marquhar

Set out to do 62 mile Chapman Hills loop.

Ride goes very well until I pass Farwell going west on Culver. Hit a hidden field full of razor blades and one destroys my rear tire.

Not thinking straight, I double back and walk towards Bryan.

Nice guy walking to Trader Joe's tells me about Jax Bicycles on Culver. Went there, bought a Gatorskin.

Wasted 1.5 hours walking to the bike shop - a 3.45 hour ride turned into 5.5 hours.

When I puncture and the tire is badly damaged, I always walk back and find the culprit. It took me a few minutes to find
the razor that got my tire. While I was looking I could hear the cars causing other razors to flip over and fly around, so there
must have been plenty.

Avoid Culver (westbound) between Farwell & the 5 Freeway. I tried to, but there is no way to find all the razors out there.
When I arrived at Jax and talked to the 3 mechanics, one similarly lost a tire to a razor while riding on Culver a few days before.
Such a nice area to have road hazards like this.

First time in 4 years that I had a complete tire failure on a long ride - BTW I was 30 miles from home when it happened. It's time to carry a backup tire on such rides.

TJClay

You're making it sound like it was sabotage. I imagine it was a spill on the road.

marquhar

Yes I agree, it was a spill. They are there and it sucks for riders.

I see landscaper/gardeners out there frequently doing the parkways.

Unless someone has a magnet, custom made to pickup small metal items in a large area, the razors will be there for
a long time.

CommuteCommando

I picked up a drywall screw on Walnut, just a block up from that Trader Joe's. Great area to ride, but stuff happens.

Jan Feetz

Sorry that happened to you bro! Advise Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) and they'll send a crew to clean up. By the way, what brand of razors? I use Gillette sensors to trim my twigs, and am wondering if any still out there are in good condition.......

CbadRider

+1 It's a hazard for pedestrians who could be walking by and get hit by a flying one, or if someone's kid picks it up and cuts himself.

BigJeff

Call the city, they can send out a sweeper.

(I used to work for the city of Irvine)

Quasipun

Last week I got a broken tooth in my tire. Yes, a broken tooth. Was a canine with tip and root broken off, not sure if it was cat or dog or raccoon or what, but when I saw what it was I was just sitting there thinking "WHAT THE HECK**********"

marquhar

Today I see the same thing in the same spot: exacto knife and razor blades wrapped in paper.

I avoided any trouble and completed the 100k without problems.

When I got home I reported the problem here:
https://www.cityofirvine.org/cityhall/pw/default.asp

They have a resident report form. It looks to me like the Landscapers hired by Irvine are the culprits.
Razor blades and exacto knives are left loose on the vehicles and fall to the pavement as they work on
the parkways of Culver.