Bike Gremlin

This has, perhaps most naively, crossed my mind. That's what i'd do in my neighbourhood. Not that I'm 100% sure it is wise.

vol

Side question: why are SUVs often associated with crimes? (not to imply this was a crime prevented)

acidfast7

Me too.

But, not where the OP is. Not sure about Serbia ... but in the EU, I don't have to worry about a gun. A knife maybe, but even that's defensible.

wphamilton

I've been wondering what happened prior to the first U-turn. There must have been something, since we've all seen u-turns that did not seem menacing, so something must have already been out of the ordinary.

Were there looks and furtive glances? Hollering out of the windows? Slow driving? Something else?

sirtirithon

They passed me and slowed down, stopped and then turned around and followed me. That's it.

wphamilton

Regardless its better to get away than to have a vehicle beside you trying to knock you off. I don't agree those who are suggesting that turning off on a side street may have provoked them.

It still seems like too much coincidence though. It being just a u-turn, you deciding to get scarce and them wanting to chase you down. Was anything even remotely familiar about the vehicle or its occupants?

vol

Was there anything special about your bike or what you were carrying/wearing? Were there other cyclists in the area? Was it unusual to see a cyclist at that time of the day? In other words, wonder if they were targeting anyone on a bike, or especially you.

sirtirithon

I was just riding my winter bike which I guess looks pretty nice to a bike thief. I honestly think they saw me as an easy target and they probably became pissed off when I turned out not to be. I see at least three other year round regular bike commuters that travel the area this occurred a couple times a week around the same time. So its very possible they were targeting cyclist.

I wear Gore bike wear gear for winter commuting and a black balaclava. Also here is how my winter bike is setup.

MEversbergII

I'm surprised they didn't simply outrun you in a car.

M.

e0richt

you are right a car is faster though in given circumstances, a bike is infinitely more nimble...

phoebeisis

Concealed Carry

sirtirithon

I do all of the time except at work as I work for a college.

acidfast7

a gun is always the answer!

sirtirithon

This made me laugh for ten minutes straight!

Rick@OCRR

Wow, scary stuff! Another vote that the OP did the right thing and congratulations that you were that quick thinking and nimble on the bike!

This could have ended very badly!

Rick / OCRR

UnfilteredDregs

Good on you for the avoidance, and see if you can make some sort of arrangement security wise if possible.

It certainly beats being a victim. He could have made a wrong turn and ended up cornered, what then? A parley?

Bike Gremlin

A knife is defensible if you can run away. Knifes are the most underestimated (still) modern weapon, I believe... not that I prefer a gun pointed at me.


And you are right - my previous post was short sighted - judged from a forum post, from a different city, crime situation. In Novi Sad no one thinks a cyclist has money. Plus no one likes attacking a grown man (unless they believe he's got a lot of money).

catonec 

it probably didnt have anything to do where he lived. most likely your buddy or his wife drove him to do what he did.

acidfast7

Yeah, I think when guns are removed from the equation ... people think twice about random violence.

A knife isn't that hard to defend against ... but a gun ... that's a real issue as one must approach the potential shooter to defend against it.

acidfast7

Common sense is usually in order.

Why ride in a "bad part of town" at night?
Why live where you have to ride through a "bad part of town at all?"
Why live in area that has "bad parts of towns?"
Why live in countries that have such large wealth disparities?
Why not live somewhere where violence is reduced because the wealth is more evenly distributed?
If one can't move, why not change one's lifestyle such that one could move?

IMHO, carrying a weapon isn't the answer unless you're asking the wrong, usually short-term, short-sighted questions.

SHBR

I agree with all of these points, however I also realize not everyone can easily make these lifestyle changes. Believe it or not there are much worse places to live.

howeeee

Best post in the entire thread

UnfilteredDregs

Carrying a weapon is nothing more than insurance if you find yourself outside the bounds of the common sense Utopia you proffer as so exceedingly attainable. You're ironically waxing poetic over what ain't reality.

Dheorl

I've been followed on foot before and I think after the second turn I would have been straight on the phone to the police. People often back off pretty quick if you have a phone up to your ear, especially if you say the word police nice and loudly.

SHBR

Given the temperature I imagine it takes a bit of effort to make a call. Sure maybe 10 seconds tops, a lot can happen in that amount of time though.