Icknield Way West of Campus (Puncture Alley) Update

By 12 comments

Please find below an update from the County Council concerning the surface finish of the Icknield Way, west of the Campus. Updates will be posted as we receive them from OCC.

 

Dear Mr Wilkinson,

Thank you for your email sent earlier today.  I’m writing to give you an update on the problems that have been encountered on the Icknield Way, west of the Harwell Campus.

The surface treatment applied has now been in service for approximately 4 weeks and it is evident that there are significant issues with the work that has been carried out.  The surface treatment installation has failed, resulting in the aggregate used becoming loose and causing problems for cyclists.  Over the past few days we have received a number of customer complaints regarding cycle tyre punctures caused by the loose aggregate.  We are carrying out an investigation to determine what has caused this failure in the surface treatment.

We have taken the action of arranging for temporary signs to be erected at either end of the treated section advising cyclists to use the grass verge instead.  This is not an ideal situation and we will be working closely with our contractors to resolve this as soon as possible.

Our site supervision team has arranged an urgent site meeting with the sub-contractor who carried out the surface treatment to agree what remedial work can be carried out in the short term in order to re-open this section of Icknield Way in a condition suitable for cyclists to use.  We will be seeking proposals for corrective action in order to provide an appropriate surface finish that meets the requirements of all user groups and is appropriate for the area.

We are as disappointed as you are with the poor performance of the surface treatment applied to Icknield Way and are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation, we aim to update as soon as we have concluded our investigation.

Home › Forums › Icknield Way West of Campus (Puncture Alley) Update

Viewing 11 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • January 7, 2016 at 3:58 pm #2778
      admin
      Member

      Latest update from the County Council concerning the surface finish of the newly surfaced section of the Icknield Way, west of the Campus.

      [See the full post at: Icknield Way West of Campus (Puncture Alley) Update]

    • January 7, 2016 at 4:45 pm #2779
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      It’s nice to see that they are concerned (and particularly nice that they have sent me a personal email to this extent), but I struggle to see how putting a layer of flint down on a cycle path counts as the surface “failing”. Flint may be OK on a road where the vehicle tyres are usually a good centimetre thick rubber, but flint on a cycle path..?! Someone either has fewer than 10 brain cells or an extremely evil sense of humour (although I pass no judgement as to whether that someone was at the Council or the Contractor).

      • January 11, 2016 at 1:27 pm #2783
        Anonymous
        Inactive

        For the life of me, I cannot imagine what “investigation” is required. Is this a stalling tactic?

    • January 8, 2016 at 10:46 am #2781
      MatthewWild
      Member

      I can’t say that I think it’s necessarily loose flint that’s alone in causing the problem!

      Also, I had two flint induced punctures after riding along the grass by the side of the path, so no guarantee of safety there either.

    • January 11, 2016 at 9:47 am #2782
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      Three punctures last week. All razor sharp flint shards about 1cm long cutting through Bontrager puncture resistant tyres. I have not had one in 18 months of cycling every day before last week. I now have no choice but to walk that section carrying bike as it is currently so muddy off path. Adds 6 minutes to the journey.

    • January 11, 2016 at 3:23 pm #2784
      harry
      Member

      Hi, a friend of mine has started to use this puncture alley and punctured today with a tiny piece of flint even though he used the mud track all the way along apart from the final section to get through the fencing area into RAL. Unfortunately, due to a high number of punctures he hasnt got a puncture repair kit here today, and Ive also run out of patches. Does anyone have a spare puncture kit or a sticky patch that he could have to get him home please? He works in Diamond.

      I have offered a mountain bike inner tube but he is on hybrid with tiny skinny wheels.
      Many thanks.

    • January 11, 2016 at 3:28 pm #2785
      NP
      Member

      I’ve got a couple of 700c spare tubes and patches at Diamond. x8929 or Z06.81 on the ring.

      Neil

    • January 11, 2016 at 5:03 pm #2786
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      Thanks for the patch and assistance Neil. 🙂 we managed to pull out a roughly 1cm razor sharp talon shaped flint. And I only cycled on the path for the last 3m where it goes through the fence.

    • January 12, 2016 at 8:44 am #2787
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      I carried my bike over the surface last night, but still got 2 punctures as there must have still been smaller shards working their way through my tyre from Friday. Once you use that surface your tyres are a ticking time-bomb!
      Many thanks to everyone that stopped to help.

    • January 12, 2016 at 9:54 am #2788
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      OK, so not really the budget option that cycling is supposed to facilitate but:

      Tannus Tyres

      Ordered on Friday lunchtime, arrived Saturday, fitted (yes, the internet was right, some faff, but not impossible) Sunday, first ride test today. Bit too early to conclusively say but (a) any difference in rolling resistance barely noticeable given the nature of the route (until you get to Campus where on road, you can tell, but only just) (b) firmer than I’d have chosen to ride that route, but no firmer than I’d ride road tyres (c) no really nobbly options available, but grip on the ones I got perfectly adequate, even this morning when the route was getting on for its muddiest best (although note that being electric assist, I’m effectively two wheel drive rather than one wheel drive, but am also pulling an additional 15kgs and two extra wheels to boot).

    • January 13, 2016 at 3:29 pm #2798
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      I got another puncture Last night but it was a slow sidewall one so was able to get home. I have ordered some of these schwalbe marathon+s and a bulk set of patches tubes as i feel this isnt the end of the issue. Anyone have any experience with the slime tube sealant(goes inside the tube), not sure how big a holes it can bung in reality.

    • January 13, 2016 at 3:34 pm #2799
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      Sorry to break it to you but I was on marathons and slimy inners and it made not a jot of difference. Hence have moved to Tannus solid tyres as the only remaining option that might work. They do.

    • January 13, 2016 at 3:56 pm #2800
      dan
      Member

      I have Bontrager puncture resistant tyres which also added slime to and have so far got away with using the track 4-6 times a week since it was laid. At least I have no symptoms of puncture, though I may have multiple slime-filled holes I suppose…

  • Author
    Posts
Viewing 11 reply threads
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.