zx108

i dont know if anyone else has ever had this problem before, i hope not. i was riding pretty deep into the park. now there are dirt jumps that some people bmx at, i am not trying to tear at bmx riders. so i am riding along, i go down and then it comes up and around a little by the dirt jumps. so i hear some leaves rushling and then something land, so i am thinking a rabbit or something. then again, a stick flys by. then i get hit with a friggen stick! there was some kids sitting by the trails tossing sticks at me!

i knew they were there but i didnt think it was them the first two times. there was three of them so i yell the common"what the ****!" and i get the "what are you going to do?" so i ride off, they are cursin me off while im ridding away.

this is pure my luck, i am on that trail on the way back. rocks! rocks this time. now hitting me is one thing but they were hitting my bike, nailed the rear derailuer. what was i to do, 3 vs 1 wasnt happening. and me wearing those short biking shorts wasnt helping

i was so friggen mad when i got back i wanted to tear into them soooooooo bad.

has anyone else encountered this.




*we were about the same age, dont want you to think this is a 20 some year old beating on some teenagers.*

nav

I've never had anyone throw sticks or rocks at me. I had a can thrown at me from a car once, but they were an awful throw (it flew over me and landed 20 feet in front of me). While commuting a (public transportation) bus tried to nail me once (a passenger got off the bus to see if I was alright at the next stop and told me the driver had said something along the lines of "he shouldn't be on the road" ). Good times, heh.

Anyway, while it might seem like a good idea in hindsite to have confronted them somehow, it rarely turns out well (either you beat the crap out of them and possibly cause them to return one day, or you or your bike are put at further risk). Just feel good that you're above the childish nonsense and that it didn't turn out too bad. If you carry a cell phone (a good idea, even though I rarely do) and there are park rangers or something around, you can always report them if they're around again.

Dannihilator

I'd start chasing, scare the crap out of them.

Callaway

Grown adults were throwing rocks and sticks at you? Holy hell Is that why they say NJ is the armpit of the country? Sorry man, that sounds pretty lousy...

EJ123

How old were they and how old are you ZX?

mrk

He's a teenager and the three kids were teenagers.

What kind of losers would hang around a bush waiting around to throw stick/rocks at passing bikers...

Callaway

Well that is still pretty lousy, but at least not as bad- wheeewww! Can you imagine 20 something year olds doing that?

Decadence213

Carry a switch-blade with you. Even if you don't use it, it's pretty damn scary when you just hit a guy with a switch-blade with a rock.

Callaway

Or you could just pack a .40 cal in your camelback...afterall- you never wanna bring a knife to a gunfight.

Eatadonut

U-lock.

Also, cleats.

Also, lift some weights, and take self-defense classes of the non-pacifist variety, like Krav Maga. All about butt-kickin.

I don't condone senseless violence, but they started it, and so it makes sense

vadenplas

What the hell is wrong with all of you? Three teenagers, man i wouldnt hesitate before i was dropping these kids for hitting my bike. Chances are if you level one of them the others are gonna take off. Be agressive , they deserve it!

Dannihilator

Chances are those three kids would go crying to their parents, who will go and file charges.

Eatadonut

for $500, I'll take the parents out for a long walk.

PA28Scuderia

yeah guys, I have never had anything quite like that happen, but I know what you mean. When I ride around on my college campus there are always the tough guys that make comments, usually driving by because they are losers and they know it. But my point is, I kow the feeling and it pisses me off too. Thats life i guess.

Decadence213

How would anyone possible catch you in the middle of the woods?

norcodirtjumper

Thats about when you take out your guns and clean them on your tailgate listening to death metal, parked right near theirs when they come back. Works for me on Holloween. If you dont want any any kids coming to your door, clean your guns on the front porch.

MetalHead90

I'm a teenager, so I can tell you why they did it. Now I'm not a stupid cockblock and dont anger my fellow riders. But they do it because they think they are "oh so cool". If I was you I'd just give them the finger. Nothin gets the point across more then that.

Namenda

Brother, outnumbered or not, you have to make a stand. Just get in the face of the biggest one of the bunch and see what happens. You may take a butt-kicking for your trouble, but more likely they'll try to laugh it off. By just taking off, you've left the door open for more hassles in the future.

nav

Not to take you too seriously, but: as an avid knife nut (I always have at least one pocket knife, my Leatherman Charge, and often a fixed blade attached to my backpack in an easy-to-reach position under my right arm on the pack belt in a quick-release kydex sheath) I couldn't really recommend carrying an automatic knife to anyone. Yes, I own a couple, but I don't carry them. Besides, most people think my Benchmades' axis locks are automatic by how easily and quickly I can open them (and then close them just as fast, something one cannot do with a spring loaded automatic; making cutting rope and such easy and one-handed on my bike). Fixed blades are a better option for quick deployment and the carry laws are easier to interpret for non-concealed visible. Another option is a nice stiff frame pump or like I do, I also have a huge Maglite in my "big backpack" for night riding (non-threatening looking when it's not being wielded, a nice long reach, and pretty quick to get into my hand how I have it mounted, and inexpensive so I don't mind denting someone/something with it ). I haven't taken to carrying firearms while bicycling, and I couldn't recommend that to anyone easily angered.

If anyone has an knife purchasing/collecting/carry-legality questions, I love to talk (way, way too much, as I've made evident) about them, PM me or something...

Still, I highly recommend avoidance even in frustrating situations like what zx108 went through.

Siu Blue Wind

Got rained on by a bunch of kids on a roof throwing oranges from their tree. Had a big welt on my thigh that bruised up pretty good.

Namenda

I get the same thing with my SOG Flash II and my Kershaw. When I use them at work, everyone always tells me I'll get arrested for carrying them (autos are illegal in Mass unless you're military or law enforcement). This always leads to me explaining at length the difference between "assisted opening" and "automatic opening".

vadenplas

Now oranges, thats pretty funny.

nbgrom

I think the finger really just adds insult to injury, its just shows you are too weak to confront them but have that primative need to do something back. If you are going to retaliate which I do not recommend unless they really hurt you are broke you deraileur then make it worth your while. It has not happened to me biking, but I surf and this kind of stuff happens all the time because my local breaks are crowded. One time a guy snaked me and put his fin through my board when turning. I politely requested the 60 dollars it would cost to repar and when he declined I simply snaked him on the next wave and snapped his board in half. I've accidentally damaged someone else's board before and had no problem fixing it or paying for it to be fixed, so I expected the same in return.

If its a few kids your age and they cause harm then confront them, but if they miss or just barely hit you then shrug it off. That way if they are another lawsuit happy a**hole you have something to show the court.

wildjim

It seems a criminal act, so I would contact the police, learn their identity and talk to the parent. If the bicycle is damaged they must pay. If they don't pay then it's time to go to court for a civil suit.

A civil claim can be filed at the local courthouse for $10 in my area. You may sue for everything, lost time, pain and suffering and physical and material damages.

Let them realize harassment and do it legally.

jeff williams

Get home safe. Stop and you might lose the fight and your bike.
Sounds like they were trying to get you to stop -figure who has the knife -not you.