Tack-dropping since Feb 2014 in inner Melbourne, no end in sight

[Pat "5mph"]

Hi Victor, do a forum search, there has been a few threads about them tyres recently, here is one

 

[classic33]

It's still occuring, and worse still, there have been recent reports of tacks and other sharp objects (some custom-made) in other inner-city locations.
https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/f...&sid=b1b0f2671035688bcc0f5d884d9d680c#p663996

By the way, have any of you tried the Tannus tyres, mentioned in the thread post in the above link? Apart from their obvious puncture-resistance, what are the drawbacks, e.g. poor rolling resistance, hard to put on and off, etc. ?

One council Yarra Council now advising you to watch for and report such finds. Although these have been found in gardens.
Nothing accidental about these. Similar devices have been found elsewhere, on roads.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

It's still occuring, and worse still, there have been recent reports of tacks and other sharp objects (some custom-made) in other inner-city locations.
https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/f...&sid=b1b0f2671035688bcc0f5d884d9d680c#p663996

By the way, have any of you tried the Tannus tyres, mentioned in the thread post in the above link? Apart from their obvious puncture-resistance, what are the drawbacks, e.g. poor rolling resistance, hard to put on and off, etc. ?

I wrote about 3500 words as a Tannus review at http://veloballs.com/go/tannus

It has since been added to by another cycle chater who has done more miles on these solid tyres than I have. I'd say they get better the more you ride them.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I wrote about 3500 words as a Tannus review at http://veloballs.com/go/tannus

It has since been added to by another cycle chater who has done more miles on these solid tyres than I have. I'd say they get better the more you ride them.

Yes, I read it, @Andrew_Culture , after @Pat "5mph" was kind enough to mention it to me.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Yes, I read it, @Andrew_Culture , after @Pat "5mph" was kind enough to mention it to me.

The system works!

My concern with that many tacks would be the clearance between your tyres and frame if you pick up loads of tacks. Mind you, I'm really not sure tacks would impregnate these tyres at all!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Probably the wrong sort of prick for that.

Looking at those metal triangle things I'm fairly sure the Tannus would just squash them!

I know that Tannus are doing tons of publicity at the moment so I'd recommend contacting the Australian distributor and asking if they fancy trading some tyres for some publicity on the ultimate testing ground! Seriously!

 

[jefmcg]

There seems to be a whole cottage industry making these caltrops (thanks bicyclenetwork for the word!), yet I can't find any mention of it in the mainstream press. Now they are putting them in parks and gardens, someone is going to get seriously hurt.

But I guess the police are focusing on more important things, such as drivers being bothered. "Nothing bothers a car driver more, who's caught in traffic, than having a cyclist stop at the traffic lights, check that it's OK and then disobey the traffic light,"

 

[Shut Up Legs]

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/p...und-in-edinburgh-gardens-20150104-12hodo.html
Apparently, if the tacks end up in parks, it's a criminal act (and warning signs are immediately erected, and council staff immediately start removing the tacks), but if they end up on a road heavily used*** by cyclists, then "we'll get around to investigating it eventually". Hypocrites.

I hate to think of what would occur if a cyclist gets a tack in his/her front wheel and loses control of the bike, perhaps with a car not too far behind.

*** At least, 10.5 months ago it was - that's how long the tacks have been being dropped on this road.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

The tacks continue to be dropped along Yarra Boulevard 1 year (minus 1 week) on, and now it appears that copycats (or perhaps even the same person/people?) are trying the stunt on other popular bicycle paths:
https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/f...&sid=589e733d6e46c01a30886aa53318e963#p665642

Apparently, this one even made Melbourne's Lord Mayor take notice (that's the reference to Robert Doyle on the forum page I just linked). As one of the forum members so aptly stated: "mongrels".

 

[Ganymede]

Oh victor, when I saw that you had posted again on this thread I was SO hoping it was going to be a link to a newspaper article saying "TACK DROPPING SCUM ARRESTED" with a subhead of "Culprits caught in the act and on camera" and a further subhead saying "Two of the filthy miscreants broke their legs trying to escape".

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Oh victor, when I saw that you had posted again on this thread I was SO hoping it was going to be a link to a newspaper article saying "TACK DROPPING SCUM ARRESTED" with a subhead of "Culprits caught in the act and on camera" and a further subhead saying "Two of the filthy miscreants broke their legs trying to escape".

How much I wish that were true.

 

[jarlrmai]

Somebody is very dedicated or there are quite a few of them.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Still occurring 13 months after it started. Here's an article giving a detailed overview:
http://cyclingtips.com.au/2015/03/a...on-yarra-boulevard-whats-being-done-about-it/

 

[classic33]

Nice to know that the Authorities are doing as well as could be expected, on trying to stop it.
Nowt by the looks of things!

 

[Ganymede]

Hi Victor - can't believe it's still going on!

However, I suggest a strategy.

Find someone with 2 cute golden labradors.
Pose pictures of one of them with a wounded foot (blood on a bandage) and the other one looking sad.
Release a story about how the wounded one got a potentially deadly infection from picking up a tack deep in his paw and may not live.
Extra pic of the healthy dog refusing food or lying down looking sad, being fruitlessly encouraged by its 12-year-old owner who has raised them from a pup.
Express outrage.

Might work, the Aussies are like the Pommies where animals are concerned....

Seriously though, what the police have said they are doing is majorly pathetic, striding about visibly and asking people instead of surveillance.