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Pick up your trash!

Old 08-22-22, 12:00 AM
  #1  
VegasJen
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Pick up your trash!

First off, I seriously doubt I'm talking to anybody here. On the off chance I am, then fix yourself. If you know somebody who does this, then I suggest you invite them to find new friends.

I cannot believe how often I ride even around my small town and see old tubes and used CO2 cartridges disposed of on the side of the road. My thinking is that if you were able to carry the good stuff with you to fix a flat, you can damn sure carry the junk stuff home. What is this about? As a community, we need to police those who are irresponsible cyclists.

Like I said, I don't *think* I'm talking to most of the people here. But it sure seems like there are far too many cyclists that want to treat the shoulder of the road as a trash bin.
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Old 08-22-22, 12:20 AM
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yah...old tubes and co2 cartridges seem to be the worst offenders but the instant energy/powerbar wrappers appear more often than i'd like. c'mon people. pack it out, pack it away responsibly.
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Old 08-22-22, 01:20 AM
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It is not those people with old commuter bikes, and living on a shoestring budget that are tossing the CO2 cartridges. If they have a pump, it is a real pump.

Those CO2 cartridges are likely from people riding $1000+ bikes, and wearing their lycra and cycling jerseys pretending they're HOT STUFF.

Keep in mind that one often stops in shared space. Whether it is near someone's house, or under another person's favorite shade tree. Fixing a bike may well be an "emergency". I like to pick up after myself as a courtesy to the homeowners around me, and hopefully will be welcome to repair my bike the next time the need arises.

Do the Presta Valve nuts count? They have a way of just vanishing!!!
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Old 08-22-22, 01:36 AM
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Can't say I've ever seen a tube discarded at the side of the road. Plenty of cartridges - BUT - many are likely from nitrous huffers.

If you don't know - https://adf.org.au/insights/nitrous-no-laughing-matter/
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Old 08-22-22, 03:28 AM
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I occasionally see a cartridge or Gu wrapper but it’s nothing compared to the empty beer cans and empty nips I see. Most of the time I am always within eyesight of one of those.
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Old 08-22-22, 03:36 AM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by tempocyclist
Can't say I've ever seen a tube discarded at the side of the road. Plenty of cartridges - BUT - many are likely from nitrous huffers.

If you don't know - https://adf.org.au/insights/nitrous-no-laughing-matter/
There was a thread about this a couple of years ago. The OP saw a collection of cartridges. IIRC, it was along an MUP. Several of us suspected they were from nitrous users.
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Old 08-22-22, 04:49 AM
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Originally Posted by CliffordK
Those CO2 cartridges are likely from people riding $1000+ bikes, and wearing their lycra and cycling jerseys pretending they're HOT STUFF.

Do the Presta Valve nuts count? They have a way of just vanishing!!!
It always amuses me when the cost of one’s bike and choice of cycling attire is commented on. But it aligns nicely with the revelation that you use Presta caps. No self-respecting $1000 bike riding, Lycra and cycling Jersey wearing cyclist would be found dead using Presta caps!!! Is there a scoffing emoji?
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Old 08-22-22, 09:19 AM
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indyfabz
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Originally Posted by MattTheHat
It always amuses me when the cost of one’s bike and choice of cycling attire is commented on. But it aligns nicely with the revelation that you use Presta caps. No self-respecting $1000 bike riding, Lycra and cycling Jersey wearing cyclist would be found dead using Presta caps!!! Is there a scoffing emoji?
I use them and have a lot of self respect. They are red anodized caps. Go great with my red anodized hubs, skewers, headset and seat post collar that are part of my $7,000+ beautiful, super-fly, custom ti road bike. Don't bother with them on the commuter/tourer.
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Old 08-22-22, 09:27 AM
  #9  
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I’ve been seeing more CO₂ (or N2O) cartridges, and inner tubes along roadsides too. I’d think that discarded cartridges along a MUP would almost certainly be from a cyclist. As would those I see along the roadside that are laying next to a discarded inner tube. But now that I think about it…seems like the ones I’m seeing roadside are thread-less (not near an inner-tube)…perhaps tossed from passing cars where the driver/passengers are using them nefariously.
I just did a quick search for N2O cartridges and didn’t see any available that are threaded. I know that CO₂ cartridges can be threaded or thread-less…but I think most bike tire inflators use threaded cartridges…don’t they?

At any rate…cyclists shouldn’t be leaving ANYTHING behind after they stop for roadside repairs. It would be just another thing for people/motorists to be mad at cyclists about. Many times when I have to stop for flat repair, the homeowner whose house I’m in front of will come out and offer assistance or sustenance …which I always thank them for but decline. Their good deed shouldn’t result in trash being left in front of their property.

Dan
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Old 08-22-22, 09:32 AM
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Trash/Nails/Screws

On one of my Loops I find between 2-7 Nails/Screws per outing. Mostly in the Bike line but many times in the road proper. Sometimes many more. I pick up what I can for self preservation and the benefit of others. Lots on the outside of curved sections of a street or Dip or Railroad Tracks. Anywhere they can bounce out of the back of a Pickup. Please take the time to collect and properly dispose in a trash receptacle. You just might be saving yourself from a flat tire, you will definitely save somebody a world of hurt.
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Old 08-22-22, 09:45 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by CliffordK
Those CO2 cartridges are likely from people riding $1000+ bikes, and wearing their lycra and cycling jerseys pretending they're HOT STUFF.
What a judgmental pile of dog excrement. Having a nicer bike than you and clothes you don't like means they're litterbugs? Grow up.
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Old 08-22-22, 09:46 AM
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Humans in general are trashy, yes I am sure there are cyclists who leave trash we see wrappers from stuff that a cyclist might use and maybe we find some tubes but people generally leave trash places or it blows out of trash cans or things like that. However while the trash does suck there are many more things we do as a society that are more damaging than a wrapper or tube. This is not to say people shouldn't clean up after themselves but we should also look holistically at things and do better all across the board.
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Old 08-22-22, 10:21 AM
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
I use them and have a lot of self respect. They are red anodized caps. Go great with my red anodized hubs, skewers, headset and seat post collar that are part of my $7,000+ beautiful, super-fly, custom ti road bike. Don't bother with them on the commuter/tourer.
That's the bling loophole. Bling always allowed and respected.
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Old 08-22-22, 10:33 AM
  #14  
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I so wish inner tubes and co2 cartridges were among my town's problems.
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Old 08-22-22, 11:13 AM
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I don't think I've ever seen an old bike tube along the side of the road. If one were there, it was probably hidden by the beer cans, fast food sacks, potato chip bags, Mountain Dew bottles, drink cups, etc.

I wonder what people who found them thought about the various pumps I've left on my trunk or bike rack that fell off when I forgot to put them in my car...
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Old 08-23-22, 09:13 AM
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Originally Posted by CliffordK

Those CO2 cartridges are likely from people riding $1000+ bikes, and wearing their lycra and cycling jerseys pretending they're HOT STUFF.

!
Too funny ! just pulled these quotes from another thread "When Will they ever learn" and the guy is shaking his online fist about being "Fully kitted up" and on an expensive bike too -- also a flat tire situation
I guess at least the guy with no tube or tools wasnt leaving any trash at all laying about

"Out for a ride today on the bike trails. I meet up with a guy walking his $5000 bike, at least that much. He has a flat tire. He has no tools no spare tubes or patch kit. He had already walked 5 miles, and had 5 to go."

"I dont remember, it was a CF bike, very smooth and aero, and you could just look at it and tell it was very expensive. BTW to add to the picture he was fully kitted too."
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Old 08-23-22, 09:22 AM
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number one thing in my area found on the side of the road is those little empty plastic bottles of Fireball cinnamon whisky.... those ****ers are everywhere....used to be Vodka bottles but Fireball whisky has the market cornered....

Last edited by cb400bill; 08-26-22 at 06:09 PM.
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Old 08-23-22, 09:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Rolla
What a judgmental pile of dog excrement. Having a nicer bike than you and clothes you don't like means they're litterbugs? Grow up.
I agree 100%. I have really expensive bikes, and cycling clothes and I hate litterbugs. I also stop and help most riders if they are having mechanical difficulties. The last two guys were on fairly budget friendly bikes. One was new to cycling and probably figured he wouldn't flat on a MUP. The other guy didn't bring his patch kit because he was only going a few miles. I have patched tubes and given away tubes. The last guy gave me 10 bux for my troubles which I tried to refuse but he insisted. Told me to use it to get another tube. I also aired up a tire for a nice lady who borrowed her daughters bike to zip aorund on .....slow leak and I got her home.

I don't ALWAYS stop and help but I do more often than not because I try and be a decent human being. I guess I understand about people having problems with how much a bike costs or what they wear to ride in.

Such attitudes are a big problem with the world right now.
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Old 08-23-22, 10:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Rdmonster69
I guess I understand about people having problems with how much a bike costs or what they wear to ride in.

Gatekeeping is a pervasive theme here on BF. Many members here have appointed themselves the arbiters of what a "real cyclist" must be; not surprisingly, it's always someone just like themselves. Of course it's just an admission of (and a weak defense against) their own insecurities, but it does get tedious reading the judgmental rants of grown-ass adults who simply can't handle seeing people who don't conform to their narrow requirements of acceptability. It's permanent high school, and really kind of pathetic.
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Old 08-23-22, 10:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Rolla
Gatekeeping is a pervasive theme here on BF. Many members here have appointed themselves the arbiters of what a "real cyclist" must be; not surprisingly, it's always someone just like themselves. Of course it's just an admission of (and a weak defense against) their own insecurities, but it does get tedious reading the judgmental rants of grown-ass adults who simply can't handle seeing people who don't conform to their narrow requirements of acceptability. It's permanent high school, and really kind of pathetic.
For real ..... I was trying out my new expensive enough to piss some people off mountain bike on Saturday. I saw a guy and his lady friend out on the trails (some are pretty gnarly and some not so much). She was on a fairly modern looking mountain bike .... he was on an old balloon tire city style bike that looked waaay out of place. It had a for god sake wire basket on the front of it. He was whipping it around the single track like he stole it. H probably wasn't hitting many obstacles on it but he was riding.

My thought .....Effin legend !!! I did have loose shorts and a stormtrooper tee shirt on so maybe some folks wouldn't hate on me so bad. My point being .... a jerk is a jerk ... get on your bike .....ride ....don't judge others until you establish they are a jerk. And if that's the case ..... ride away.
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Old 08-24-22, 11:54 AM
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Originally Posted by jadmt
number one thing in my area found on the side of the road is those little empty plastic bottles of Fireball cinnamon whisky.... those fukkers are everywhere....used to be Vodka bottles but Fireball whisky has the market cornered....
Me Too!
And I live in a rural area and know exactly where they bought the stuff. They are drinking it within 1-2 miles of were they bought it.

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Old 08-24-22, 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by VegasJen
First off, I seriously doubt I'm talking to anybody here. On the off chance I am, then fix yourself. If you know somebody who does this, then I suggest you invite them to find new friends.

I cannot believe how often I ride even around my small town and see old tubes and used CO2 cartridges disposed of on the side of the road. My thinking is that if you were able to carry the good stuff with you to fix a flat, you can damn sure carry the junk stuff home. What is this about? As a community, we need to police those who are irresponsible cyclists.

Like I said, I don't *think* I'm talking to most of the people here. But it sure seems like there are far too many cyclists that want to treat the shoulder of the road as a trash bin.
Have never seen that. But I can tell you about all sorts of beer cans and pop bottles I see.
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Old 08-24-22, 12:28 PM
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never seen a bike tube on the road. But nip bottles, omg.
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Old 08-24-22, 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by prj71
Have never seen that. But I can tell you about all sorts of beer cans and pop bottles I see.
I'm hardly saying we're the major contributor. I AM saying we shouldn't be adding to it.

And like I said, I doubt many of us here actually are. But I bet there are times when we see somebody do this crap. See something, say something.
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Old 08-24-22, 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by VegasJen
See something, say something.
These days...That'll probably get you stabbed by some meth head.
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