Bushwacked

bedemir

Hi, first post here though I've been a member for a little while. I have been riding to lose weight and gain fitness for about eight weeks now, have gone from only being able to do a couple of miles to a personal best of 41 today. I usually ride from kent up to London. However whilst riding through chelsea this morning, i was riding past three men who I presumed were waiting to cross the road. As i went past one suddenly shoved a newspaper in my face causing me to brake suddenly, as soon as i did all three of them began kicking me and the bike. I got going again quickly leaving them with a few choice words, they just laughed and congratulated each other. I wasn't hurt but it was unexpected and quite shocking, it seems incredible to me that i should be attacked for being a cyclist. So i was wondering is this a one off or does this kind of thing happen regularly. I have to say it hasn't put me of in any way, if anything it spurred me on to a PB.

merkin

Sounds like common assault to me by three a-holes.
Unless you were on a crossing?

Brian B

Had some abuse such as people screaming out of cars, being spat at and general abuse from young @ssholes but never any physical abuse such as you described.

Its a sad story but events like this are pretty rare.

My latest event was when stopping once in the middle of nowhere(English/Scottish border) and checking a map a crazy man approached me from gods knows where from (out of field I think) and started to ask me random questions which were really irrelevant and he was not making any sense but a bit disturbing. Luckily I am big lad and basically told him quite firmly to go away and which he did after giving me a long stare.

There are some idiots out there unfortunately.

cookeeemonster

Hi, sorry to hear that - those incidents are thankfully rare.

Please report this to the police though, this needs to be logged regardless if they manage to catch them or not

Mikey23

Yup, must be reported. This could have had a much more serious outcome

sungod

nasty, glad you weren't hurt

as above, do report it to the police, can't do any harm, and you never know, maybe they'll follow up if they have any cctv in the area

i had a far less serious incident a couple of years ago, early sunday morning going over tower bridge, one of a small group jumped up screamed and kicked at me as i was passing, didn't make contact so i assume it was just an attempt to make me jump, but still put a dampener on the morning

bedemir

Didn't really think about reporting it, not sure i could describe any of them. Hopefully just an isolated incident of a few mindless idiots, not really the introduction i intended to have onto the forum, but i was curious as to whether this kind of thing was commonplace.

earthvspace4XTuUWcX

Not just cyclists either. I was minding my own business walking along a country lane last year when some twat in the passenger seat of car leant out and whacked me with a newspaper. Sadly there are some mindless idiots about. Thankfully have not had any incidents whilst out riding for a long time.

lotus49

These are the same sort of morons who would kick puppies and knock children's ice creams on the ground. They are the lowest of the low with lives so dreary that the only pleasure they have is to deprive others of theirs.

It must have been a frightening experience but I think you were very unlucky, such incidents appear to be rare.

danlikesbikes

Still might be worth reporting it just in case the police have access to some CCTV?