What is the purpose of goatheads in nature?
12-16-12, 02:53 PM
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What is the purpose of goathead spikes in nature?
I finally had my first flats from them. Fortunately it wasn't many and I'd read about them on bf so knew what the first one was.
What I don't understand is how the seed having a spike pointed straight up helps the plant at all. I can understand brambles, seeds that stick to clothes or fur, and get carried around to new places that way. Most natural things seem to be logical.
But with the point straight up if it sticks in a foot or paw, isn't even an animal going to try to get it out immediately? Is there any way at all that this helps it? Or does it prey on animals that might have a difficult time getting it out, like a moose?
What I don't understand is how the seed having a spike pointed straight up helps the plant at all. I can understand brambles, seeds that stick to clothes or fur, and get carried around to new places that way. Most natural things seem to be logical.
But with the point straight up if it sticks in a foot or paw, isn't even an animal going to try to get it out immediately? Is there any way at all that this helps it? Or does it prey on animals that might have a difficult time getting it out, like a moose?
12-16-12, 02:59 PM
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You have goatheads up there in the great white north?
12-16-12, 03:06 PM
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Goatheads evolved concurrently with the pneumatic bicycle tire. Before the bicycle tire there were no goatheads. They use bicycle tires to spread their seeds.
12-16-12, 10:29 PM
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Simple seed transport mechanism. Goatheads are seeds. They get caught up in fur, clothing, bike tires, whatever and relocated to new area. The flat tires are just a bonus for the LBS. In fact, many LBS owners plant goatheads on trails near their shops......
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Originally Posted by colorider
Phobias are for irrational fears. Fear of junk ripping badgers is perfectly rational. Those things are nasty.
12-16-12, 10:45 PM
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Originally Posted by DnvrFox
Goatheads evolved concurrently with the pneumatic bicycle tire. Before the bicycle tire there were no goatheads. They use bicycle tires to spread their seeds.
12-17-12, 12:45 AM
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A nuisance created to balance out the benefits of legal weed?
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12-17-12, 07:37 AM
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They are a govt. tracking system....they attach to your clothing, fur, tires, etc. and allow officers to track where you are and where you have been.
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12-17-12, 07:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Shifty
Close Denver, they were a GMO product developed by bicycle tube manufacturers to increase profits from sales of tubes and patch kits. Only more evidence that corporate America and the Chinese are taking over the world. I thought that the way to fight this evil was to buy Slime tubes, but they are in on the plot against America too. I had to resort to a canoe to foil the plot.
12-17-12, 07:56 AM
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Good question.
They are obviously a seed transport, like was said before. I suppose they are evolved to attach themselves to smaller animals like squirrels, racoons and opossum. Animals who's midriffs are closer to the ground.
They're nuisance side effect is designed to flatten tires first, then to maim you when you step off the bike.
They are obviously a seed transport, like was said before. I suppose they are evolved to attach themselves to smaller animals like squirrels, racoons and opossum. Animals who's midriffs are closer to the ground.
They're nuisance side effect is designed to flatten tires first, then to maim you when you step off the bike.
12-17-12, 09:51 AM
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If they were meant to punish us, they would be smily faces, not goat heads.
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Originally Posted by colorider
Phobias are for irrational fears. Fear of junk ripping badgers is perfectly rational. Those things are nasty.
12-17-12, 10:51 AM
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Originally Posted by mconlonx
A nuisance created to balance out the benefits of legal weed?
12-17-12, 11:34 AM
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Originally Posted by colorider
Yes they are trying to drive mtn bikers to drink.
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12-17-12, 11:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Pamestique
this summer we had a particularly bad goathead year... all of my MTB friends had multiple flats...on every ride! 'cept me... no flats at all... proof I am the Chosen One apparently!
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12-17-12, 11:49 AM
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I'd say that the thorny nature while on the plant counters grazers and that resulted in a secondary benefit..dispersal.
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12-17-12, 12:47 PM
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Originally Posted by chris.....
You are all wrong, God made them to punish cyclists.
God allowed Satan to create tehm to torment cyclists. They are a satanic plot.
12-17-12, 01:27 PM
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Their purpose in nature is to flatten bike (and stroller/jogger) tires, of course.
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12-17-12, 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by ZippyThePinhead
You have goatheads up there in the great white north?
Originally Posted by DnvrFox
Goatheads evolved concurrently with the pneumatic bicycle tire. Before the bicycle tire there were no goatheads. They use bicycle tires to spread their seeds.
Originally Posted by jsharr
They get caught up in fur, clothing, bike tires, whatever and relocated to new area.
12-17-12, 06:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Closed Office
No I've never seen one around Calgary. I ran into them while I was on vacation closer to your area.
Dammit, that means they are evolving faster than us, just like the rodents.
That's the part I don't understand. The seeds I've seen caught up in my clothing have curly hooks to do the job. The straight spikes on goatheads wouldn't do it nearly as well. Plus having the main spike point up when they are on the ground seems to be part of their strategy. That won't get it caught up in clothing or fur.
Dammit, that means they are evolving faster than us, just like the rodents.
That's the part I don't understand. The seeds I've seen caught up in my clothing have curly hooks to do the job. The straight spikes on goatheads wouldn't do it nearly as well. Plus having the main spike point up when they are on the ground seems to be part of their strategy. That won't get it caught up in clothing or fur.
12-17-12, 08:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Closed Office
No I've never seen one around Calgary. I ran into them while I was on vacation closer to your area.
I use sealant-filled tubes on my MTB, which are pretty effective against goatheads. However I flatted once on my road bike because of a goathead. No sealant-filled tubes on that bicycle.
12-17-12, 09:02 PM
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Originally Posted by chris.....
You are all wrong, God made them to punish cyclists.
12-18-12, 08:19 PM
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They don't call it puncturevine for nothing!
because we dress 'gay'? LOL
Originally Posted by chris.....
You are all wrong, God made them to punish cyclists.
