Booger1

Must keep guard up at all times these days....Sad but true.

Sad story....

CommuteCommando

Directly, nothing. But It was the start of a national trend to ignore the mentally ill in favor of "fiscal conservatism".

Louis Le Tour

No, I'm not paranoid (just practice prudent caution) but that don't mean they ain't out to get me!!

Louis Le Tour

^^^^this^^^^!

Louis Le Tour

I think I ran into that crowd at McDonald's in San Jose late one Friday night years ago!! However, that's when I was much younger and into psychedelics so maybe not!

rebel1916

45 minutes? He must have done a GREAT job!

MassiveD

I think it is the marine who is to be cordial to everyone, while formulating a plan of how to kill them should it be required. Principles to live by, other than perhaps at family reunions. I'm 55. Things may be worse, or a lot worse today, but I pretty much behave the same. I remember the terror of the "glue sniffer" back in the 60s. You could get molested, ... It just makes sense to be ready. Frankly after riding on today's roads you are pretty hyped up defensively, McD should be a cakewalk.

Sharpshin

I live and work in a higher crime area of a big city. I'd go to McDonald's in a heartbeat.... depending upon time of day and location. On my recent tour McDonald's wifi was my window to the world. The "danger" inherent in any given Mc Donald's merely reflect the surrounding community. Some little rural towns Mc Donald's IS the community center.

This tragic stabbing seems like a freak incident, nothing more.

Mike

CommuteCommando

Considering the rarity of something like this happening, you are more likely to be killed by a car, than by a random crazy person with a knife. I ride my bike to a train station to commute, and never stand real close to the edge of the platform when the train approaches. Am I afraid of a crazy "train pusher"? Not really, but it has happened, so it is an easy, even though probably unnecessary, precaution. Do I watch my back in all public situations? Not always. Trying to do that borders on paranoia, and is detrimental to my quality of life. I do avoid proximity to obviously crazy people. This includes making eye contact with open carry nuts, who I have encountered on trips to Arizona (Prescott), and Nevada (Pahrump).

Sharpshin

Well, at the distinct risk of turning this into one of THOSE threads that get exiled to that OTHER board.......


.......I happen to be an active member of the "Ahem"...... "Firearms Community"........... and if I encountered someone not worried about openly carrying a firearm where it is legal I wouldn't be concerned: I'd figure it was a pretty sure indication on their part that they have no prior felonies or domestic violence misdemeanors that would preclude said practice. I figure your average actual bad guy would be far more discrete.

On my own recent tour back East no bad people of any sort were encountered.

Closest thing to that was surreal; a downtown coffee shop in a generally trendy-looking area in downtown Delaware OH, about 25 miles up the Interstate from Columbus: White Slacker-type heroin addicts (the girl behind the counter warned me). I was in there for seven hours updating photos and working on my blog. During that time I saw actual deals take place in the coffee shop and out front..... absolutely unreal.

Mike

bikenh

McDonalds has closed down all the mom and pop coffee shops and its the only community center in most small towns anymore. Either you go there or you go nowhere. I saw it in several places on my recent trip. Biggest one that provided the most laughs was Greenville, OH(south end McDonalds, AM crowd). Granted you would have to be there during the early summer months I think to get the same effect given who all was involved.

I've met some incredible people at McDonalds. Last year I met and talked for probably an hour with a guy who was an incredible pencil sketcher. His drawings were absolutely incredible. He lived in his vehicle at Walmart, came into either of the two McDonalds in Oneonta, NY in the AM and again in the PM to see if he could find someone to create a website for him to sell his artwork and then spent the afternoons in one of the local parks doing his drawing.

Not everyone that goes into a particular location is bad by a long shot. I've only run in a few people over the past three years of travelling that I wouldn't trust no matter how much you paid me. I've met plenty I would trust, most of them.

sonatageek

Read the article and he was on the phone with his girlfriend when the stabbing occurred.

CommuteCommando

The guy in AZ was encountered in a bar. He was drinking beer. The guy in NV was a regular in town who hung out on a corner waving signs (mostly ranting about dayum libruls) and shouting at passers by.

Just sayin'

indyfabz

So you always opt for a stall over a urinal and sit with your back against the wall?

stevepusser

Not that what was going through the perp's fractured mind made any sense, but I wonder what the cyclist was wearing at the time. If neon spandex "spaceman" clothes, it may have drawn the nutjob's attention over other customers. However, since it was 930 PM, most likely the rider was done for the day and was in "normal" clothing.

RR3

Only in holes like Philly for me.

My only experience with Vero Beach was being a guest at someones home and playing golf at an exclusive CC and sat where I was seated. Such a lovely place.

What comes after the first amendment? I am old. Sorry.

DBA

It doesn't, but some people have what can only be referred to as political hatred derrangement syndrome.

fietsbob

So, how many of you lived in California 67-75, when Ronny was governor are, posting here, now. ?

etsisk

lol... no, not always. But always in certain kinds of places, and I nearly always sit where I can see the door - that's more habit (from years as a biker and a cop) than paranoia.

indyfabz

Well aren't you special.

Off to start a tour. Enjoy the day!

staehpj1

I agree. Also, I don't think you are at increased risk of that sort of thing when on tour as compared to daily life around town in most urban or suburban areas.

I find that comment very strange. I guess I just don't get your point of view.

Jseis 

So very sad? Touring alone, late in the eve, strange town, maybe the confidence of having done it before (or just being on the road does that to you). Anyway, my read is that circumstances were not in his favor. Somewhat reminded me of a similar incident in the 70's. Gal cycles across the US and is camped alone at the end of her journey at a quiet park on the west side of San Juan Island. Murdered that night by a drifter. I was living in Friday Harbor at the time and was completely shocked as my first thought (my friends had the same thoughts) were "Who the hell would camp at that park alone, much less a single girl?". I grew up in rural America where lonely parks in remote locations outskirts of town where always trouble with drunken teens, drifters, outcasts, seldom patrolled (county parks in particular) and an out-of-town cyclist is a mark. But I've felt just as unsafe or worse 10 pm in the eve gassing up at a Fort Lewis Chevron station one block off I5. I remember getting back in the truck, locking the door and telling my GF, "Well, I wasn't mugged".

I never toured alone, usually I traveled with 3-5. Big difference late at night or in lonely isolated areas when you've friends around you and we rarely toured late in the eve anyway. I evolved into an early morning to early afternoon cyclist as I just liked it better and the crazies are usually sleeping off a drunk/high/trip/whatever at sunup to noon.

CommuteCommando

See post #38

RR3

You seem to be saying all such people are crazy.

Rather odd/crazy given your screen name.

CommuteCommando

See post #38

Yes, I think any one who believes that strapping a *** to your waist prevents violence is crazy. I am not for taking any responsible persons guns away. But how do I know you're not crazy. Legally, how does one say who can and cannot carry. The law did nothing to keep James Holmes from legally acquiring an arsenal.

We could have prevented the Aurora CA thing with open carry? Guy goes into a darkened theater and starts blasting away. One "patriot" returns fire. Another, not knowing who is the good guy, who is the bad guy in the dark, starts blasting away, then another, and another. . .