voltman

Or just squirt water in his face.

§ Λ Μ

That sounds good in theory but what are the odds of beating up the biggest guy with 9 smaller guys on top of you? Maybe clobber some of the littles guys and hope the big guy goes running.......dunno, just trying to picture myself in this guys situation. Damn punk kids...they'll get their bad karma sooner or later

cjbruin

I'm not sure which is more surprising to me...

1) That this thread is still going, or

2) Not one person has commented that maybe the whole thing would have been avoided if the victim hadn't been listening to an iPOD while riding. I know, I know, we don't know for sure that he was actually using the iPOD at the time but I think it's highly likely. Maybe if the group didn't see his headphones/earbuds they just assume he has nothing worth stealing. Maybe if the person was focused on his surroundings rather than what's coming out the iPOD, he would have realized he was riding into a iffy situation. I'm just sayin'.

Fat Boy

Ultimately, I think they were just being punks. One of those 'let's block the path so the roadie geek can't get through" type of deals. I didn't get the feeling that they were attempting to actually stop me or try to steal anything. I don't carry anything with me anyway, so it would have been a dry run for them. I guess they could have gotten pepper spray, my cell phone, and my garage door opener. That's about it.

It seemed to me that 'kid 4', the one who let me through, was a good kid hanging out with bad ones. The other three were straight up punks with their shorts 1/2 way down their butts. Could I have taken the other 3 in a fight? It would have been tough. They were big enough that if they really wanted to get mean I would have been in trouble. Having said that, it was very apparent who Alpha Dog was and that's who I would have gone for first. Generally speaking, you just have to escalate things faster than the other guy wants to escalate it. Teenagers push and shove in their fights, for the most part. Without getting graphic, there are things you can do that will take the fight out of them pretty quickly. Taking their ear-rings out the quick way will generally do it. The thing is that _you_ have to go there first. That's a difficult mental jump for a generally peaceful adult.

This is the first time I've had any confrontation on that path. Like the other poster said, it's generally just cyclists, runners, families, etc. In fact, it's the first time I've really had any bike confrontation. I'm not the type that goes looking for it. I want to be prepared should it happen for real, though.

Fat Boy

In general, I think society would be better as a whole if the criminals were the one's thinking, "It isn't worth risking my life for an IPOD" as opposed to the victims.

roadfix

iPOD or no iPOD I'm pretty sure these punks would have assulted this cyclist regardless and have taken something else instead.

urbanknight

^ Exactly. They probably didn't even know he had an ipod before they attacked.

Dunwood

Well ya could have taken a cue from Breaking Away...........The old tire pump in the front wheel trick.

You would have lost your tire pump, but it might have been fun watching the punk fly over the handlebars.

merider1

I was thinking it as I believe wearing earplugs on a bike path is not only dangerous but seriously foolish, but since the gun argument was already started in here, I felt the iPods while riding argument could be saved for another day.

JetWave

About which part of the SGRT do you ride, after reading these threads, I have second thoughts of riding alone now.

Fat Boy

I was on the 'Los Coyotes' branch that goes to La Palma.

alicestrong

Well depending. I ride all parts of it. Some parts are rather desolate, that's true. It is safer with a buddy. The vast majority of incidents on any of the paths happen to single riders. But, I have ridden the SGRT for many years without any major problems. Keep in mind I am often with friends, but almost as often alone.

Sir-Lanceimnot

They probably would have taken his gun! Everyone knows that a cyclist is not going to carry a gun because it is unnecessary weight! The gun would most likely be in the jersey pocket and do you no good in the situation that was described in post #1.

Avoide the situations when ever possable and if it happens fight like a dog in a corner. You may get hurt, you may hurt a few of them, but they will think twice about trying that with the next person.

squeegy200

Since first reading this thread, I've noticed a handful more similar assaults in this very same area.

How many incidents need to occur before someone does something about this?

Its frequency is enough that no one should be riding/jogging in this area anymore.

DScott

Sorry, but *this* is how I feel, too:

fthomas

Wow, this thread continues! Alicestrong - be careful and don't ride there alone.

I opt for a big can of "Bear Spray" from REI. It fits very well in a water bottle holder. Wouldn't recommend spraying while riding. Nothing worse than having to ride through the fog you just sprayed and ending up wiped out!

* Contains 2% Capsaicin and other Capsaicinoids, red pepper derivatives that affect the eyes and respiratory system, staving off attack
* Spray reaches 12 to 32 feet and empties in approximately 9.2 seconds
* Features a safety cap to help prevent accidental discharge
* Use with extreme caution--if not used properly, it can disable the user, rather than the attacker


Caution: Strength is such that it may cause permanent blindness in Humans.

My thoughts on guns: If you can't use it don't carry it. If you carry it and bring it out then be prepared to pull the trigger. Once it is brandished the situation will escalate faster than you could imagine. A firearm is not a substitute for good judgment and avoiding a confrontation if at all possible. If not possible it is an invaluable tool for bringing a life threatening situation to a very decisive conclusion. Don't even think that you will just "wing" or "wound" someone. That isn't what a firearm is made for.

StrangeWill

People have been killed for less, just so we can stop using this worthless smokescreen of an argument.

Not that I think you need to ride around packing, but I'm irked by stupid arguments. This is one of them. You turn a complex idea into a simple one in hope of convincing people using the notion that it's ridiculous, when in reality anyone can see through this weak tactic towards arguing the real issue at hand.

Otakugirl

Funny, that's the same argument people use when they tell me I shouldn't be riding on roads.

(DScott, I'm seriously going to have to create a macro for "DScott, word.")

Extort

let me correct that for you... brandishing a weapon without using the weapon is worthless. If you pull it out, use it correctly and immediately with the most devastating effects possible!

DScott

Nah, I'm just quoting you!

Nachoman

Classic blaming the victim.

Terror_in_pink

Ya. that's absurd.

StrangeWill

And to be exact, any choice made by the victim could have probably avoided it, not just the iPod. If he left 10 minutes later someone else would have probably be jumped, but is that really a viable solution to being jumped? He shouldn't have to try to avoid being jumped.

SunFlower

I have retrofitted my mountain bike. Instead of mounting my air pump on the rail I now mount a pump action 12ga shotgun. It basically just looks like how the police mount their motorcycles. Trust me, the sight alone of this thing rolling down the strand is enough to scare off anyone thinking of attacking me.
If its really crowded or I am riding alone at night i'll take it off and pump the action while riding to get peoples attention. They always yield.

roadfix

Is that legal?