Tacks in a cycle lane

[oyster]

On the way to work this morning I managed to avoid a nail/tack by an inch or two, then stopped and went back to have a look, only to find about 50 such tacks scattered across the side of the road, most of them inside the cycle lane.

What sort of idiot would do this?

What amazed me even more were the 2 cyclists who shouted at me to get out of the road whilst I kicked them all out of harm's way. Nice way of saying thanks.

[timbo48]

Not the same lot that put tacks on the TdF stage by any chance????

[techguyone]

slime your tyres never worry about small punctures again.

[DoubleSix]

oyster said:

What amazed me even more were the 2 cyclists who shouted at me to get out of the road whilst I kicked them all out of harm's way. Nice way of saying thanks.

You see, cyclists are generally knobs, ready to yell and wring their fist at anyone or thing that impeeds their righteous progress.

[Kermit power]

I've not had this on a cycle lane, but have had it on a quiet country road which was going to be hosting a sportive the following day. Middle of nowhere - so definitely no accident - a box of drawing pins (presumably calculated not to puncture car tyres) scattered right across the road.

[Kermit power]

techguyone said:

slime your tyres never worry about small punctures again.

I'm far from convinced by that stuff! I have slime inner tubes on my MTB. To be fair, I've not had an actual puncture since fitting them, but they're not completely airtight, so the tyres will lose pressure over time, and they slime in the valve means they're an absolute fker to actually pump up again!

[DoubleSix]

And your adding loads of rotating mass in the worst place, the outer edge.

[fid]

DoubleSix said:

You see, cyclists are generally knobs, ready to yell and wring their fist at anyone or thing that impeeds their righteous progress.

A set of temporary traffic lights on red got a loud "for fk sake" from me last night.

I tend to stay off of the cycle lanes, the tarmac always seems to be breaking up and the crap seems to collect in them.

[aclivity]

Probably some disgruntled driver who thinks bicycles should be subject to road tacks.

(sorry)

[techguyone]

DoubleSix said:

And your adding loads of rotating mass in the worst place, the outer edge.

Yea I know it's not a totally satisfactory system, I'm happy personally to put up with a bit of weight on the wheel and never having to worry (so far) about punctures again though.

[paranoid airbag]

aclivity said:

Probably some disgruntled driver who thinks bicycles should be subject to road tacks.

(sorry)

oooh deary me, I laughed at that and now I feel dirty and ashamed.

[Funkateer]

Kermit power said:

techguyone said:

slime your tyres never worry about small punctures again.

I'm far from convinced by that stuff! I have slime inner tubes on my MTB. To be fair, I've not had an actual puncture since fitting them, but they're not completely airtight, so the tyres will lose pressure over time, and they slime in the valve means they're an absolute fker to actually pump up again!

I've given up on slime. Seals the puncture, then the seal breaks on the rougher more technical stuff. Would also be concerned about it holding with road bike tyre pressures.

Now take spare tubes, and have a good old puncture repair kit with French chalk and rubber solution at home.

[DoubleSix]

Exactly, spare inner tubes and pump. Done.

[Kermit power]

DoubleSix said:

Exactly, spare inner tubes and pump. Done.

I only fitted slime tubes after 3 punctures in a single ride, but will swap back when I get round to it, and don't use them on my road bikes.

[mk1fan]

Or fit Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres and not worry about punctures at all.

The tacks could have easily just fallen off a builders truck. Seen it a few times.

[Steve vRS]

What annoys me about cycle lanes is that you have to give way to traffic crossing your path. On the road, traffic joining the carriageway gives way for you.

Steve

[yellowjack]

Steve vRS said:

What annoys me about cycle lanes is that you have to give way to traffic crossing your path. On the road, traffic joining the carriageway gives way for you.

And that^^^ is why I won't use the bloody things unless there's a very good reason why I can't use the road. Most 'shared use' paths are nothing more than footways with extra white paint, and have not been engineered in any way to be cycle-friendly. Local Authorities should stop wasting their time and money on them, and spend it making the CARRIAGEWAYS safer for ALL users.

And lo and behold, I look for an example, and the first one I find is one in my home town, on the OH's route into work....

http://www.warringtoncyclecampaign.co.uk/facility-...

Plenty more examples of utter ste road planning if you scroll through there too.

[Slaav]

DoubleSix said:

oyster said:

What amazed me even more were the 2 cyclists who shouted at me to get out of the road whilst I kicked them all out of harm's way. Nice way of saying thanks.

You see, cyclists are generally knobs, ready to yell and wring their fist at anyone or thing that impeeds their righteous progress.

Whilst a massive generalisation and totally unfair; unfortunately, with my own experience of driving and riding, I agree in that I would not be in the least surprised if this happened to me. Unfortunately!

Says something doesn't it?

[BMWBen]

Slaav said:

DoubleSix said:

oyster said:

What amazed me even more were the 2 cyclists who shouted at me to get out of the road whilst I kicked them all out of harm's way. Nice way of saying thanks.

You see, cyclists are generally knobs, ready to yell and wring their fist at anyone or thing that impeeds their righteous progress.

Whilst a massive generalisation and totally unfair; unfortunately, with my own experience of driving and riding, I agree in that I would not be in the least surprised if this happened to me. Unfortunately!

Says something doesn't it?

Yeah so would I, but if I was messing about in the road I'd expect car drivers to honk a d wave their fists as well...

[otolith]

Steve vRS said:

What annoys me about cycle lanes is that you have to give way to traffic crossing your path. On the road, traffic joining the carriageway gives way for you.

One of ours would be much more usable if the toucan crossings on it integrated better with the traffic lights.