St. Louis Road Hazard

[pehayes]

Regina and I just completed a full Route-66 on rented Harleys.  Out of Chicago two days before the snow!  We traveled through downtown St. Louis in late April on a lightly raining day.  We were westbound on Forest Park.  It makes a gradual chicane ess where it passes under Union Drive.  N38.64482, W90.27469 if you happen to be into GPS data.  There were three of us at the time.  Riding very gently.  All three of us experienced a gradual lateral slide under the bridge.  Not fun on a big, fat full dress Harley.  Any abrupt brake or steering action might have caused a fall.  Riding more aggressively would surely have put us into the guard railing.  Heavy shadow under that bridge.  I suspect that shade and moisture promote a layer of road algae.  Or perhaps, someone has dropped something very slippery at that location.  Someone local might have the municipal maintenance services check that out.  Any repeat data on skid crashes at that location?

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[LowRyter]

Municipal Maintenance Services in St Louis?  Surely you jest.   

[Lannis]

I suspect, unfortunately for us, that you'd get the same result as if you called in about slick paint markings on the road, wire "egg slicer" "guardrails", or a 4" high asphalt seam between lanes on a half-paved road.

Nothing.   With the unspoken thought behind it at the state or city DoT being

"They're just motorcycles.  Screw them, why spend a dime on 'em?   Better if a few of them crash and get 'em off the highway anyhow."

Lannis

[jrt]

I'll look into it.
Pat, I'm sorry you didn't give a call when you passed through.  I realize it might not have been a good time, but if anyone is passing though- particularly west county of St. Louis- I'd be happy to buy you a cup of coffee. 
Jason

[bad Chad]

That’s a good reason not to rent HD. 

[pehayes]

Yeah, sorry to ignore everyone.  I love Guzzi hospitality myself.  However, this trip was on a VERY rigid schedule and involved several other people joining in along the way.  No diversions permitted.  We stopped in St. Louis for that fine, little downtown moto museum.  Eleven nights of hotels all set in advance.  A giant house of cards if anything were to go awry.  As it is, we were VERY lucky to get through unscathed and hit quite a few major highlights.  Lodged in the Blue Swallow in Tucumcari and Wigwams in Holbrook.  We rented in Chicago and it snowed two days later.  We were joined by my Arkansas brother in Rolla, MO and I understand it has been raining continuously since we left.  We breezed through Oklahoma where they  had 13 tornadoes 2 days later.  We even had high, thin, wispy clouds to keep the Mojave Desert down to 92.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[oldbike54]

 Patrick , the next time you come thru Oklahoma you need to give me a shout .

 Dusty

[pehayes]

That’s a good reason not to rent HD.

Alas.  We didn't have time to ride our own bikes all the way from SFO to Chicago and make a U-turn to come back.  Besides, while still good machines, our two 98EVs are getting a bit long in the tooth.  As much as I disdain the HD culture, I have to say that 107 cu in, six speed overdrive, and an accurate cruise control are all worth the price of admission.  Maybe not so much fun on Sierra Nevada passes, but sure is comfy loping along Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle.  Horses for courses as they say.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[twowings]

Where are the pics for this ride report??  Rules are rules...

[bacongrease]

Where are the pics for this ride report??  Rules are rules...

Would hate to see him banned for breaking that rule.     

[Chuck in Indiana]

Patrick.. it's obvious you live in California.  April is no time to be traveling in the midwest.. you were *lucky* with the weather.. and going under that overpass. Black ice where the sun doesn't shine is common.
We've done all of 66, and all the old alignments I could find, stayed at the remaining original motels 15 (gasp) years ago, now. We did it in the summer, though..
Great trip.

[rocker59]

I think it's perennially damp under that bridge.

[pehayes]

Patrick.. it's obvious you live in California.  April is no time to be traveling in the midwest.. you were *lucky* with the weather.

I've done it a number of times.  Used to be a support van driver for EagleRider Tours so I knew where I was going and where to stop.  Still discovered a few new gems on this tour.  I was always comfortable in the air conditioned van.  Major stress watching the shenanigans of the crowd in front of me.  This was a personal tour to help Regina unload a bucket list item and as a gift to my regular riding partner Ricky.  Regina doesn't  like heat so much and that forced me into an early departure schedule.  Comfy home now and watching the weather to see just how lucky we were to slide in through a very narrow window of opportunity.

BTW, some of you here for awhile will remember me writing four years back about my brother being a victim of a left-turning head-on in Arizona.  Close as you can come to a fatal.  Hard to sit in a ditch tending your brother while you await the helicopter.  Mostly all patched up now with a few robo pieces.  He's now riding a big Indian and he joined us for MO, KS, OK, TX and then turned back to his home in AR.  A real treat to ride with him considering.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Texas Turnip]

Patrick,
Thanks for the post about your brother. Glad he has recovered and back to riding. It is serious when the chaplain calls your sweetheart.
Ken

[twowheeladdict]

That’s a good reason not to rent HD.

 

We have an ess under the interstate in rural TN that would be fun on sport bikes if it wasn't for the slick road that I am guessing is runoff from the interstate.  Slid a little on the Ninja and now I make sure and don't lean over in that area anymore.