Re: Science of cycling still largely mysterious

On 5/22/2025 3:15 PM, Wolfgang Strobl wrote:

 What I try to avoid are long stretches of rough surfaces and/or with
many potholes, because riding these ist grueling and serves no purpose,
when it comes to become and to stay fit. In addition, I like to visit
places. I'm still looking for parts of my region I haven't visited yet,
at least not by bike. I wouldn't be able to continue that on bad roads
or gravel.

On a couple tours, I or we have found ourselves on roads being readied for repaving - ones that have had the pavement "scarfed" or ground off by a sort of impact grinding. It produces a very rough surface that's the worst I know for pavement roughness. It's very unpleasant even in a car. But when I came across it on the bike, I had no alternative but to continue.
Around here, I find most gravel roads to be reasonably rideable, unless the gravel is fresh, new and thick. I try to ride where the car tires have compacted it best.
But I do prefer smooth pavement, by far.
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- Frank Krygowski