View Poll Results: Do you experience Goat Head thorns while riding?
Yes
23
25.84%
No
66
74.16%
Voters: 89. You may not vote on this poll
Are Goat Head thorns a problem in your riding?
04-19-17, 07:18 AM
#1
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Are Goat Head thorns a problem in your riding?
Simple question. We all know how difficult a problem Goat Head thorns are if you experience them. My question is how prevalent are they?
Some folks have already written about past issues with the devils, but I am interested in your current conditions.
Some folks have already written about past issues with the devils, but I am interested in your current conditions.
Last edited by rpenmanparker; 04-19-17 at 07:51 AM.
04-19-17, 07:35 AM
#3
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Not in Georgia.
04-19-17, 07:40 AM
#4
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When I lived out west, yuge problem. Very big. The worst.
Honestly, when I would ride in the Albuquerque and Salt Lake City areas, I'd run gatorskins, tubes with sealant and still get flats on almost a weekly basis from those little balls from hell (this was before road tubeless was a thing).
Honestly, when I would ride in the Albuquerque and Salt Lake City areas, I'd run gatorskins, tubes with sealant and still get flats on almost a weekly basis from those little balls from hell (this was before road tubeless was a thing).
04-19-17, 07:43 AM
#5
Senior Member
It is pretty much everywhere in the US, as shown by the map.
The scientific name for the Goathead means "Troubled Ground"
https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=TRTE
The scientific name for the Goathead means "Troubled Ground"
https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=TRTE
04-19-17, 07:54 AM
#6
Senior Member
Switched to tubeless, much happier now.
When I would MTN bike, there was a period where I got a flat after every ride, due to goatheads. And a few on road for good measure.
When I would MTN bike, there was a period where I got a flat after every ride, due to goatheads. And a few on road for good measure.
04-19-17, 08:42 AM
#7
Non omnino gravis
We got more rain this past winter than we've gotten in 10 years, so I reckon this summer is going to be the goathead apocalypse. Because we used to get them pretty badly, even in full-on drought conditions. In the late spring, the median strips are completely covered in those telltale little yellow flowers. I pick the tips of the thorns out of my tubeless tires nearly every day. All but two flats my wife has ever gotten were from goatheads-- the other two were radial wire, including one that went clear through a Mr. Tuffy.
The furthest west end of our property is full of them, and every once in awhile the cat will transport one inside on it's fur, so I can step on a nice big goathead in bare feet.
The furthest west end of our property is full of them, and every once in awhile the cat will transport one inside on it's fur, so I can step on a nice big goathead in bare feet.
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04-19-17, 09:00 AM
#8
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Huge - seasonal. I can run on a path next to the road/bike path and have 10 in my shoe in 200m. These get kicked into the bike path.
The fix is sealant - and that sometimes works, or a heavy tire.
As they just pierce most things we like to ride for training I've moved from 30+ year of tubulars to clinchers for reasons of being able to patch/repair quickly. ie - I have given up. I carry 2 tubes a ride.
As I posted elsewhere, I've seen regions where folks get no flats. If they avoid the city gutter, trashy bike routes and construction there is just nothing to flat a tire. That is not SoCal riding where I live. In the high desert where I used to live - San Diego county, it was not a problem.
The fix is sealant - and that sometimes works, or a heavy tire.
As they just pierce most things we like to ride for training I've moved from 30+ year of tubulars to clinchers for reasons of being able to patch/repair quickly. ie - I have given up. I carry 2 tubes a ride.
As I posted elsewhere, I've seen regions where folks get no flats. If they avoid the city gutter, trashy bike routes and construction there is just nothing to flat a tire. That is not SoCal riding where I live. In the high desert where I used to live - San Diego county, it was not a problem.
Last edited by Doge; 04-19-17 at 07:29 PM.
04-19-17, 10:45 AM
#9
well hello there
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I voted no, but they can be problematic at certain times of the year, along one river channel that I frequent.
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04-19-17, 11:00 AM
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Nope.
04-19-17, 11:23 AM
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04-19-17, 11:28 AM
#13
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Absolutely. That's why I'm such a big tubeless advocate. One of my biggest annoyances was practically eliminated.
04-19-17, 11:38 AM
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04-19-17, 11:44 AM
#16
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You should have asked that only people out west vote.
As it is, the "NO" vote is probably skewed by folks who don't worry about them because they're over a thousand miles away.
Feel free to subtract my vote when tabulating.
As it is, the "NO" vote is probably skewed by folks who don't worry about them because they're over a thousand miles away.
Feel free to subtract my vote when tabulating.
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Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
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04-19-17, 11:46 AM
#17
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Yes.
(Sacramento Valley)
(Sacramento Valley)
04-19-17, 11:49 AM
#18
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It is pretty much everywhere in the US, as shown by the map.
The scientific name for the Goathead means "Troubled Ground"
https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=TRTE
The scientific name for the Goathead means "Troubled Ground"
https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=TRTE
According to Wikipedia, "It can thrive even in desert climates and poor soil". It doesn't say much about moist areas.
I know they have them in Richland, Washington, which is a high desert region. But we don't have them in the Willamette Valley here in Oregon. I don't think I ever encountered them around St. Louis, Missouri.
Anyway, it may well be hit and miss about climates that they flourish in.
04-19-17, 11:50 AM
#19
Woman make me faster
Those would really suck. I'm glad I don't have them as an obstacle. Feel for those that do.
04-19-17, 02:20 PM
#20
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Yes, worse in late Summer, but strays linger all year round- even after the plants die off in the cold. They are pretty tough little monsters.
04-19-17, 04:25 PM
#21
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The NO vote is supposed to be skewed by people who are over a thousand miles away. That is the point of the poll.
04-19-17, 04:25 PM
#22
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04-19-17, 04:32 PM
#23
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Yep (Sacramento/Davis/Folsom).
I once picked up 5 on a commute home, burned through 3 tubes and a loaner from a buddy. Still had to call in a ride. My only call of shame to date.
I once picked up 5 on a commute home, burned through 3 tubes and a loaner from a buddy. Still had to call in a ride. My only call of shame to date.
04-19-17, 04:43 PM
#24
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Couldn't resist
04-19-17, 05:05 PM
#25
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It is pretty much everywhere in the US, as shown by the map.
The scientific name for the Goathead means "Troubled Ground"
https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=TRTE
The scientific name for the Goathead means "Troubled Ground"
https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=TRTE