As I was riding along on McLeans Creek Rd I couldn’t help noticing that there was an unusual concentration of people with flats on the side of the road. I counted at least a dozen in a 10km stretch. Was this just a random statistical anomaly or was there something on the road?
It happened in 2004 as well.
Unfortunately, as in some years past, some one spread tacks on the road. Don’t know if it is an angry property owner, someone who is anti-Tri or kids thinking they are “having fun”. There have been numerous discussions about what to do to the perpetrators before putting them to death but so farther have not been caught.
You didnt say hi. I was there changing my first of two flats.
Also saw alot of bees this year on the Crawston out and back. Stung three times there.
This is the solution:
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I have done a number or races over the years But I have never seen quite so many people off to the side changing flats. Seemed to go on all the way to the top of Richters. Not so many after that. Didn’t know about the tack problem, until after in the forum. They had similar problems in Muskoka a couple of years back.
Too bad, I’m sure it spoiled a few PB’s last week.
Puncture Vine
http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/weedguid/puncture.htm
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There was a local lady on the side of the road warning riders of tacks on the edge of roadway.
Talked to a volunteer the day after the race (he was working bike aid #2 at Vaseaux Lake). He told me about the tacks and about all the flats he helped change. Super super super lame. If things like this go on I think WTC needs tosweep a couple of extra times, and also triple their roving bike support force. Terrible terrible way to end a race after months of hard training.
I’ve been on a few rides where a good portion of us have been on the side changing flats. The puncture vine has definitely taken it’s toll, although down here in California we call the Goats Head thorn.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribulus_terrestris
The county in which I live in simply mow the stuff and spin the thorns out onto the the road.
I had 9 flats this year from a similar plant in Colorado.
Puncture Vine
http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/...eedguid/puncture.htm]
Not a puncture vine but a dickhead who lives on on the IMC course and hates Ironman.
Just another one of those challenges that IMC athletes must overcome. To whomever perpetrated this… Tacks you very much!
Same thing happened to us in 2005 on that very hill…about 50 people in a 100 meter stretch changing flats…all with carpet nails in their tires.
Yea I was wondering what was going on out there. Also saw a girl get stung right in the face near t hat same area.
This happened way back in the 90s too. It has also happened on other courses, in Europe, and a popular bike route here in town. Kinda senseless.
yeah, tacks. my friend got two flats. but luckily she had already qualified for Kona and was just going to swim, bike and run for only 1hr. Also like they mentioned the bees. I did get stung by bees.