Tacks On Road

Nice. I'm at 3-State 3-Mountain Saturday. It's a Century with 9600 feet of elevation gain, going over three mountains, one each in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. The first climb is about 4-5 miles at 6%, starting at about mile 12. On the way up, we hear a report of a rider who crashed on descent, unconscious, with an ambulance in attendance. On my way down, (I love descending!!) I notice there are LOTS of people off to the side with flats, in groups- not just one rider. When I get to the SAG at the bottom, they are announcing "Check your tires for tacks!" Some mean person had thrown tacks all over the road on the descent. I hope that is not why the guy had the bad crash. Some poor guy is standing there, saying it was the worst day of his life. I guess, me being near the back of the pack was a good thing that day. I just can't believe someone would do a thing like that.

Nanci

I've read this is a common ploy by people who oppose the rail trails. There are always a few nuts out there. I personally think they ought to prosecute these people for malicious intent. The problem is catching them. Idiots!!!

that is just awful. I hope they catch the bastard.

Incredible. I cannot fathom that. Wishing quick and full recovery to those injured. Lise

I heard this happened in the 2004 (or maybe 2003) MS150 Houston to Austin. There is a route that goes through some state parks with some steep hills. The roads are not the greatest and there are always a few wrecks to begin with. I don't know why anyone would do that? :confused: My guess is they believe it will only cause flats, at least I hope they do not intended on harming people.

Glad most people escaped serious injury! Hopefully the other rider(s) will recover fully and quickly.

There is a special place in hell for those people!! :mad:
But somehow being in the south, it doesn't surprise me! All I can say is THANK GOD we moved to Phoenix instead of Birmingham as previously planned!! :rolleyes:

They should find the people that did it and impale them with the tacks. That would fix 'em! That is just so wrong. I'm wishing those injured a fast and easy recovery. Glad you made it through unscathed Nanci.

I hope it gets press and that the perp has enough of a soul left to regret it.

Nanci, I was in a bike shop in Chattanooga Saturday morning, when a gentleman in an SUV with a SAG sign on it came in and bought about a dozen tubes. We heard him say that someone out in Suck Creek had thrown tacks on the road. That tells you quite a bit about the mentality of some people. Hope you didn't end up with a flat, and on behalf of all the sane people in the Chattanooga/North Georgia area, our apologies.

KB

Arghhh. This is unfortunately more common in Northern Georgia than any of us wish to admit. There is a gorgeous century, appropriately "Beautiful Backroads" that is beautiful and on gorgeous backroads through rolling farms and hills. They've had a problem with tacks almost every year, even with police watching and sweeping for the problem. There are group rides out of the Budweiser factory up there, and they regularly report problems with tacks. I've wanted to ride up there again, but I'm afraid to - we got two flats withint 100 yards from them last year. It's awful and dangerous, and if a rider gets injured as a result, criminal charges must be brought.

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Originally Posted by Nanci

Nice. I'm at 3-State 3-Mountain Saturday. It's a Century with 9600 feet of elevation gain, going over three mountains, one each in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. The first climb is about 4-5 miles at 6%, starting at about mile 12. On the way up, we hear a report of a rider who crashed on descent, unconscious, with an ambulance in attendance. On my way down, (I love descending!!) I notice there are LOTS of people off to the side with flats, in groups- not just one rider. When I get to the SAG at the bottom, they are announcing "Check your tires for tacks!" Some mean person had thrown tacks all over the road on the descent. I hope that is not why the guy had the bad crash. Some poor guy is standing there, saying it was the worst day of his life. I guess, me being near the back of the pack was a good thing that day. I just can't believe someone would do a thing like that.

Nanci

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Mate thats terrible. Glad to hear you were ok. Its scary knowing people like that exist.

Keep Safe out there.

Nice, yet another thing to worry about...

Kaybee, how come you weren't on the ride?? It was SO FUN!!! I'm for sure going next year.

Nanci

That behavior is so low it doesn't even qualify as human! I've never understood those who seek to harm or destroy those they don't agree with or approve of.

The responsible parties should be served for both bodily injury and property damage. Willful, malicious behavior is NOT OK.

Please keep us posted on the injured rider's condition.

people are idiots... there's just no arguing it anymore... anyone who would do something SO stupid and think it's justified is... just an idiot.

Hope the injured rider recovers well...

Why would people do such a thing? Is there any (warped) reasoning behind it? I remain baffled. :confused: :(