cyclists pushed off bikes, tactics for survival
Gotte
Posts: 494
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/rid ... 52443.html
Don't know if you've read about this, but I've read a later report that says there been six such incidents over a couple of counties in the south of England. So it seems like it's spreading, and it seems there's talk of them being akin to "happy slapping", which I assume means the people doing it are probably videoing it on mobile phones.
Anyway, while riding back home last night, I was thinking how you could lessen the damage to yourself should such an incident occur. Of course, without it happening, it's almost impossible to know what strategies would work to keep you up or lessen the damage if you come off.
I wondered about attaching a mirror for one, so you could see who was coming and how close they were (they'd have to be pretty close, I figure, to push you), and also to maybe put off any wouldbe assailant (they might think twice if they thought you'd got a look at them). I also wondered about simply riding with your hand over the rear brake so you could jam it on should you be pushed.
Maybe you should try and steer out of it if you have the room. I'm guessing instinct would have you put your foot down, but I'm also guessing that would just pivot you over.
Luckily for me, I live in Manchester, and so no where near the areas described, but the drivers up here can be pretty anti cyclist, and I know how these things are apt to spread.
Of course, I suppose riding on the pavement would be the safest thing to do, but is it better to give up the road and avoid what could be a pretty nasty injury if pushed into a stationary car, or stand your ground and hope for the best.
I don;t know, as if commuting wasn't dangerous enough...
Don't know if you've read about this, but I've read a later report that says there been six such incidents over a couple of counties in the south of England. So it seems like it's spreading, and it seems there's talk of them being akin to "happy slapping", which I assume means the people doing it are probably videoing it on mobile phones.
Anyway, while riding back home last night, I was thinking how you could lessen the damage to yourself should such an incident occur. Of course, without it happening, it's almost impossible to know what strategies would work to keep you up or lessen the damage if you come off.
I wondered about attaching a mirror for one, so you could see who was coming and how close they were (they'd have to be pretty close, I figure, to push you), and also to maybe put off any wouldbe assailant (they might think twice if they thought you'd got a look at them). I also wondered about simply riding with your hand over the rear brake so you could jam it on should you be pushed.
Maybe you should try and steer out of it if you have the room. I'm guessing instinct would have you put your foot down, but I'm also guessing that would just pivot you over.
Luckily for me, I live in Manchester, and so no where near the areas described, but the drivers up here can be pretty anti cyclist, and I know how these things are apt to spread.
Of course, I suppose riding on the pavement would be the safest thing to do, but is it better to give up the road and avoid what could be a pretty nasty injury if pushed into a stationary car, or stand your ground and hope for the best.
I don;t know, as if commuting wasn't dangerous enough...
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I dont think living in Manchester reduces the risk.
I had a similar incedent when riding through Parrs Wood towards Cheadle, when a car pulled alongside me and the front passenger opened his door onto me to deliberately try and knock me off.
Fortunately I stayed upright, but the incident scared me sh*tless.
I took his reg and reported it to the police, but, as expected there was nothing they could do.
I think this sort of behaviour is becoming seen as more acceptable, and the drivers know there is pretty much nothing the cyclist can do, as there will almost certainly be no proof of what actually happened.The A6 Hazel Grove - "Always the worst part of any ride".0 -
attacks on cyclists seem to happen in many ways. Even when you think you are on a safe cycle track things can happen. I have had to swerve around prats on their scooters a few times. I have also heard about incodents where kids have let off fire extinguishers to create smoke clouds and proceed to throw rocks at their unsuspecting victim.
On the road I always have my guard up, I have had to slam on the brakes avoid white vans that have cut past me with no room to spare and those people that overtake you just to turn into a left hand turn immidiatly and cut you off. I have had cars pass me at 60mph when indicating at a junction and trying to get into lane forcing me to bring my arm in at the last second and swerve back to the verge just becaue the driver doesn't want to have to slow down.
It was bad enough when these drivers ignore the cyclict alltogether, now we are seen they decide to attack us? personally I would rather be invisible again.Giant TCR advanced 2 (Summer/race)
Merlin single malt fixie (Commuter/winter/training)
Trek superfly 7 (Summer XC)
Giant Yukon singlespeed conversion (winter MTB/Ice/snow)
Carrera virtuoso - RIP0 -
One of the guys on the acf forums got slapped by a car passenger as the car was passing him fast going up a steep hill. Luckily for the cyclist he wears a spine protector as he has had some back problems in the past. Although he was slapped so hard it almost threw him off the bike, due to the armour he was fine but apparently judging from the screams coming from the car as it receded into the distance the slapper did himself some serious damage :twisted:0
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>>I think this sort of behaviour is becoming seen as more acceptable, and the drivers >>know there is pretty much nothing the cyclist can do, as there will almost certainly be >>no proof of what actually happened.
Two words: "helmert cam".0 -
Yes, since I live very close to Shire Lane where one incident happened, I also feel a little nervous about this one. Helmet camera would need to be facing to the rear though.
I'm hoping that on the bent I'm better protected from this thanks to the tailbox, and that I'll see anything coming because of the mirrors.0 -
>>Helmet camera would need to be facing to the rear though.
Yes, most likely. I decided to use the ATC2k as the permanent rear-facing cam (after I get a proper hi-res cam for the front). To save money I am thinking about getting a high-end camcorder with a bullet camera attached to the helmet. The camcorder itself would be in my (waterproof) backpack. I am bracing myself for a nearly DVD resolution
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In all honesty, though, the likelihood of this typy of incicident happening might be less than that of being assaulted as a pedestrian, so please let's not get paranoid about it.
PS. Hahah, the word "paranoid" coming from the guy with (soon) two helmet cams stuck on his bike. Must have 'sounded' funny coming from my 'mouth',. hahaha 0 -
I'm thinking of the Archos 405 with the archos bullet camera myself. Less wires and hassle, and solid state recording.0
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>>I'm thinking of the Archos 405 with the archos bullet camera myself. Less wires and hassle, and solid state recording.
Are you referring to this, BentMikey?
http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/577244/ ... order.html0 -
A few years ago I lived in west denton park on the western outskirts of Newcastle, I finished work in the city centre and was cycling home at about midnight. A car full of shite came flying past me - they were unbelievably close. I was scared stupid. I know this was deliberate as all of the back seat passengers were turned to face backwards and burst out laughing.
I was really annoyed, then to top it all off they pulled into a bus stop near the Vickers Tank factory on Scotswood road, they then let me pass and were obviously going for another attempt, this time I was ready and hopped up onto the kerb and made good my escape. The funny thing is none of these toss pots would dare go toe to toe with you, they are always in groups or in the safety of a car.0 -
That's it CNTL.0
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Managed to avoid slapping or being pushed off so far, bu have had several times idiot in passenger seat of passing car shouting loudly in my ear as they go past.0
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CCTV sticker that could go on the backpack.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/X2-CCTV-STICKERS- ... dZViewItem
Red flag to some, a deterrant to others. Would that work or bring more harm than good? (Apart from just looking ridiculous).0 -
This one is a bit smaller. I'm tempted to fit it to the back of my right hand pannier.0
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>>I'm thinking of the Archos 405 with the archos bullet camera myself. Less wires and hassle, and solid state recording.
BentMikey, although Archos 405 seems to be better than ACT2k (when looking, for example at Magnatom's footage from C+) there are other options which may provide much better quality and value for money. A VERY interesting example of a few bullet cams:
http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/helmet-camera-viosport.htm
EDIT: For me the big positive about ACT2K is that it is very noticable when mounted on top of the helmet. That's the only reason I mount it like that, I observed that when I sit in traffic and the like, the folk definitely tends to notice it.0 -
Since when is this a new thing? I've been shouted at and had things thrown at me many years in the past, so it's not a new phenomenon. The apple that hit me square in the back chucked from a Transit doing about 70 hurt a fair bit!<font>I sig you not</font>0
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On my daily commute I have to pass a bus stop full of school kids (12-15 age) waiting for the bus, they often / occasionally jump onto edge of pavement and shout (I think another is filming on him phone) trying to get cyclists to fall off.
They did it to me last month, I pulled up and had it out with the 'leader' he sh!t himself when I had a pop at him (in my best scouse accent in deepest Devon) and gave him a good intimidating (like something out of Casino / Goodfellas). No problems since 0 -
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That is pretty outrageous what he is writing there, it's all the negative stereotypes of cyclists. Some of use obey the RL,keep off the pavements, don't throw our empty energy drink bottles (water bottle ?? - stays on bike) and as for " riding two or three abreast," - i'm pretty certain it's allowed in the Highway Code.0
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i have had all the above abuse - and my commute is less than a mile!
a car once almost knocked me flying, but then i caught up with him at the lights and out of sheer anger slammed my hand on the back of the car as he turned left and I went straight.
i'm working on a bike-mounted guided missile launched taser.....0 -
someone needs to tell the author of that that people behaving in that manor are generally despised by the cycling community. As ever though its the minority of idiots that get us all labelled as nature-destroying, road-hogging Lycra monkeys and its the considerate among us that bear the brunt of the ignorant fools that believe the garbage they read in columns like this.Giant TCR advanced 2 (Summer/race)
Merlin single malt fixie (Commuter/winter/training)
Trek superfly 7 (Summer XC)
Giant Yukon singlespeed conversion (winter MTB/Ice/snow)
Carrera virtuoso - RIP0 -
bryanm wrote:
I don't think I've ever read anything so shocking on the subject. He obviously has some sort of chip on his shoulder and a need to raise his profile. Why else would he write someone so obvisouly hate filled and inciteful?
Maybe he's just after Jeremy Clarkson's crown of biggest c***... :roll:0 -
They don't like it when yo catch up with them at traffic lights and stick your steel toe caps thorough their door or empty your water bottle in their face.0
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Personally, I think the item in the Times is a hoot. Although I am not a citizen of the UK or any country in that part of the world, I do bike, and avidly. The item is more just stupid humor to my eyes. To think that anyone would read the article and consider it as instruction for driving or living around bicyclists is just silly. I can't see that anyone who actually takes Parris seriouslly would have the impetous or real fortitude to follow his lead, but would rather be the type to roll the window down, spout vulgarities, then raise the window as fast as possible to avoid NOT having the last word.
Just my opinion. 8)0 -
I have to say my first thought was 'fish hooks attached to the shoulders' - possibly because of reading about gang members in the fifties having them in their lapels...
2nd thought was that, jesus, its a bit mad! Not many chavs round where I commute, but I think I'd be apoplectic if someone tried that on me... assuming I lived through it :shock:0 -
The best way to avoid this stuff is as ever to be paranoid, ride defensively and take a position that will enable you to recover if someone does try to knock you over.I don't think this is as big a danger as people driving like cocks but the same defense applies.0
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Carry a gun... that'll stop them doing it again
Rule 64:
Cornering confidence generally increases with time and experience. This pattern continues until it falls sharply and suddenly.
http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/0 -
I'm absolutely incensed at the Matthew Parris article ... so much so that I've emailed and complained to the editor. (I also coped in the PCC - Press Complaints Commision).
Talk about irresponsible ... when some poor cyclist or child gets garrotted by wire strung across a path they should be prosecuted.
bikers46 .... methinks you overestimate the intelligence of the average British yob.
Anyone else as annoyed as me
?
It's great to be .....0
