Road Cycling - Punky kids

I've been riding my bike about 30 miles a day for the past 4 weeks, no troubles. But the other day right when i was leaving the apartment complex i encountered a couple of 'BMXers' (posers rather), they started trying to keep up with me, but i just put a little muscle into and blew them away, they eventually gave up when i was about 100 meters in front of them. So anyway, i get turn back into the apartment complex about an hour later and i'm met with a bag of trash to the face, i wreck my bike. When i get a feel of what just happened i look over and see the some guy standing there with a couple of 14-15 year olds, i'm almost on the verge of popping a few veins. So i approached the biggest one, the one holding the bag and punched him straight in the face (i've never fought anyone before, because i've never been angry enough and i'm very timid, if not a pacifist, but this was just degrading). I guess my recent forearm and chest workouts helped because i knocked him down on the first blow. He was at least 6'0 and very cocky, granted i'm about 6'4, but still this was my first fight. I turned to the others and saw that they were about 14-15, so i just stared at them for a second. Then my coyness came into play and i begun to feel really bad about it, so i asked the guy if he wanted to press charges and he didn't say anything, he just layed there bloody. I went home then and had an anxiety attack or two.

Today i decided to go back out and continue to strive for my goal (my first century in May 2005) since i hadn't heard anything from anyone about it. As i'm leaving i see a woman waving me down, so i stopped and she looks really angry. I instantly know what it is about, she asks me how old i am and i tell the truth and say 18. Then then gets closer and yells into my face "Why did you assault my 15 year old son?!". The kid looked like he was at least 25, he had facial hair and everything. I just stood there not knowing what to say, then her face turns to a smile and she slaps the back of my shoulder and told me "thanks, for teaching my son a lesson." I've never been more scared in my life.

How should i of handled it? I know hitting him as a bad choice, but i was hurt and angry. No one would ever believe me if i said anything about it. I'm just surprised i stood up for myself and didn't just let it slide and let him do it again to me, or someone else. How would you of handled it? Has something like that ever happened to you?

Good job!

Call the cops, get him taken into juvie. That'd teach him a lesson. He assaulted you first. Not to mention a myriad of other things that can go with throwing trash at moving vehicles, cars or not. He would of been in some serious trouble. I would consider the kid lucky you punched him instead of calling the cops.

If the kid's Mom is patting you on the back that should tell you something.

Call the cops, get him taken into juvie. That'd teach him a lesson. He assaulted you first. Not to mention a myriad of other things that can go with throwing trash at moving vehicles, cars or not. He would of been in some serious trouble. I would consider the kid lucky you punched him instead of calling the cops.

I guess i should invest in a cell phone, know of any that are pretty decent without costing 500 dollars?

Before you get all the people saying 'why didn't you take him out to dinner and discuss the events with him and see what his inner emotions were during the encounter...blah blah blah' let me just say what you did was wrong, fighting should never occur, or only as a last resort but hot damn that must have felt good! All the crap that we as cyclists have taken by 'turning the other cheek' needs to stop. Thats probably why we get so much crap in part because we rarely do anything about it. I echo the one comment about if the kid's mom is saying 'thanks' that is probably telling you something. I only have one more comment/question, did you max out your heart rate after the encounter, I know I would have!

First of all, it probably wasn't smart to hit the kid. Sure it worked out in the end but imagine if the others kids got it into their head that they could take you. Yes, they're young but being outnumbered leaves you at a disadvantage. And even if you could outpower all of them then what? Now you'd have to deal with the repurcusions of having beat up a bunch of 15 year olds. At anyrate, I totally understand why you hit the kid and to be perfectly honest I probably would have had a problem holding myself back too. Just be glad it didn't turn really ugly. The thing that sucks is that there's this very fine but fuzzy line between standing up for yourself and escalating violence. I think that the mom thanked you was pretty cool although it never really should have come to all that. As far as a cheap phone goes, I believe you can buy pay-as-you-go phones that are pretty cheap. Check out a local electronics appliance store like Best Buy or Radio Shack.

Is this for real???

If it is then I say good job, but it sounds pretty far-fetched to me.

Anyway, I hope you aren't bloodthirsty now because the ASPCA may have to come and put you down. (J/K)

First of all, it probably wasn't smart to hit the kid. Sure it worked out in the end but imagine if the others kids got it into their head that they could take you. Yes, they're young but being outnumbered leaves you at a disadvantage. And even if you could outpower all of them then what? Now you'd have to deal with the repurcusions of having beat up a bunch of 15 year olds. At anyrate, I totally understand why you hit the kid and to be perfectly honest I probably would have had a problem holding myself back too. Just be glad it didn't turn really ugly. The thing that sucks is that there's this very fine but fuzzy line between standing up for yourself and escalating violence. I think that the mom thanked you was pretty cool although it never really should have come to all that. As far as a cheap phone goes, I believe you can buy pay-as-you-go phones that are pretty cheap. Check out a local electronics appliance store like Best Buy or Radio Shack.

He looked at least 25, not 15. If he looked his age i would of never of hit him. I would of more than likely took him home and explained it all to his mother.

Before you get all the people saying 'why didn't you take him out to dinner and discuss the events with him and see what his inner emotions were during the encounter...blah blah blah' let me just say what you did was wrong, fighting should never occur, or only as a last resort but hot damn that must have felt good! All the crap that we as cyclists have taken by 'turning the other cheek' needs to stop. Thats probably why we get so much crap in part because we rarely do anything about it. I echo the one comment about if the kid's mom is saying 'thanks' that is probably telling you something. I only have one more comment/question, did you max out your heart rate after the encounter, I know I would have!
I don't have a heart rate monitor, but i could feel the arteries in my neck bulging, not really sure if thats a good thing or not. But it certainly got me pumped up today, i finished my route in about 54 minutes, 5 minutes faster than i've ever done it before.

Ok, my take...violence isn't good but it seems to have worked here so congrats.

As far as calling the cops now- no way! You assaulted a minor and that's probably worse than being assaulted with a bag of trash (by said minor). Unless you're prepared to fight this one out in court and spend all your $$ on lawyers to keep you from being convicted let it go.

In the future, call the cops immediately, press charges, etc.

Glad you're ok ad things worked out.

Pj

On a side note, I'd say if you're riding 30 mi/day consistently with no problems then you will be ready to attempt your century alot sooner than May 2005! Why not tomorrow?

I won't give further advice on the encounter. You sound like you are examining it and learning from it. That is important, and mature.

As for the Cell phone. Here in Montana, ANY cell phone, ACTIVATED OR NOT is required by law to process 911 calls. Our local Crissis Line actively requests donations of old cell phones for use with their Battered Spouce Protection program. They give the phones to them so they call 911 with them. It has saved several lives! Check the law in your state to see if a cell will dial 911 even if it is not on a "plan."

Man, that must've felt good I can imagine.

*SOCK*

You should have given her the "beat down" too.

Awesome - that is the best bike story I've heard in awhile. I will assume it's true, although sounds a bit contradictory that you went straight home with anxiety in one post and in another post you finished your route (?). You gotta understand the modicum of skepticism, given the extraordinary details of the story.

Anyway, you did the RIGHT THING. I am a non-violent person. I have trained for 7 years in a traditional martial arts school (as opposed to much more prevalent sport/tournament schools). A principle tenant of our dojang is "refrain from violent behavior." I have never been in a fight. I've been angry enough in several instances that would cause most to fight, and I've sucked it up. But I recognize there is a point when push comes to shove.

In my opinion, what you did was self defense. As an attorney, I have not practiced any criminal alw, but my hunch is that depending on your jurisdiction, it may or may not be a solid *legal* case of self defense. Several circumstances were in your favor, however, such as the fact you were now surrounded by a number of your aggressors and arguably had a reasonable belief you were in immediate peril (they just clocked you hard, so you know they have the intent and ability to do so).

But this goes beyond a question of the legal specifics. A 6' man of any age who is capable of doing that kinda act in "cold blood" will do so again - to you or others - and he needs to learn a lesson. Sure, there may have been a sufficient delay for you to reflect and choose not to defend. I certainly wouldn't think it proper to, for instance, come back a day later and clock him. But the situation warranted immediate action, and that is what you delivered. Clearly, you did not go off in a blinding rage, and you exhibited excellent control in not going after the other guys. It doesn't sound like you go around attacking teenagers. Had you not struck back against the "leader," the rest of his pack may very well have sensed your weakness and ganged up on you. I take my earlier words back -- I think you could make a solid legal AND moral case of self defense.