Anyone get covered in black muck today ?

JamesFree

Have been commuting almost everyday to work for the past 2 years and today was the first in them 2 years where this horrible black muck has seemed to have covered my whole bike and all over my legs.

Was quite surprised how thick it was in places on the bike, it has fully covered my front and rear brakes and completely covered my rear light in a matt black like finish and seems quite tricky to shift.

Anyone notice it today or did I just happen to cycle through 10 miles of black sludge ?

rjsterry

Yup, just commented on this in the SCR thread. Yuk! Clean off while still wet if possible.

bigmat

Yes! Splattered all over me, what the heck is that all about?!

soundninjauk

Yes, definitely. What gives?

dhope

Noticed grubby shoes and hands, did wonder...

notsoblue

Something in the grit I guess? I noticed it too.

hatbeard

I don't know for sure but I think it might be down to that 'chocolate rain' I heard someone talking about on youtube.

SimonAH

hatbeard wrote:

I don't know for sure but I think it might be down to that 'chocolate rain' I heard someone talking about on youtube.

Is that a euphamism for something I really don't want to think about?

JamesFree

hatbeard wrote:

I don't know for sure but I think it might be down to that 'chocolate rain' I heard someone talking about on youtube.

More of a charcoal rain, yukky stuff !!

I will blame my slowest commute in ages on this crap, only gave the bike a full strip down Saturday and now everything is coated in this shite!

Clever Pun

yeah, it's pretty grim, the top of my water bottle was covered in it... luckily I noticed in time

hatbeard

SimonAH wrote:

hatbeard wrote:

I don't know for sure but I think it might be down to that 'chocolate rain' I heard someone talking about on youtube.

Is that a euphamism for something I really don't want to think about?

search for it, it's quite harmless and not what you think it is... i'd link it but work blocks youtube.

ndru

Wow, I wish there was something that would keep the sludge being splattered all over me when I ride my bike... oh, wait...

_Brun_

My bike's been covered in crap since the brief flurry of snow the other week, doesn't seem to be much point cleaning it at the moment. Can't say I noticed anything more unusual this morning. My legs also appear to be un-sludged.

Is this something exclusive to South London?

JamesFree

I noticed it on my route from Balham to Blackheath.

gtvlusso

Been like it for about a week!!

rjsterry

I think it was just the right amount of rain last night to loosen all the crap from the road surface without actually washing it away. It's been fine since the snow went, but today it's as though someone has been pouring soot all over the roads.

gaz545

ndru wrote:

Wow, I wish there was something that would keep the sludge being splattered all over me when I ride my bike... oh, wait...

I have full lengh mudguards front and back, and it still managed to go all over my frame.

notsoblue

hatbeard wrote:

SimonAH wrote:

hatbeard wrote:

I don't know for sure but I think it might be down to that 'chocolate rain' I heard someone talking about on youtube.

Is that a euphamism for something I really don't want to think about?

search for it, it's quite harmless and not what you think it is... i'd link it but work blocks youtube.

I looked, but I could only find videos of people's reaction to it

EKE_38BPM

notsoblue wrote:

hatbeard wrote:

SimonAH wrote:

hatbeard wrote:

I don't know for sure but I think it might be down to that 'chocolate rain' I heard someone talking about on youtube.

Is that a euphamism for something I really don't want to think about?

search for it, it's quite harmless and not what you think it is... i'd link it but work blocks youtube.

I looked, but I could only find videos of people's reaction to it

A bit like if you search Youtube for 2 Girls, 1 Cup (which I DEFINITELY don't recommend watching)!

hatbeard

EKE_38BPM wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

hatbeard wrote:

SimonAH wrote:

hatbeard wrote:

I don't know for sure but I think it might be down to that 'chocolate rain' I heard someone talking about on youtube.

Is that a euphamism for something I really don't want to think about?

search for it, it's quite harmless and not what you think it is... i'd link it but work blocks youtube.

I looked, but I could only find videos of people's reaction to it

A bit like if you search Youtube for 2 Girls, 1 Cup (which I DEFINITELY don't recommend watching)!

chocolate rain is nothing like 2g1c. :shock:

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/tay-zondaychocolate-rain

CyclingBantam

I believe the black gunk is from the snow. As it snows, the dirt on the road builds up in the snow. This snow then gets pushed to the gutters and captures more dirt. Normally this would simply be washed away but it can't be as it is in the snow. Then, when the snow melts as there is so much gunk we are left with the black residue.

That is my guess anyway.

I have put too much thought in to this!

Berk Bonebonce

Molasses. Thet put it in the grit as a binding agent.

notsoblue

Berk Bonebonce wrote:

Molasses. Thet put it in the grit as a binding agent.

Bingo!

hfidgen

Cleaned my bike for 3 hours on Sunday

As long as it's not worked into the bearings it should just brush off when dry I'm hoping!

UndercoverElephant

Berk Bonebonce wrote:

Molasses. Thet put it in the grit as a binding agent.

You mean I'm quite literally mired in molasses? Awesome!

rjsterry

hfidgen wrote:

Cleaned my bike for 3 hours on Sunday

As long as it's not worked into the bearings it should just brush off when dry I'm hoping!

That'd be a no. It's easier to get off when wet. Sticks like the proverbial when dry (being sugar). Sorry.

deptfordmarmoset

Aye, I got a puncture this morning on my ride home and when I saw how much gunge there was on my shoes, legs and the bike, I decided that I'd be better off walking the remaining mile home and rinsing the bike down before mending it.

Agent57

notsoblue wrote:

Berk Bonebonce wrote:

Molasses. Thet put it in the grit as a binding agent.

Bingo!

I didn't recall that, but it seems to be accurate indeed.

According to the Register item though, it can make things worse for those of us on two-wheel: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/02/13/sticky_grit/

itboffin

Nope nothing down this way, just lots and lots of mud. Need to clean my bike AGAIN tomorrow before the commute either that or MTFU and recommission the FGSS :shock:

Kieran_Burns

I bloody KNEW it felt like I was cycling through treacle 8)

Stone Glider

Out this morning, mild, wet and very slippery. It was like riding on the white road markingd all the time. Apparently it saves expenditure of grit by 25% :? so it is popular with the County road engineers. Not me though. Filthy, tricksy stuff to spoil your day.