Jefferson County has declared war on tacks, or more to the point on “tacking” — the malicious spreading of tacks on bike paths and roads.
With some high-profile cycling events pedaling through the county this summer, officials have their brooms at the ready.
The USA Pro Cycling Challenge race will pass through Golden on Aug. 28 on its way to Denver.
As a precaution, Golden communications coordinator Julie Brooks said, “We will have our portion of the streets swept, but of course there is time between when the sweeper will come through and the cyclists come through.”
She also noted the host of vehicles that will precede the cyclists will provide an additional deterrent.
Pat Downing, event promoter for the Deer Creek Challenge, said throwing tacks on popular bike routes has been going on for some time.
“There are areas where it’s done maliciously to cause flat tires, or to stop and discourage cyclists from riding there,” Downing said. “And there are places where it might hurt someone. If someone had a blowout, it might kill them.”
Downing said the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office takes such incidents seriously and follows up on them.
For instance, on July 23, a cyclist stopped to fix his tire at the Indian Hills Fire Rescue Station at 4476 Parmalee Gulch Road and told the deputy it was the first time he had encountered tacks intentionally thrown in the road.
Several groups of riders also reported tacks that day on westbound Parmalee Gulch Road, said sheriff’s spokesman Mark Techmeyer.
The county sent out a street sweeper to clear the road.
Golden mountain biker Chris Conroy said, “I haven’t been ‘tacked’ on the trails, but I’ve heard stories over the years.”
Downing attributed the acts to a small minority.
“They are fanatics in the true sense of the word,” he said. “They make the road more dangerous, whether for recreational (users) or for people who ride every weekend. It’s a small number of people.
“It’s something every event promoter worries about. We have spent thousands of dollars on sweeping equipment to sweep prior to the events.”
For Sunday’s Deer Creek Challenge, which starts and finishes at the Johns Manville facility in southwest Jefferson County, “we will hire private contractors to sweep the course for a debris-free ride,” Downing said.
Karen Groves: 303-954-2303 or grovesk@yourhub.com
