Gravel is a whole 'nuther deal. Yep, just like putting ball bearings on the pavement. When that front wheel washes out, there's not much you can do except be glad your heart's still thumping as you lay there telling yourself to get back up.

We don't see gravel down here. It has to be imported, so it's too valuable to leave laying on the road. The last time I saw gravel on the pavement, I had to dodge the vehicles of three tourists, who were fighting over which one would get to pick it up for a souvenir :-)

regards,
Joe
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Hurry up?!? Why? I have all the rest of my life to do everything I'm going to do.  

Small sand is just as deadly as the gravel (perhaps more so since it hides).
I've hit it, being in the northeast, I just assume it's on each and every corner that I go into. Most times, I'm pleasantly surprised. Once in a while, I'm just glad I was going slow.  

I find the roads in the US much safer then in Canada. You are lucky to have paved shoulders on most of your hiways. Sand and gravel shoulders are the norm up here. Not much room for error.      Jim