weird grainy shit on the road (after new lines were painted)

[Christian Fox]

Out on my early morning jaunt today, I picked up an unexplained and unwelcome guest. On part of my route I came upon some newly painted lines. As soon as I moved to the right of the line, it sounded like I was riding on a beach, albeit a beach with invisible sand. As I continued, my chain started to grind like their was ground up glass sprinkled on it. Not a nice sound. My chain gradually got quieter, as I imagine whatever shit was in there got ground down a bit. Came home, rinsed my bike off and replaced the chain just to be safe. Any idea what that crap was? It went on for the entire 5 or 6 miles of new lines. My theory is it's some shit they throw on the wet paint to give it some texture for rainy weather.

[liv2bike]

Most likely residual material if the striping was of the thermoplastic variety. Thermoplastic is a plastic paint that comes in a granular form. It is heated until it liquefies, then applied to asphalt. Probably what it was.

[David Tollefson]

^^ Yep. Saw it on some local roads just a couple months ago. Overspray.

[Christian Fox]

thanks, sounds like the explanation.

[72gmc]

You replace your chain when it gets noisy?

I am in the wrong profession.

[Crashburn]

Does your work area look like this only with bikes instead of McLaren F1 tubs?
5824508897_a2f2e4dae1_z.jpg

[Christian Fox]

You replace your chain when it gets noisy?

I am in the wrong profession.

...writes the guy who will destroy a chainring and cassette to save a $40 fucking chain. It wasn't noisy like a dirty chain is noisy...it sounded like broken glass in my chain. My drivetrain was covered in teeny sandlike grit. I cleaned my chainrings and cassette, and yes, threw out my stupid $40 chain that was infiltrated with this shit. No amount of cleaning was getting that crap out.

McClaren factory is pretty sweet, eh? Yes, my work area is exactly like that, including the ear muffs and silver shirts.

[Hindmost]

"Immediately after the thermoplastic has been applied, glass beads are laid onto the hot material so that they embed before the plastic hardens. These beads provide initial retroreflection."

[drewgh2o]

It wuz broken glass, that's what makes the stripe reflective.

[72gmc]

...writes the guy who will destroy a chainring and cassette to save a $40 fucking chain.

Yes, I've been dumb enough to do that.

I've also made dumb jokes on the Internet, only to have them taken seriously.

But I learn things about thermoplastics and glass beads. So I figure I'm OK.

[PJN]

Glitter is awesome.

[Mabouya]

Glitter is awesome.

[Christian Fox]

Yes, I've been dumb enough to do that.

I've also made dumb jokes on the Internet, only to have them taken seriously.

But I learn things about thermoplastics and glass beads. So I figure I'm OK.

hey, sorry. I've been barked at by Mr. Thrifty types before for not employing their 12 chain rotational strategy in order to get a 20k mile chain life. I'm still a little grumpy that someone puts glass beads on the road on purpose.

[rowdyhillrambler]

Proper respect to you.. The word "retroreflection", just made my day. I am going to use it at least 3 times today, so i can here the locals call me 'college boy'.

"Immediately after the thermoplastic has been applied, glass beads are laid onto the hot material so that they embed before the plastic hardens. These beads provide initial retroreflection."

[PJN]

Proper respect to you.. The word "retroreflection", just made my day. I am going to use it at least 3 times today, so i can here the locals call me 'college boy'.

College boys spell it hear.

[Erik B]

snip... I'm still a little grumpy that someone puts glass beads on the road on purpose.

You'd rather not see the stripes at night? Cause that's your other option.
it does suck that it cost you a chain, but on the whole it's a smallish price to pay (says the DOT engineer type)

[rowdyhillrambler]

Consider ballz busted. But hey, I have been fishing in the gulf all day. Shit can't phase me. Damn grammar, damn spelling.

College boys spell it hear.

[72gmc]

hey, sorry.

No worries. I learned just how much I want to avoid fresh road paint. And I was only partly joking--I'd run a new chain all the time if I could.