The Chainlink

Anybody get a flat from a small, nail-like tack (called cross tacks) recently?

Took my bike in to fix a flat just now, pulled out a small metal tack from the tire, called a cross tack (see pic), repairman mentioned he had seen three flats caused by the same type of tack in the last three days, which according to him was unusual. Wondering if anyone else has recently hit one. My flat occurred on the Kinzie protected bike lane in front of Gilt.

 

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 29, 2011 at 7:29am
A puncture and a slow leak.  It can happen but it's not common.  2 in one day?  I'd smell a rat too.
Permalink Reply by Bike Bloke on July 29, 2011 at 10:50am
A few weeks back my wife and I started a ride from Forest Park blue line to join the Illinois Prairie Path at Maywood. We didn't get far. A few blocks into Maywood she punctured in the second patch of broken glass - glass which was clearly broken and spread across the path to cause trouble to cyclists. Nice.
Permalink Reply by heartOfChicagoBiker on August 3, 2011 at 6:15pm

I got a flat in the Kinzie bike lane this morning. It was a cross tack just as you describe. Took my bike to Kozy in River North and they said they had seen a few.

 

Very suspicious.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on August 4, 2011 at 8:39am

There have been a few coming into Rapid Transit as well; it looks a lot like someone is throwing tacks int he bike lane.

 

Are we really surprised by this?

Permalink Reply by Mark Kenseth on August 4, 2011 at 12:50pm
Could the tacks be from someone carrying removed carpet in the back of a pick-up truck and the tacks are falling off the carpet and out of the truck?
Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on August 4, 2011 at 2:31pm
I'm not a current Kozy's customer, but I can't imagine they would resort to this sort of tactic to drum up business.

notoriousDUG said:

There have been a few coming into Rapid Transit as well; it looks a lot like someone is throwing tacks int he bike lane.

 

Are we really surprised by this?

Permalink Reply by Robot Gabe on August 4, 2011 at 3:56pm

The area you are all finding these tacks in right in front of the main loading dock entrance for the Merchandise Mart. So all things relating to fabric, textiles, upholstery which include tacks like this go on in this 4.2 million square feet building.   I work at the Mart and can tell you that its been a busy couple of weeks with all the trade shows. So it has resulted in many trucks going in and out of that area and I'm sure something spilled out.

 

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on August 4, 2011 at 6:43pm

It makes alot of sense. I once followed a trail of dangerous crushed limestone gravel all the way down Lake street into downtown. Sure enough, it stopped at a construction site on Wabash. But still, I have my suspicions...

Robot Gabe said:

The area you are all finding these tacks in right in front of the main loading dock entrance for the Merchandise Mart. So all things relating to fabric, textiles, upholstery which include tacks like this go on in this 4.2 million square feet building.   I work at the Mart and can tell you that its been a busy couple of weeks with all the trade shows. So it has resulted in many trucks going in and out of that area and I'm sure something spilled out.

 

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by pee wee on August 15, 2011 at 10:58am

sorry if this is old or irrelevant news, but i was riding on the outbound side of the kinzie bike lane (not my usual route) friday afternoon around 4pm and noticed about 20-30 metal nails, just like the ones in the original post, peppered between wells and franklin. the tacks definitely seemed localized to the bike lane as i did not notice any tacks on the sidewalk or street/parking area. very disheartening.

 

my apologies for not posting this sooner or checking the spot to see if the tacks are still there, but i had to catch a plane and am currently out of town (and am posting a coffee shop, aka my only internet access).

 

did anyone else encounter the tacks?

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on August 15, 2011 at 11:08am

Did you take a photo, make a police report, or document it in any way other than posting here?  I hope you at least picked them up.

 

That this seems to be a deliberate act targeting bicyclists who use Kinzie is something that needs further investigation.   Where is CSI when we need them?

Permalink Reply by pee wee on August 15, 2011 at 11:20am
regrettably, i was running very late and did not have the chance to stop. i'm sorry. but i did leave a msg with a friend who rides kinzie --> milw daily and asked him to check it out. will report back on what i hear.
Permalink Reply by Davo on August 15, 2011 at 2:00pm

just ride with a magnet on your pedals to pick them up while riding.

 

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