almost jacked
 

Really close call Tuesday morning: I ride a couple blocks through a not so great area, but I haven't had any problems before, not too many people out at 7am. So I just get off the MUP and coast to take a drink and cool off a little when I notice two guys standing on a corner, not too unusual. Then one notices me and starts walking fast in a diagonal across the street, which immediately threw up a red flag for me. I start hammering, he starts running and tries to tackle me. His hands graze my jacket and pannier.

It was a good thing I was going slow, so when I took off he had already misjudged his angle. Had he left his feet I think he would've gotten me down. The weird thing was the whole incident happened so fast, but it was deathly silent the whole time.

So I ordered some fox labs mace, just in case I would get taken down in the future, and I will definitely alter my route a little. Just thought I'd share, because I need to get over it so as to not let this dude deter me from riding. We go on spring break next week though, so after that I should be good to go.

Another great example of being aware of what is going on around you. Glad you saw it coming...did you call it in to the police just to give them a heads up?

Altering your route is probably a good idea. Glad to hear you got out of that without getting hurt. I'm guessing you didn't need a cup of coffee when you got to work that morning!

stories like that piss me off, what the F? you should def file a police report with the guys description. a few bad apples really make things difficult for the rest of us.

its the same story with locking a bike up, i would definitely ride a lot more often in the city if the fear of getting my nice bike stolen wasnt so great. grumble.

Stories like this piss me off too. Good job on getting away from him. Altering routes is a great idea, and if you have the flexibility, maybe altering the time a bit might help too?

I would love to hear a story about how you mace him and get the cops to haul him off in the future though. But of course, your safety is the bottom line...

Well, the only time I would use the mace is if I actually got taken down, I'm into fleeing first. It's always funny after an incident like that I daydream about suddenly having these great fighting skills and being able to have some sort of Hollywood type scene where the guy ends up in a pretzel being held down by my pinky or something.

The other thing that sucks is that I absolutely can't vent to my wife, she would throw a fit when I ride again.

Yeah, too bad it was at the end of my ride, I was ready to rock and roll after that.

I carry a switch blade and pepper spray.
Escape and evade is allways the best thing.
I would have called a cop in a heartbeat.

Dayum! Glad you are okay. Awareness is an awesome defense.

:roflmao2:



Glad to hear you are ok. I'm sure I'd be pretty amped up after an incident like that.

I think he got cut from the Colts, well, on second thought he could be one of their starters...

Glad you got away. Maybe some carbon fiber knuckles on your bike gloves would be useful in the future.

don't you mean the Cowboys?

Man that truly truly sucks, but don't let it dampen your riding enjoyment; just spray em, hit em, kick em in the balls (shoot em if ya have to) and keep on riding. Stay safe and stay aware.

Since I started commuting more I recently picked up one of these. Retracts into a small pouch that will connect to my handlebars.

http://www.bladeplay.com/images/kniv...nlargeopen.jpg

I may also pick up some pepper spray just in case; I also have a CCW permit.

If you've already been "taken down", then it's probably too late to try to break out the mace or pepper spray.

Call the police to file and report and when the officer comes out see if hes the regular duty officer for that area and offer to ride there on a set schedule with him somewhere around. Your easily recognizable to those guys who may wish to go after you again as revenge for loosing the first time, you might be able to set them up get caught again.

Well, I ordered a bike mount for it and plan to be ready to go in that type of situation/area. I'm not a small guy and I feel like there would be enough time while I'm about to get taken down to use it. I would definitely be able to use it if I got cornered.

Placebo effect at the very least, and it's only $20.

What does one do for insurance purposes to document A) the bike itself and B) all the other crap I've got on it (lights, rack, fenders, tires, etc.) in case your ride is stolen?

Take pictures and write things down?

Maybe you should get a gun holster for the toptube. Makes me sick hearing stories like this. Good job getting away and glad everything worked out.

+1 Not so much on the set-up part, but I am pretty sure that these goons will be waiting for you to come back around again. If not tomorrow, then some day next week.

If it were me, I'd find another route and be done with it. Your mace idea might get you killed, to be honest.

I figure if the guy's in mace range, it's definitely time to use it. That sort of takes the thinking out of it.

Must be from Detroit and played for the Lions you know the 0 and 16 team well so called football team we have here :roflmao2:

I'd rather try to outrun him first. I'd hate to slow down, aim and miss because I was moving and then end up being a sitting duck.

Detroit's still got a team?

Yes. Esp the frame's serial number.