Cyclist-related litter

doctor-bond

Feature Bike
Okay --

so the hot topic at the Parish council meeting [don't ask] is all the litter that accumulates at the side of the nice back lanes round my way.

It turns out that cyclists are being blamed for an increase in the offending detritous.

Now this didn't ring true for me: by my reckoning, most peddlers are pretty eco-aware types who shun such yahoo behaviour.

The evidence? Its those energy gel packs that you can get these days, and that are apparently ideal for slurping on the the go [what happened to bananas?].

Does any one use these things for their bike-related energy needs [gel packs not bananas]?

If so, do you ever chuck the wrappers? [If you prefer to remain anonymous, let me know if "a friend" has been known to 'throw down'].


For what it's worth: the gel packs are reasonably priced and available in Tescos, in the fitness isle, right next to a bunch of horseriding equipment ["tack in Tescos! WTF!"]; so my money is on a new breed of careless horsefolk.


;)
 
Also used by runners, who are generally more nutrtionally clued up than cyclists. They also have a throw away nature as seen after any race. Triathletes will also swear by them, probably being the most nutrionally clued up but have a definite no litter policy which can get you disqualified in a race which carries over to there training (if you believe them on forums). Obviously these are broad statements but what I've found generally. Must be an amazing amount of fitness fanatics in your area for it to be a noticable litter problem though.
 
It only takes a few plastic wrappers per furlong to get the miss marples twitchy ... but joggers could be the answer: I thought they only had little hand shaped bottles and no pockets; but on reflection that is obviously naive.


I feel a natural responsibility to divert blame from recreational cyclists (and if a triathlete were to grace the lanes in question, I'm sure someone would have called the fire brigade).
 
You could look around for joggers groups or gyms that have running nights etc I would hazzard a guess that most runners from running clubs wouldn't use them too much on training runs except for sometimes practing nutrition i.e. will this make me sick when I am running. But more commonly at races are novices with these strapped everywhere and they're whacking them back ten a penny.
 
i have to say this is something that bugs me, the energy gel wrappers, i do use them but generally only during races and really long rides. but you can always see a bunch of the wrappers during any race you go to around the trails etc. if i use one i pocket the wrapper and bin it on return. i like to think we cyclists are relatively environmentally friendly but i seem to be proved wrong at races quite often with regard to this.

iirc at the last salisbury plain ride they specifically mentioned don't throw the wrappers on the ground but as usual there were loads.

as to who is to blame in your case on a country road it could be a few different people and i think it unfair of the parish council to single out cylists. it could be them but it might not.

regardless of the type of person dropping the litter, whether it be cyclist or runner etc it could be the same person who does a regular route and that is their regular full up point during that ride or run. so it might just be one person dropping regularly as opposed to loads of people dropping once.

but basically whoever is doing it is probably an arrogant pratt anyway.
 
jonnyboy666":1xr69rr5 said:
regardless of the type of person dropping the litter, whether it be cyclist or runner etc it could be the same person who does a regular route and that is their regular full up point during that ride or run. so it might just be one person dropping regularly as opposed to loads of people dropping once.

but basically whoever is doing it is probably an arrogant pratt anyway.

That's what I thought it would be, in which case it makes no odds if he/she is a cyclist / jogger / triathlete / extreme walker or used with viagra as a energy top up, they are just a prats.
 
LITTERLOUTS - hmmmm I've hated them for the last few decades and now find myself in the "tidy up after them" industry. Keeps me in gainfull employment I know, but really most of them ARE made of wood and lighter than a duck. So its either Burn 'Em OR ........well I'll leave that up to you :twisted: :twisted:
 
and now find myself in the "tidy up after them" industry.

... I think that's it: it's easier to pick up the odd gel pack and lucozade bottle than clear up after your dog (which many of the stout bhurgers of the parish also seem incapable of doing).

I've also perfected a really hard stare for drivers who go too fast [think Zoolander]; I'll adapt this for any sporties who I see contemplating a gel pack throw down.

God I'm getting old [but I quite like it].
 
you could hide in a bush and when you see it dropped pick it up and give chase , see if the added energy can stop them being tackled :LOL:

but yes itl be some arrogant twat :roll:
 
After Dusk 'til Dawn and the Thetford winter race series they had a lot of litter (gel packs) around the courses. Why don't riders stuff it back in the pocket they got it out of and bin it when they have finished. Litter makes me really angry :x

And another thing ... if you drive around the M25 to the Dartford crossing on the Essex side, the litter on the verges is terrible. :x :x :x
 
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