Does it flow better than the traffic lights used to? I may be dreaming it, but that junction what where I first came across an ASL or "the bike box" as I used to call it.
Yeah, it works OK. Probably preferable to the old lights (if for no other reason than it allows some facade of self-determinism rather than blindly bowing to the will of the man).
Tbh given the limitations for vehicular traffic there's not usually much there to cause an issue; worst problem is the 50% of pedestrians and cyclists who pay zero attention to what's going on around them as they cross / negotiate the roundabout..
Cheap frame protection option here:
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/accessories/sjsc-anti-chafing-patches-stainless-steel-pack-of-5/
These don't budge and show minimal signs of abrading on my Brompton.
Nice find - those look like a decent solution and great value. Would be good if there was a bit more info though - dimensions, ease of bending etc.
Today saw a late start, but not appallingly so. Drive was fine, once in Yarnton I managed a few hundred yards on the bike before realising I'd forgotten my water bottle and having to go back to the car.
As the work in the area rumbles on the cycle path situation remains transient - previously bike traffic was directed down the right side of the road towards Oxford, now they've shut that off and the designated route is on the left. The surface is rough and unfinished for much of it; which is particularly unpleasant on the Brompton's little wheels. Added to this the route onto the cycle path from where I park is across a road right at the exit to the roundabout; so you have to blast across the road in the face of oncoming traffic coming round a poorly-sighted bend. Given all this cack I'm thinking of riding the whole way to the tow path on the road tomorrow..
The skies were overcast this morning but the rain held off. The initial unhurried waft stepped up pace as the soundtrack shifted from the meloncholy-tinted nostalgia of Kate Bush, Dire Straits and Phil Collins to a splendid old school hardcore / rave mix; which saw me grinning like a loon as a smashed it up the Cowley rd.
I know listening to music while cycling is a divisive subject; however it's great to have some tunes back again and a good soundtrack definitely boosts the highs of a good ride
While the rain held off the ground was still wet and the bottom bracket saw its fair share of detritus again. I can only assume this is making its way under the front mudflap and would love to mitigate this - getting impure thoughts about trying to lash some
SKS Long flaps to the guards..
In better news, despite the bottom bracket being plastered with cack my artisinal brass protection plate appears to be doing well. I think my concerns about it moving were unfounded and it's very welcome given how grotty the BB has become again after just a few miles:
Brass stock permitting I'll look to make up something for the chainstay at some point, and protect the rest of the less-agressively-rubby areas with some frame tape - once I've settled on what to buy - suffice to say it won't be the 3M stuff on
ebay that works out at £125/metre
Oh yeah; one final thing - disappointed to see how scratched the bottom of the seatpost has become; I think this is because the inside of the seatpost tube is getting filled with grit, and when the bike is folded this skews the post in the tube so that it contacts the grot.. which then gets drawn up into the assembly as the post is extended. I did wonder about trying to fit some sort of shield to the bottom of the bube; but there's not a lot of meat down there. Again; something that might be remedied by better mudflap coverage at the front.
