Quote:
Originally Posted by Windwalker
Hobo...
Slick roads still give you the "shakes", I see.....:lol:
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In a way, you are right. Snow doesn't bother me so much cuz I can SEE it, but ICE? I don't like it! It can be invisible.
This past week, I was westbound on I-40 through New Mexico and Arizona (late at night.) There was no snow falling or any moisture in the air. Just east of the continental divide, the temp started falling by one degree PER MILE! I couldn't believe it. 20, then 19...18...17... down to 12 degrees, one degree every mile! I've never seen it fall so fast. Then up again for a bit, and then back down. None of this really mattered, as there was no moisture on the roads.
I crossed the border into Arizona doing about 70 mph. (My truck does 75 and that was the speed limit, but I drive slower at night.) Immediately, I noticed that the right lane had been "resurfaced" with a different kind of asphault. And, all of a sudden, the truck felt "wobbly." You know what I mean? Not so immediately respondent to the steering. I slowed down and started "testing" the road surface. As I said earlier, the more "grainy" the surface, the more likely that ice has formed in the cracks and "pores" of the surface.
Yes, Windy, when I had the speed under control (still over 65) I started "jerking" the wheel a little. I'm only talking about maybe 5-10% or so deviation. Experience on DRY roads has taught me to expect the cab to sway a little in response, and then to "recover" to the initial track. But, it was SLOW to respond to my command. I changed lanes (carefully) and did the same on the more "concrete" road surface. Nearly the same response. I returned to the darker asphault lane and continued the experiment. The slow response continued, and I over-rode what my eyes were telling me.... and slowed down even further! I ended up doing about 60 mph in a 75 zone... cuz, I didn't like the FEEL of it! I never DID see anything like a "sheen" on the road, I just slowed down until I felt like I was in control.
On the return trip over the same roads two days later, I did the same experiment, and the truck responded quickly and decisively as I would expect it to. I was able to maintain 70-75 mph in the same area.
I LIKE to drive fast when conditions permit. But... I am NOT going to be one of those who create those "tracks" through the median caused by a driver who either fell asleep OR slid off the road going too fast in a curve when the road was somewhat "icy" on (or under) the surface. [and I lost COUNT of the number of such tracks in the median that were "fresh" on this trip!]
I guess everyone has their own way of finding out if a road is slick. MANY of them find out by plowing thru the median. But, I don't think that will EVER be me! I have my own method, and it has NEVER failed me. And that is to
"shake" the wheel a bit if I don't like the "feel" of the rubber on the road!
There was absolutely NO evidence I could see that would explain that road being slick. Five miles earlier, I rounded a curve doing 70+ mph with no problem. The ONLY thing that tipped me off was the "response" of my truck as I continually "checked" the surface as I drove along and my awareness of the difference in the type of road surface.
You can warn against my method all you want. Maybe it will be helpful to newbies who drive 60mph trucks. But, you will NEVER change my mind about my methods (which MAY only apply to drivers of faster trucks.) After all... there ARE "kinetics" involved. But, I am here today to bear witness that having the "shakes" on icy roads can be a good thing.