I got shot in the arse with a BB gun at 35mph
 

Yeah. Cruising down a nice hill today at 35mph on a beautiful sunny day, some punks in a pickup shot me. I finished the ride with no problems, but I now have a huge welt on my arse three days before a planned century. They were going way too fast to get a license plate, and I was too shocked to pay attention. I was also focused on avoiding a huge wreck with one hand in the drops and one on my backside.

I saw the end of the "weapon" and some cheering inside the pickup.

Kids these days.

Trying to HTFU about this, but still annoyed.

That sucks. Jerks. What part of the bay area did this happen in? Description of the pickup?

That sucks...At least your alright..

"What part of the bay area did this happen in? Description of the pickup?"

It happened heading north on San Pablo Dam Road in the East Bay, near the reservoir. It was a old brown pickup containing two idiots. I was a bit shocked and they were going fast, so I didn't get a good look.

I'd let the coppers know. Check the local High School parking lots for the brown pick up.

I would report it to local law enforcement. It could constitute assault, and driving to endanger.

Even if they don't get caught for this incident, the object is to establish a pattern of assault so when they are caught it is harder for them to wiggle around it.

Definitely tell the police.

A cyclist in Seattle was shot by a BB (apparently fired from a modified handgun) last Fall and it put him in the hospital.

http://petermckay.blogspot.com/2007/...mute-home.html

Let's all hope they crashed and died on the way home. I'm a jackass.



By the way, I'm not serious. But it really does suck for you. I don't know how I'd react in the same situation...stunned as you were, I'd imagine.

Did you get a plate number? This is a serious matter, you should talk to the police. They may not be able to do anything right away, but at least they have it on record.

good idea

I carry a camera in my frame bag, always at the ready to take a snap. At 8.2 MP I'm hoping they can CSI the license plate and the face in the reflection of the rear view mirror.

Seriously though, they camera could help, and report it. If they do it again they may get nailed.

There are rednecks in the Bay Area? I thought they all just sat around and sipped wine or something.

Holy crap, powpow - what time of day was it? I'm often riding up SPDR, and was on that stretch yesterday afternoon, was it just after you got into the 50mph zone or further north? Honestly I'm troubled; I've never had any issues out there and felt pretty safe since it's normally full of cyclists.

I'm very glad you're OK, but completely agree with everyone elses comments about contacting the police. Next time it might not be a BB.

I just posted a link to this thread in NorCal.

did you read the whole post?

ouch dude, ouch. worst i've gotten is the 30mph car along side me at 25mph honking/yelling to try and startle me.

damn, i think i wouldve swerved and crashed, props to you!!!

but on that note, im sorry to hear this happened, but ya teenagers... they're the worst, i was splashed with water from the front but at least i saw it coming

So, that's a road I'm on frequently. Didn't think that happened around here. As far as the "check the local high school" comments -- good luck. Not really a possibility around here. That sucks. a lot.

I ride that road from time to time also - I hope they shoot their eyes out!

Good job staying upright.

JB

Ooh, gonna have to be a bit more descript than that. "Pickup" and "idiot" happen to complement each other very nicely...

Geez. Never mind the HTFU, you get a pass -- most of us would be wussy when it comes to BBs in the *ss.

So sorry for your pain; hope you got them (it?) removed.

Oh, and file that report. Soon, while it's still fresh.

Hope your next ride is uneventful.

You were coming into El Sobrante - famous for the three dead Hells Angels found buried in a vacant lot. I used to live there and I can see what happened to you as some local's idea of entertainment. Glad you weren't hurt and didn't crash. It's an OK place, for the most part, once you get used to the native customs.

I see nothing wrong with hoping that punks who think it's funny to engage in assault with a deadly weapon meet their maker. Not at all.

That was assault. Simple as that. They had full intention of injuring you especially since they were wielding an air rifle in a truck. Report it to the Police.

A cheap, made in China spring action BB gun firing traditional round BB's isn't likely to penetrate one's body (except the eyes, of course.) There are high quality air rifles that develop 1000 fps velocities and especially if loaded with pointed pellets, can kill you. Any BB gun attack should be treated as a serious assault.