Cheap chippings cause road chaos for cyclists

Surface dressed road

Warm weather often brings with it a supreme annoyance for road cyclists - the 'surface dressing' method of road resurfacing. Surface dressed roads can make for a jolting, decelerated ride, whilst loose granite chippings may pose a hazard to bike and rider.

Surface dressing involves spraying a stretch of road with bitumen and covering it with granite chippings, which are rolled into place and further embedded as cars drive over the area. Once set, excess chippings are swept away. The process requires high road surface temperatures, hence its frequent appearance in the summer months.

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