baron von trail 

I do not think that this is something to joke about or take lightly, nor is it a situation to enflame by tossing a bunch of testosterone onto it. Unless the OP is willing to ride around Indy with a loaded 44 Magnum, he is asking for trouble by confronting said goons.

Mace is good for Shtit, btw. I laugh at the idea. Mace may help if a goon is on top of you and you get a good clear shot at their eyeballs, but it is useless against the way this guy was attacked (from an angle where the perp tried tackling from behind, all of it happening quickly).

Call the cops, avoid the area for a while. It really is that simple. And, it is not giving in to the terrorists.

JoeyBike

No success for them. Twice I was taking a break in various parks and had to show my pepper spray. Believe me, they know what that is in this town. All the other times were pretty much like the OP's story. By keeping my speed up I avoid lots of confrontation because there is less time for scum to formulate a plan or take action.

Two of the riders in various videos of mine were actually grabbed. No weapons were brandished either time. The cowards are almost always in a group - once three on a deserted street - but they were pretty young and my bud convinced them that he was going to fight and they got scared. The other instance there were six adults involved in grabbing the bike but in a very populated spot. That friend is a trained killer (ex-military) who carries weapons. He just held on to his bike until the jerks got tired of trying to scare him and left.

Most of the success stories that I know of took place when the cyclist was stopped or cycling slowly. No conversation, just a punch in the throat or pipe to the head and bye-bye bike.

Hoz

Thx for the heads up. I ride the Monon also but usually from BR North,seldom get south of 46th street.

The only problem I've had is soccer moms walking 3-4 abreast refusing to give way.

I know you know there's been a couple altercations on the MT.

seenoweevil

I'm just glad you're OK. I agree many of the other posters:you did the right thing and should definitely file a report.

Bolo Grubb

try an Airzound horn https://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?ID=1035

or a storm whistle https://www.stormwhistles.com/

The sudden loud noise might just work on a thug like it does a dog.

I do carry a storm whistle with me on my commutes, mostly for traffic issues. Keep it clipped to my collar and when I get in an area where I know I might have traffic issues I just hold it in my mouth. A short blow really gets the attention of the cagers that are about to turn in front of me, or pull out in front of me. Might work well enough on a thug type to surprise them enough to give you a few more seconds to get away.

Situational awareness is key though and glad things worked out for you.

rumrunn6

I'm so glad I live and commute in a safe area.

... now watch I get hit by a cager full of muggers tomorrow ...

noglider 

I was 15 years old in 1976 when crime was high in NYC. Three young thugs jumped me while I was carrying my bike down the stairs in the subway. I was carrying it because I got a flat and was unprepared to fix it. My ham radio was strapped to the rear rack. The thugs brought me to the ground and grabbed my bike. One pulled out a knife and warned me not to follow them. So I lost both my bike and my radio.

rumrunn6

That's a good way for it to happen. Let them take it. They didn't want to hurt you - just to get the bike. Too bad about the radio too.

BTW: I grew up in Yonkers. Graduated HS in '77 the year Elvis died.

PaulRivers

While I appreciate those who prefer to hold their ground on their bike route, if someone tried to jump me I'd either take a safer route or that would be the end of bike commuting for me. It would just be way easier to take my car to work than to worry about getting jumped and injured. I'd really rather take the car than have to watch out for it every day.

...before studded tires, I said the same thing about winter biking, to - "it's not worth breaking a bone over" as everyone I met who did much winter biking (again, before studded tires) had broken some major bone at some point when they hit an unexpected ice patch.

chriswnw

What if he had encountered that guy on the MUP? He would have been much more difficult to dodge.

noglider 

What's the MUP?

baron von trail 

Multi Use Path. Call it a narrow strip of asphalt running through a given area.

BTW: I trek through some smack on my commute, but never get messed with. Those are the times when I am glad to be 6-plus-foot and over 200 lbs. However, the bulk does me no good when riding over broken glass, which is my biggest gripe about MUP's that run through shtit neighborhoods.

noglider 

So is a MUP a bike and roller skater and jogger path that forbids motor vehicles?

We only have a few of them in Noo Joizy, and they're all in parks. In general, they don't lead anywhere, so they're useless for commuters. And when I say "a few" I mean very few. I don't know of one less closer than 10 miles from home.

scoatw

Nice feedback. We all can learn from incidents like this. I carry pepper spray and a cheap knife with a 3" blade. I ride at 4:30am. And I don't stop for anybody. I've come across a few folks out at that time who see me coming and try to ask for help or a question or something like that. I just keep on pedaling. And I always try to be aware of my surroundings.

AsanaCycles

i used to get off of work at 11pm

i have a chrome Kremlin messenger bag

and by pure luck, one year i received a gold star (pharmacy excellence) as some type of award.
i like white helmets, and black and white attire, with no words if possible.

plus a crazy bright Light and Motion ARC HID light

I'm amazed how many times people have ran thinking i'm a cop.

roseskunk

I carry.

PaulRivers

Yup - like this (Minneapolis Greenway):

exile

I had an incident where someone threw a cup at me. I got the licence plate # and called the cops. It's unlikely they will do much, but it should call attention to the area where it happened. Because of what happened I am now more cognizant of looking at plate numbers of the cars that pass me.

Glad to hear that nothing happened to you though.

Cyclaholic

Next time , as he steps off the sidewalk, you draw your nice shiny nickle plated .50cal desert eagle and let him see you rack it. If he persists just aim and fire, then go about your business happy in the fact you've done the world a favor by adding a little chlorine to the gene pool..... oh, you don't own a nice shiny nickle plated .50? well, see, there's your problem right there!

BA Commuter

Our police dept. told me to engrave my driver's license number on the bottom bracket. It's one thing the PD has a good record of to help recover a bike if it is stolen.

I carry pepper spray, but always try to avoid eye contact if thugs are just hanging. I agree with the advice to find a new route and avoid a possible confrontation...

f4rrest

His destination is a school. Think this through.

Edit: (weapons and mace probably aren't allowed).

Schwinnrider

No. You're either going to run or you're going to stand your ground and defend yourself. If you get taken down they're probably going to kick the hell out of you and THEN take your bike. If you don't think you can get away, you pull your spray, face the target, and spray him. That's how you use pepper spray.

Others have given you good advice. Change your route. You sound very aware of your surroundings. That's a good thing.

Schwinnrider

No, they don't. If the OP had a gun(and I'm not advocating it for him, not knowing his situation) and had drawn and pointed at the two thugs, they would have left. Of course, he would have to do it while he was standing still. Trust me, nobody messes with someone who has a gun in his hand. This isn't Hollywood. Criminals like easy targets. Crackhead sees guy on bike with a 9mm and crackhead is leaving. No shot need be fired. Just be ready to fire if need be. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not willing to take a beating just so I don't have to shoot some dirtbag.

As for Tasers---do you mean the ones that fire the electric darts? Sure, but they require a pretty high degree of accuracy. It's like firing a gun. If you're going to carry something that's as big as a gun, and costs as much as a gun----just carry a gun.

Schwinnrider

Who in the world carries their Desert Eagle with an empty chamber? :-)

Cyclaholic

Exactly!...