'Tacky' prank creates chaos for Va. bicyclists

Cars and potholes aren't the only thing causing problems for cyclists in Virginia Beach. For the past two weekends, tiny thumbtacks have been causing big problems for bikers in Pungo.

Joe Vizi, owner of Fat Frogs Bike and Fitness shop said, "It was terrible."

Vizi and other Fat Frogs cyclists travel along the same route in Pungo every morning, but for many of them, Saturday's morning ride was cut short.

Vizi said, "Everybody had a flat tire just about. Nearly 50 of the more than 200 cyclists had flat tires thanks to these [thumbtacks]. These are the tacks that were laid out."

Vizi has owned Fat Frogs Bike and Fitness in Virginia Beach for the last nine years and calls this a first.

"I had three in my tire," Vizi said.

He said this is the second weekend in a row that hundreds of thumbtacks have littered the roadways along their 20-mile route. Vizi said the damage is bad especially for road riders.

"It causes damage to us. It doesn't interfere with a car tire. Even the mountain biker wouldn't be affected by this, just the road tire," said Vizi.

He says the worst of it is along a section of Muddy Creek in Pungo.

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Michael Randolph who was riding along the same route said, "Yeah I carry a backup an emergency kit, a little extra tube."

The thumbtacks didn't keep Michael and his wife off the road from a lunch time ride, but Sara Randolph says it means one more thing to watch out for on the already narrow rural roads.

"Those little things when you're going 20 miles an hour, it's dangerous," said Randolph.

Joe Vizi is hopeful that he can continue to ride without these tacks slowing anyone down.

"I had no flats, Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday," said Vizi.

Vizi says the thumbtack issue will be addressed at Tuesday's City Council meeting.