So I’m doing my normal after work neighborhood ride when I see some little kids playing in and beside the road. One of them yells out something like “Hey, Puffy Face”, (I guess I was pedaling hard) I’m not really sure what he said or if it was really directed at me so I keep going. I’ve ridden by these kids on other days and sometimes I hear things as well. I make another pass through the neighborhood and wind up back on that street. Once again the youngster (a 6-8 yrs old) says something. I stop and ask if he is talking to me (not in the Robert De Niro Taxi Driver way, but polite enough). He looked like he was going to poop in his pants. I rode closer and asked again. He looks quite befuddled and replies “Are you feeling okay?” To which I say “Yes” and told him I was just minding my own business (implying that he should do the same) and rode on. I just wanted to stop to let him know I heard him and to let him see that I was a person too and not a two wheeled object rolling along. Was I overreacting? I just don’t like the idea of disrespecting children. There seems to be enough of that in society today. I know it doesn’t sound like much and normally if this wasn’t my own neighborhood I would have been more likely to blow it off, but as they say, I got to live here.

I found that ever since I carried my shotgun with the barrels poking out of the top of my back pack that insulting comments have slowed considerably.

You did the little $hit some good. Some day he is going to pop off to the wrong person and find himself on his little tush!

What you did was just right, in my opinion. You weren't mad or aggresive(sic) but you confronted someone for their unacceptable behaviour.

It's much easier here in Texas. Just get a gun rack mount for the panniers.

Hey, Puffy Face? That's what got you all worked up? Life's too short man....

I was climbing past some liittle kids that were riding skateboards with the handle bars on them. One went zipping past me on the side walk seated on the board. The sidewalk was pretty uneven. Right as he passsed me, I heard a loud THUNK, then 'OW, my nards"!

Darwin was so right, wasn't he?

If I hadn't been climbing a 16% grade on my fixed I would have been peeing myself. It was really funny in the moment.

Sounds like the kid is now riding "fixed" as well... At least that's how a veterinarian might describe him.

I'm impressed that you were riding UP a 16% grade on a fixed gear! That's the same gradient as the Manayunk Wall in the USPRO Championship race in Philadelphia.

Two correctly sized PVC pipes joined side by side and painted a semi gloss black is a much lighter solution. Ye Olde fake sawed off double barrel

Riding back home last summer, I came up on two kids playing with a skateboard. Just as I got to them, the one kid kicks the skateboard across the road right in front of me. I clamped on the brakes and dodged the problem. I then gently reminded the little tot that his actions might not have been very wise and could cause someone to be hurt. I also told them a nice story about animals and how Tigers eat their young.

kids are too disrespectful these days.They are so coddled they think they can get away with anything.What you did was right.

I was riding a greenway last year on my hybrid with my girlfriend, taking it easy and enjoying the nature and peacefulness when some kid on one of those motorized (gas-powered & LOUD!!) skateboard w/ handlebars comes from behind us and passes us. Now, I may be wrong, but I don't think those things should be on greenways - too noisy, smelly, etc.. Anyway, I got p!ssed and caught the guy and through hand/eye signals challenged him to a race. I so blew that kid away. Felt good. Never saw him out there again.

I do so enjoy intimidating children and small animals.
Seriously, The little twerps deserved the lesson.
Kids are too rude and disrrespectful nowadays.
Why when I was a kid if I ever even thought. . . . .
hmmm should this be in the 50+ old fart forum?

Marty

this thread does smell of old-manism, but i'll say that i think you did the right thing. in an older man kinda way.

Maybe the kids are just more polite in the Houston area, but if I hear anything out of them when passing, it's usually "hey, cool bike!", or just a "hi". I've gotten a few "I like your jacket!" (about my hi-visibility lime green shell). Once I came upon a group of "bmx kids" riding towards me. One of them held out his hand when I approached. I stretched out my hand, and we did a high-five while passing each other (I did not know these kids). As soon as it was over, I heard him yell, "yeah!". It was pretty cool, actually....

Might be true, but I wouldn't bet the rent money. When I was a kid I did lots of things my parents didn't approve of when I didn't think they were watching. How about you?

not all parents are like that. i object to the broad sweeping generaliztions you're making. maybe you've found a bad example, like we all have, but that doesn't mean that all parents don't know what they're doing.

I was out riding last night with some friends.We were behind a supermarket where there are several walls and a few loading docks.We were having a good time when one guy hit his chain ring on a wall and screwed it up.We stop to do some repair work when this kid comes around the building in a little car doing about 40mph.I was riding my SS mtb I use for urban riding and my friends were on bmx bikes.I was doing drops into the area that the trucks turn around in.If we were'nt working on my friends bike we may have been smashed.Kids in cars that have no buisness behind the wheel are the ones that bug me.It was scary.

Let me throw in my "expert" opinion. First off I must say, kids will be kids. They will constantly test thier boundaries, name call, and do what kids do. The problem we are starting to see with this generation is that they do not understand consequences. Why is that? Well plastic slides that don't burn your butt when its hot outside, plastic covered chains on the swing sets, space ages rubber padding on the grounds around play structures, plastic coated monkey bars etc...

Yes we want our kids to be safe, but I think they need to get hurt and see the causesand effects of life.

Man these kids probably didnt have an Italian mother

SHEESH

I knew someone was going to say that. I think I'll change my username to "PuffyFace". I could be a famous rapper. You have a point. I didn't get too bent out of shape though. I just don't want the situation to escalate.


Hee Hee...I don't think of myself as old, but I am a bit of a curmudgeon (Scrooge is my hero). I've already asked kids to get off my lawn. What's next? I'll be standing around in my undershirt with my pants up to my nipples.

The main thing I wonder about is why these kids are playing in the road unsupervised. I have a 6 year old and there is no way she would be out in the street let alone spouting off to strangers.

Your reply does not reflect your age as much as your values.I am 42 and do not think that childs behaviour was acceptable.