Route Upgrade Update

I was sorry to see that the layer of ‘fine grit’ added to the track near the tank farm is actually loose, fine gravel.

I find the surface slippery and unsafe again now, especially in comparison to the lovely tarmac we have been enjoying for a few weeks.

SarahJ

Hi
Apparently the council engineer has just inspected this and agrees the surface is too loose, so they’ve told the contractor to sort it out!
Guy W

That’s good news! I wanted to make the same comment as Sarah; I nearly came off the bike when the track takes a right turn into the Campus. Maybe they could use some of the excess grit to fill up the bottom of the dip just before the track enters the Campus. There is always a large puddle there after a rain.

Tamas

That’s great news.

The fine grit that has been used to surface this track is actually chipped flint. Ideal for punctures. Colleagues who have ridden this section have reported pretty much guaranteed punctures. I took a look at lunchtime and it really is fine shards of sharp flint – whoever specified this as a medium for surfacing a cycle track was having a laugh. Beware!

I’d echo this regarding the surface – we’ve spent lunch fixing a double puncture from the new section of track. 3-5mm flint shards in both tyres.

I’ve just emailed OCC about the grit/flint and the punctures. Awaiting response…!
Guy W

I had a double puncture in the same tyre just after this section, on my way home last Friday evening. Inspecting the tyres in daylight with a small screwdriver, I picked out a few ‘flaked almond’ pieces of flint. It’s such a dirty track anyway, between Wantage and Harwell Site, I hadn’t suspected the new surface. Andy P.

I can add to the puncture statistics.

One on the way in that I didn’t find till I went to go home. Then on the way home I punctured again on the gravel stretch.

I got out the mountain bike and came on unsurfaced bridleways this morning to avoid the new bit. It’s very muddy though.

Sarah

Re ‘puncture alley’ – OCC say they hope to fix surface in the new year.
Guy W

I’ve had a puncture last night on the front tyre, and last thursday night on the rear tyre. Thin pink flints (like baby shark teeth) cut through my new conti travel contacts like a hot knife through butter.

After the 2nd puncture I went over both tyres and found several flints embedded.

Fixing a puncture in the pitch dark and wind was also great fun, glad it wasn’t freezing

Due to the new surface at ‘tank farm towards Wantage’ I’ve had a puncture last night in the front tyre, and last thursday night inthe rear tyre. Thin pink flints (like baby shark teeth) cut through my new conti travel contacts like a hot knife through butter.

After the 2nd puncture I went over both tyres and found several flints embedded.

Fixing a puncture in the pitch dark and wind was also great fun, glad it wasn’t freezing

I’ve also picked up 3 punctures last week. I hope OCC will do something about this soon, as it stands I recon chances are about 30% of a puncture after passing that track once. Like many, I pass 10 times per week.

If it works, you can see a picture of the three culprits I picked out of my tyre last week, on mm paper.

If it does not work, look here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SLHSd478bJKU7X8fccEjuNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

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Here’s hoping it is sooner rather than later. Try fixing 2 punctures in the dark whilst having to calm and entertain an 18 month old who just wants to be out of the trailer and at home having her tea. I was apparently so p*ssed off with the state of the (once, fleetingly, tantalisingly smooth and black and usable) track before Christmas that even Santa heard my cries and I got puncture resistant inner tubes from him (and nothing else!)

I also suffered a puncture last night from this stretch. Found two tiny sharp flints stuck in my Schwalbe’s. Such a shame they put this flint shingle down.

I had one this morning, I have emailed OCC with pictures of the 10mm long shard of flint I pulled from my rear tyre. The more of us that contact them the quicker they will do something about it.
My contacts for OCC are – Edward.Webster@Oxfordshire.gov.uk , Alan.pratley@Oxfordshire.gov.uk , Tim.Belton@Oxfordshire.gov.uk , Maria.Baute@Oxfordshire.gov.uk and Aron.Wisdom@Oxfordshire.gov.uk
Give it a go!

Unsurprisingly I’ve also had numerous punctures on this stretch. I had resorted to using the MTB and walking my bike along the mud on the side then carrying over the last section where the path ends at RAL but I have still been picking up punctures from flints in the mud stuck to the wheels (and also a few hawthorns since I’ve been doing that!)

I will also send some email to the above addresses.

Here’s to a speedy fix!

Tom

What’s the Campus tally for punctures yesterday then? I’ll start the bidding with my one. My fix assisted by someone else who was also in the process of fixing theirs and, on leaving (finally) the nursery, I spotted another bike upside-down outside Atlas that looked like it had been subject to the same curse! For anyone interested, no, slimy innertubes didn’t prevent it (I’ll be having words with Santa) although did make it much easier to find the actual flint in the tyre itself, which I wouldn’t have done if it hadn’t been for the slime evidence.