Discussion: burr advisory - plan your clothing
in: OCIN A-meet (Night, Relay, Ultra-long) (Nov 30 – Dec 2, 2012 - Cincinnati, OH, US)
Nov 23, 2012 3:08 PM
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Those of you who have not orienteered in Cincinnati area in late fall and winter, here is a clothing recommendation. This plant is pretty much a non-issue at Flying Pig time in the spring, but you will encounter it this coming weekend.
There is a plant which produces small burrs which stick to most clothing. If you wear something with a loose weave like tights or trimtex, you may come back covered with these little burrs, which are a pain to remove. (If clothing is damp, wait until it dries out and they are a little easier to brush off). In fact some orienteers have discarded various clothing items because they've been so full of these burrs.
The only thing that seems to not pick them up is a very tightly woven nylon running pant. They will still stick to any tears or seams, but not so many. In some cases the plants are also high enough to get on shirts, so again consider a very tightly woven tech shirt. Textured ones like the FLO shirt or BOK shirt from a few years ago will pick them up. Shoes and laces also collect them, and smoother, new laces are easier to clean than old rough ones.
These burrs will be most common in the night and relay areas. There are very few at East Fork (Ultralong). We ask that you please thoroughly clean them off your clothing between races so that we don't assist these noxious weeds in gaining a foothold in East Fork as well. I also encountered a few of them in the practice area at Sharon Woods.
There is a plant which produces small burrs which stick to most clothing. If you wear something with a loose weave like tights or trimtex, you may come back covered with these little burrs, which are a pain to remove. (If clothing is damp, wait until it dries out and they are a little easier to brush off). In fact some orienteers have discarded various clothing items because they've been so full of these burrs.
The only thing that seems to not pick them up is a very tightly woven nylon running pant. They will still stick to any tears or seams, but not so many. In some cases the plants are also high enough to get on shirts, so again consider a very tightly woven tech shirt. Textured ones like the FLO shirt or BOK shirt from a few years ago will pick them up. Shoes and laces also collect them, and smoother, new laces are easier to clean than old rough ones.
These burrs will be most common in the night and relay areas. There are very few at East Fork (Ultralong). We ask that you please thoroughly clean them off your clothing between races so that we don't assist these noxious weeds in gaining a foothold in East Fork as well. I also encountered a few of them in the practice area at Sharon Woods.
Nov 23, 2012 8:01 PM
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The weather model I use is showing above freezing temperatures, but (1) it's still a week off, and (2) anything could happen. There was a recent long-range forecast that showed below-freezing weather all day during one of the days.
If you're travelling, check the forecast before you pack. We have shelters on Friday and Saturday, but not Sunday---the shelters have roofs, but no wind protection.
If you're travelling, check the forecast before you pack. We have shelters on Friday and Saturday, but not Sunday---the shelters have roofs, but no wind protection.
This discussion thread is closed.