Before the group of around 1000 cyclists had even begun its protest ride along Kew Boulevard on Sunday morning, half a dozen riders had stopped kerbside to change tubes and tyres after running over tacks on the road.

For the last 15 months cyclists say a rogue individual has targeted them by putting thumb tacks along the shoulder of the road, causing punctured tyres and crashes.

A cyclist fixes a puncture after hitting a tack on Kew Boulevard - during a protest involving over 1000 riders protesting against someone laying tacks on the road. Credit:Paul Jeffers

VicRoads had swept the popular cycle route at 11pm on Saturday night to clear it of tacks, but the so-called "boulie tacker" was at it again.

"There's clearly been a fresh batch of tacks, which is quite brazen really," protest organiser George Mihailides said.