Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Got Spat on Last Night

I was riding home on the Queensboro Bridge last night at 1:30AM and a group of about 6 hispanic kids on BMX bikes, all teenagers, rode past me going in the opposite direction. One of them spits on me as I pass him.

I stopped on the bridge and thought about what to do. I was ****ing incensed. I stopped one kid who was trailing behind the others, yelled at him and he said he wasn't with the other group (but he probably was).

I thought of taking out my knife (I carry a Smith & Wesson swat knife) and stabbing the kid, but then I thought about being thrown in jail for murder too.

I let it go and kept riding, stopped and ranted at a cop at the Queens Plaza train station for about 5 minutes and he said next time it'd be OK to **** em up as long as there aren't any witness around (he really did).

Got home and went to sleep and woke up just as pissed off. I want justice.

I was riding home on the Queensboro Bridge last night at 1:30AM and a group of about 6 hispanic kids on BMX bikes, all teenagers, rode past me going in the opposite direction. One of them spits on me as I pass him.

I stopped on the bridge and thought about what to do. I was ****ing incensed. I stopped one kid who was trailing behind the others, yelled at him and he said he wasn't with the other group (but he probably was).

I thought of taking out my knife (I carry a Smith & Wesson swat knife) and stabbing the kid, but then I thought about being thrown in jail for murder too.

I let it go and kept riding, stopped and ranted at a cop at the Queens Plaza train station for about 5 minutes and he said next time it'd be OK to **** em up as long as there aren't any witness around (he really did).

Got home and went to sleep and woke up just as pissed off. I want justice.

just spit back at them. sheesh.

carry an extendable baton. same dimensions as a frame pump but will do , oh , so much more damage

Heh I was riding in brooklyn one night drinking from my bottle going about 6 mph, as I put it down and starting going, I heard some dumba** on a bmx bike going, "hey nice bike, give it to me yo". I'm like, "catch me", dropped him at around 10 on my way to 20. What an idiot.
Kids on those stupid ass gas scooters try to race me too. I often lust after the opportunity to do 30mph towards a busy intersection, get the kid to taunt me enough so he's not paying attention, then stick my seat in front of me and grab my brakes and have him either endo over or plow into traffic and get creamed. Then again, I'm just morbid.
Kids like that never learn. If I were you I would've decked him with your elbow then claim they were heading towards you too close. "Dur, I didn't see the kid, they had no lights. *illegal*"

they did it cause your white i bet,

one time i was riding on Comm ave going outbound just going past the BU bridge where the lanes and cars get all hairy. riding alongside this car - it's summer, it's hot, he's got the window down. he turns to face out the window and spits loudly out. and then he notices i'm right there and was totally mortified. he totally didn't notice me until after the fact!

i was laughing my ass off. i checked myself, and i think i managed to avoid the spittle.

whoopeeedooo.

-Dennis

Most white people don't believe in racism. See racism doesn't exist. I went to a diversity class for my government job and there we learned that there is no racism.

Actually there is racism and as soon as we admit that none of the races like each other in this country we can start to work on it and learn how to overcome our problem. You think when that guy spit on you it wasn't about racism?

Anyhow, you can't stab em for spitting on you. And if there were 6 of them then anything like a fair fight is out of the question. I have had problems with multiple people in cars messing with me. The first time was two black kids in a car, the 2nd was 2 black kids in a car, the third was 2 mexicans in a truck. All three times they honked, yelled, tailgated, then proceeded to pull over and try to get me to fight them by getting out of their vehicles.

Twice i rode off, once i lost my temper and got off my bike and waited for the guy, who then thought better of it and left.

I will say this, i too carry a knife, and i will use it if someone ever forces me off the road and pursuits me onto the sidewalk.

Repeat after me,"I was afraid for my life. I'm too shook up to talk about it now. I want to speak to a lawyer."

Memorize that phrase and use it if you ever stab someone with your knife.

just spit back at them. sheesh.

Merton's right, dude. Why let a goober alter your life so much. You've already lost a good night of sleep and those are hard to come by for many.

By the Way:

I'm Not White

I'm Asian, so go ahead and start with your anti-Asian rants if you want.

I never start **** with anyone, was enjoying my ride hom when a group of hispanic kids start **** with me just to get their kicks.

I carry my knife in case, for the same reasons Kurremkarm stated, anyone ever tries to get in a physical confrontation with me, and I only started carrying a knife when another hispanic kid pulled a pair of scissors on me on the subway years ago. That incident involved him trying to jab me with the scissors, he missed but if he hadn't it would've f**cked me up pretty bad I imagine.

I do agree it was a racial incident. I don't think they would have spat on me if I was hispanic too.

So once again, The Wrench, go F*ck yourself and enjoy your hateful desires to kill me.

as far as i can tell ultra-g was just describing the group of kids as any cop or news reporter would. do you play the race card when you hear on the news "[insert race here] male in his 20's was fleeing southbound after an attempted robbery"?

Merton's right, .
Two words I'd never thought I'd see in the same sentence, but in this case it's undeniable. What is the world coming to? People wanting to stab people for spitting, and MERTON being right about it all in the same thread. <shakes head>

"[insert race here] male in his 20's was fleeing southbound after an attempted robbery"?

In Cincinnati they call it racial profiling. :rolleyes:

In Cincinnati they call it racial profiling. :rolleyes:


i believe racial profiling is a preemtive to a crime (i.e. going out and looking for a certain race because you believe they may do something wrong). after a crime has taken place, race is often useful to ID someone.

can you imagine if a white person committed a crime, and they couldn't report it as a white person, so instead cops are shaking down black people. doesn't make sense does it? just mentioning someones race doesn't automatically make it a racial thing.

Yes I agree with you completely. I was just joking around and and poking a little fun at my fair city.

Yes I agree with you completely. I was just joking around and and poking a little fun at my fair city.


:beer:

amn. i'm wondering if racism is really racism. it seems like people would hate each other for some other reason if there wasn't different skin colors. the views in life come down to two thing... defensivness and openess. people have been so destructive to each other that everyone hides somewhere familiar. it's all about fear. like that yoda thing said in that star wars movie. kinda silly but true.

you werent the one yelling 'i got no brakes!! outta my way!!', were you? :p if so i wouldve spat on you too. :eek:

like that yoda thing said in that star wars movie.

maybe we should make a sticker..."what would yoda do?"

[MERTON being right]

ok, it WAS a fluke.

Two words I'd never thought I'd see in the same sentence, but in this case it's undeniable. What is the world coming to? People wanting to stab people for spitting, and MERTON being right about it all in the same thread. <shakes head>

True! But then he followed it up with this:

like that yoda thing said in that star wars movie. kinda silly but true.


So I guess the univers is in balance again.

There seems to be some wisdom in what Merton is saying and yet there are no stash pockets in it... hmm...

they did it cause your white i bet,

I'm asian yo.

The way the law reads you are allowed to use force to defend yourself or another from emminant physical harm. Fighting is not really a manly thing these days, now days it is sort of dumb. Say you get in a fight with a bum on the street, u really want to roll around on the ground with some piss stained bum? Then you have to consider that everyone is armed.

You think those 6 hispanic kids weren't armed? Odds of one of them having a gun isn't bad. Odds of one of them having a knife is 100%, most likely at least 3 of them had knives. I started thinking in terms of self protection and not macho terms.

I assume:

1. Everyone is armed.
2. That they can harm me.
3. Someone is going to come out on top and if it isnt me the other person might not stop.
4. I will harm them.

This forces me to smile or wave when someone honks at me instead of flipping the bird because i know i will use force and i want to avoid it if possible.

The use of force is only authorized during the event, you cant assume someone is about to harm you or harm them because of what they did to you. That is premeditation or revenge and it isnt legal. So if you think someone is going to reach for a knife and you shoot them it isn't legal, but if in your mind at the time they WERE reaching for a knife and you shot them while they were going to stab you then it probably is legal. A fine distinction but one that is important in court.


If you ever get into a situation never give up any of your rights until u have spoken with an attorney. No i'm not a lawyer, im an idiot on a web page but there is something to what i just wrote.

True! But then he followed it up with this:

like that yoda thing said in that star wars movie. kinda silly but true.


So I guess the universe is in balance again.

ok, it WAS a fluke.
Well even a broken clock is right twice a day.

The way the law reads you are allowed to use force to defend yourself or another from emminant physical harm.

Not to be critical, but I wonder if a knife is the best option for self defence. Wouldn't a pepper spray "dog repellant" be a better option? A knife seems like more of a liability because a) it's pretty easy to kill someone and b) it takes a fair bit of skill to knife fight.

Well in kansas the wind is always blowing, sometimes it's blowing in your face. And no, i have several knives that i would say would make a great self defense weapon, one of them is a Emerson la griffe, it's a fixed blade with a one inch blade that has a hole in the handle you put your finger through. Nearly invisible, very concealable and flat in the pocket, and fast to deploy. I don't think someone could take my lagriffe away from me so it's very good for self defense.

I also believe that if someone punched or grabbed me and i opened a 6 inch cut in their arm and said, want some more or are we through? That most people would want to take themselves to the hospital. Hardly life threatening.

As for the skill required, not true. Say will, not skill. Conceal the knife until the last moment and be determined to use it. Suprise, speed, and maintaining the initiative will win for you in a self defense situation.

I have never stabbed or cut someone so most of this is coming out of my ass and the books that i have read, some by people who actually know what they are talking about.

Not to be critical, but I wonder if a knife is the best option for self defence. Wouldn't a pepper spray "dog repellant" be a better option? A knife seems like more of a liability because a) it's pretty easy to kill someone and b) it takes a fair bit of skill to knife fight.

and c) it can easily be taken and used against you.

I'm all for a collapsable baton or pepperspray however.

Pepper spray is not veyr handy on windy days. Collapsable batons are illegal.

I thought we talked about bikes here, not how to make a crime scene look like self defense/manslaughter? Jesus, I smile and wave at people on the street because I'm friendly and nice. I think I would hate life if walked about assuming everyone was armed and wanted to **** me up. It's not like I'm unaware of crime. I work for a public defender office that only handles death penalty cases. Just go ride your bike, wave to you neighbor, and calm the **** down. So you got spat on, some woman showed my brother her tits as he was riding the other day. We all have good days on our bikes and we all have bad days.

Not to mention that pepper spray or a taser can knock someone down from a far.
Ever tried to knife fight while riding a bike? It's not easy!

I thought we talked about bikes here, not how to make a crime scene look like self defense/manslaughter? Jesus, I smile and wave at people on the street because I'm friendly and nice. I think I would hate life if walked about assuming everyone was armed and wanted to **** me up. It's not like I'm unaware of crime. I work for a public defender office that only handles death penalty cases. Just go ride your bike, wave to you neighbor, and calm the **** down. So you got spat on, some woman showed my brother her tits as he was riding the other day. We all have good days on our bikes and we all have bad days.

We do talk about bikes here. Sometimes because we ride bicycles it places us at risk. In a car you are much more anonymous and much more safe. Some people don't understand why we are even on the street and it makes them act oddly. I work, pay my taxes, and obey the law. Sometimes people become victims and then statistics. If you read an article about someone defending themselves it stands out. If you read an article about someone being the victim of a crime it blends in to the other victims, the other statistics.

How do you handle road rage when you are on a bike? What do you do if someone chases you off the road and then parks in front of u, slams on the brakes and gets out of their car? Happened to me three times where i live in the last 6 months. I am white in a poor neighborhood full of blacks and mexicans and i ride a bicycle. Here i am the minority.

You might think that we are "civilized" here in America and for the most part you would be correct. But if someone crosses over the police will not protect you. I'm not advocating paranoia here, if you constantly look for trouble u will find it. But sometimes trying to avoid trouble isnt enough and that is not the time to think about self protection.

I thought we talked about bikes here, not how to make a crime scene look like self defense/manslaughter? Jesus, I smile and wave at people on the street because I'm friendly and nice. I think I would hate life if walked about assuming everyone was armed and wanted to **** me up. It's not like I'm unaware of crime. I work for a public defender office that only handles death penalty cases. Just go ride your bike, wave to you neighbor, and calm the **** down. So you got spat on, some woman showed my brother her tits as he was riding the other day. We all have good days on our bikes and we all have bad days.

Well it's good to discuss these situations so, as this thread obviously points out, we know what to do or not to do in a situation like that when our emotions get the best of us. Information like how to make a crime scene look like self-defense can prove very useful to some of us... And what's wrong with some woman showing your brother her cans? I'm no perv but I wouldn't mind. ;)

They spit at you and rode past. They didn't hurt you or take anything. Move on--your pride may be injured, but life is too valuable.

You might think that we are "civilized" here in America and for the most part you would be correct. But if someone crosses over the police will not protect you. I'm not advocating paranoia here, if you constantly look for trouble u will find it. But sometimes trying to avoid trouble isnt enough and that is not the time to think about self protection.

Sadly this is mostly right. The police works best usually AFTER the act.
Like that scene from the Simpsons when Marge goes in to Chief Wiggum and tells him someone's threatening her. "Ma'am, there's nothing we can do, come back when you have the knife in your back, not all the way in, but it has to at least stand up on its own."

Ok interesting thread. I just want to say this if you pull a hand held mele weapon out in a confrontation it can be taken from you. If you do not understand the concept of ranges and have no idea how to use your chosen weapon, you are endangering yourself. Regardless of whether it is a knife, mace, baton etc. Out of the three a knife is quicker.
However in NYC weapon choice is key considering like Ca. and Mass. most hand held weapons inclusive of Martial Art weapons are illegal to carry, and in alot of states the length of a knife blade is what is used to determine legal or illegal. My Camillus for example is legal to carry in Tx. however my 10" Ontario tanto is not.

Ok interesting thread. I just want to say this if you pull a hand held mele weapon out in a confrontation it can be taken from you. If you do not understand the concept of ranges and have no idea how to use your chosen weapon, you are endangering yourself. Regardless of whether it is a knife, mace, baton etc. Out of the three a knife is quicker.
However in NYC weapon choice is key considering like Ca. and Mass. most hand held weapons inclusive of Martial Art weapons are illegal to carry, and in alot of states the length of a knife blade is what is used to determine legal or illegal. My Camillus for example is legal to carry in Tx. however my 10" Ontario tanto is not.

Unfortunately, in NYC, almost everything mentioned here, tasers, stun guns, mace, is illegal.
A 10 lb chain with a 2.5 lb chunk of lock at the end capable of blowing through a car roof worn around my shoulders, however, is perfectly legal...

Personally, I don't think it was racist, or racially motivated.
I think it was just stupid teenagers doing what stupid teenagers
do.

Marty

I was riding home on the Queensboro Bridge last night at 1:30AM and a group of about 6 hispanic kids on BMX bikes, all teenagers, rode past me going in the opposite direction. One of them spits on me as I pass him.


I can't imagine many things that would make me more angry than having someone spit on me. However, going postal with 6 foes, even teens, could well be a bad idea. Even if you know what you're doing. You pull your knife they pull 4 or 5 knives and the only thing you prove is how much your medical insurance will pay. Khife fights are nasty business. I wouldn't choose that option unless I was cornered. And BTW, in a past life, I taught martial arts.

WeAnd what's wrong with some woman showing your brother her cans? I'm no perv but I wouldn't mind. ;)

Just for the record, that was a good day for my brother.

Once more with feeling, here is the pic of the knife i carry. This won't be taken away and if someone wants a carry knife for self defense this one is a good one. Should be legal everywhere as it has a one inch blade.

http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/emerson/lagriffe.html

Not to be critical, but I wonder if a knife is the best option for self defence. Wouldn't a pepper spray "dog repellant" be a better option? A knife seems like more of a liability because a) it's pretty easy to kill someone and b) it takes a fair bit of skill to knife fight.


Try "Counterassault" bear repellent--like a cross between mace and wasp&hornet spray. Guaranteed to make a grizzly cry at 30 feet, so who knows what it would do to a gang of ruffians trying to part you from your bike. Plus it comes in a handy size to fit in your stash pocket.

and c) it can easily be taken and used against you.

I'm all for a collapsable baton or pepperspray however.

Hello?

A collapsible baton or pepperspray can also be taken and used against you. Imagine you don't have the stomach to fight and they take your baton and crack your head open with it, just as bad as being stabbed with a knife. Or if they take your pepperspray and spray you in the eyes, then proceed to kick your skull in, just as bad as being stabbed to death.

Realistically, when you are carrying a weapon and actually pull it out to use in a fight, you're running the risk of getting yourself killed.

That's why I didn't do anything to those kids. I thought about the consequences and swallowed my pride. I wasn't going to go to jail for a group of fu*king kids.

Right on kurremkarm! Also as said above "You were scared for your life and are too shook up to talk right now".

No a knife is not ideal pepper spray is worse and I believe this took place in the peoples republic of N.Y.C. so the right tool for the job is illeagle.

Joe

Hello?

A collapsible baton or pepperspray can also be taken and used against you. Imagine you don't have the stomach to fight and they take your baton and crack your head open with it, just as bad as being stabbed with a knife. Or if they take your pepperspray and spray you in the eyes, then proceed to kick your skull in, just as bad as being stabbed to death.

Realistically, when you are carrying a weapon and actually pull it out to use in a fight, you're running the risk of getting yourself killed.

That's why I didn't do anything to those kids. I thought about the consequences and swallowed my pride. I wasn't going to go to jail for a group of fu*king kids.

Wise decision, Ultra-g. It is hard not to think about the things you WISH you could have done to the punk who spit on you though!

There was an incident where I was accosted by some gang members a little over a year ago (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=22564) while riding on a local bike trail. If I had had a weapon and tried to use it on six teenaged gang members, I probably would have been hurt or killed. While I had many sleepless nites for a time after that, mostly thinking of all the "superwoman" things I wished I could have done to those punks who scared the dickens out of me, I have to say that I am glad things turned out like they did...no **** kits at the hospital or bloodshed at least, just a scare that caused me to become more aware of my surroundings and the people I encounter on my rides. (I went for a ride on that bike trail in town yesterday, and I was pleased to see that it looks like it has been cleaned up and once again safe for the townspeople to enjoy.)

Can we split this forum into two?

Perhaps the 'Fixed Gear Forum' and the 'Paranoid militant's weaponry' forum.

Can we split this forum into two?

Perhaps the 'Fixed Gear Forum' and the 'Paranoid militant's weaponry' forum.

THANK YOU

Hello?

A collapsible baton or pepperspray can also be taken and used against you. Imagine you don't have the stomach to fight and they take your baton and crack your head open with it, just as bad as being stabbed with a knife. Or if they take your pepperspray and spray you in the eyes, then proceed to kick your skull in, just as bad as being stabbed to death.

Realistically, when you are carrying a weapon and actually pull it out to use in a fight, you're running the risk of getting yourself killed.

That's why I didn't do anything to those kids. I thought about the consequences and swallowed my pride. I wasn't going to go to jail for a group of fu*king kids.

You did the right thing by not reacting. I wish there is a easy way to mete out justice that does not involve you taking up a weapon, but there is none as yet. Believe me, it is only a matter of time before the kids get their fair share. Their attitude/issues can only get them in trouble. I would be tempted to show pity on those poor idiots, considering the environment they are a product of.
What you do to someone reflect more on you than what someone do to you.

Ultra-g, it takes more courage not to fight back than to react to stupidity of others. If you had stabbed the dude, you would've ended up in jail and have a felony record that will ruin your life. Also, that **shole could sue you civilly and take all your assets. It's tough to be on the short end sometimes but it's better than making the situation worse. Fight back only when you are cornered otherwise the law is against you. It's not fair, but that's the way it is. You did the right thing.

A friend and I got mugged at gunpoint two weeks ago (http://www.absenter.org/past/2004/0603_mugged_with_gun.php) while taking photos, riding on our bikes. I had my mini u-lock on me which I find to be a decent weapon if need be, but really, I don't have that kind of distrust or paranoia. Since the incident however, I've become even more aware and heightened, but I still don't want to live in a society where one has to carry around protection. I know that you may not go looking for it and it may come looking for you (as I've already experienced above) but it's stuff like carrying weapons that's just one bad bad idea.

Here's an example - about a month or so ago now, just across the street from Wrigley Field where the Cubs play (I live two blocks away -- and this is a yuppie neighbourhood) two Cubs fans got into an altercation of the most stupidest of issues -- one guy was crossing the street while this guy in this car was turning. Some drunken words were exchanged, the crossing guy had a souvenir bat and hit the car with it. Driver came out and they got into a tussle. Another guy came out of the car with a SHOTGUN and shot the guy with the souvenir bat.

This is just after a game, 6pm or so, on one of the busiest streets in town. Plenty of cops and witnesses and bystanders. They got caught obviously but it's ****e like that, that makes me wonder.

Wow, I'm really looking forward to the time when I feel as though I have to ride around my city with the assumption that -

1. Everyone is armed.
2. That they can harm me.
3. Someone is going to come out on top and if it isnt me the other person might not stop.
4. I will harm them.

Man, look at all the fun I'm missing out on! All that anger, suspicion, fear and paranoia! I wonder, living in a place where you have to ride around with that mentality, what has to happen before you start to think "Hey, this is wrong. What's causing this? How can I help change it?"

As for the specific incident, there's not much you can do about it. Why pick a fight with 5 people just because one spat on you? It is worth ruining your life and stooping to their level? And why abuse some guy just because he was one of the group, when he obviously wasnt the one who spat on you? What, one 'Hispanic' guy spits on you so now you feel as though you can exacerbate the whole problem by abusing the one guy that you could catch?

Honestly, I don't think becoming part of the problem is going to do anyone any favours - you need to channel that sh1t into something positive before you do something stupid.