Highway connoisseurs get excited and breathe a sigh of relief when a road is smooth, flat, well-paved roads with wide shoulders and little traffic. They also groan in dread when looking at a uphill with no shoulder, coarse and potholed with high RV traffic. Sometimes, a complicated shoulder presents an interesting challenge. For example, it can be fun trying to ride within a three-inch ribbon of high-grade asphalt on the narrow shoulder of a secondary highway that has been paved several times. The asphalt is layered unevenly, such that sometimes a ribbon of smooth stuff peeks out between two layers of coarser asphalt of different vintages. The challenge is to stay within this ribbon. Other highway qualities such as sparkliness, graveliness and sandiness can also be commented on. Gravelliness means you have to maintain your speed and your hands on the handlebars. Sparkliness on a highway indicates the possibility of a glass sharpness that bike tires aren't compatible with. Sand on the shoulder means get off the bike or ride in the car lane because riding in sand patches likely lands you in trouble. Like a real connoisseur I have opinions and tastes and am getting picky about the highways I want to ride on.
Janius Tsang
