I've avoided opening this post all week since the title involved having a crash, but when I did finally open it and saw that it was caused by an attack I had to cringe. I ride MUPs most of the time and have never had a close call or threatening encounter - though I have experienced rude behavior from some who ride as though there is no one else around. But some of the paths do go through forest preserves and other remote areas where anything could happen. One of the things I try to do is take a "minimalist" approach - that is, doing as much as (or as little as, depending on how you look at it) possible *not* to attract undue attention. This includes wearing plain, unmarked T-shirts, etc. There are extremes in the country's climate these days from both sides and if you're wearing certain colors, slogans, political or religious jargon, etc. it's possible to invoke the ire of someone who resents them. From what I've read, people who bike in densely populated urban areas often get yelled at, cursed at, have objects thrown at them regardless of what their wearing simply because certain motorists (and even pedestrians) just don't like bikes in "their" traffic stream. But that's an entirely different matter.
On Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at 10:42:03 AM UTC-6 Mark Roland wrote: > While it doesn't hurt to be attentive to what is happening around you (ear > buds, anyone?) there is not much most of us would be willing or able to do > other than what we end up doing in the case that something were to happen. > In other words, unless you go to extremes--take a kung fu class, apply for > a weapon permit--you'll have to trust your instincts, and perhaps the > kindness of passersby. In any case, constant conjecture of this magnitude > will not be rewarded. > > On Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at 10:07:35 AM UTC-5 Bicycle Belle Ding > Ding! wrote: > >> I have thought about this thread all week on every ride. >> >> Firstly, Litho, how did your surgery go? You’ll be typing to us with one >> hand or dictating, I imagine. I hope we hear from you! >> >> Secondly, this thread has haunted me. All week it’s led me to think What >> Would I Do.... I’ve never thought about being assaulted on a bike. What >> would I do if I was Litho and found myself being pursued by a gang of >> teenagers who were coming closer and closer to my rear wheel? What about >> what Andy said - he perceived an attack and was able to mitigate it before >> the worst happened. I don’t think my brain could have processed what was >> happening and formulated a plan for self-preservation. My frame of mind is >> just not there - I’m mostly riding a sweet, glittery raspberry mixte with a >> matching polka dot helmet, sitting upright and carefree and often listening >> to an engaging podcast or Apple Music. If I were riding a black and lime >> green bike with Lycra and aero helmet I might be looking around like, “come >> at me bro” - but as I am, I do not have an awareness of others’ mal-intent. >> I pay attention to things that can cause accidents, but never think about >> being intentionally attacked. But now I think maybe I should. I did get >> chased by a dog for a mile and a half one time...that was terrifying, and I >> did that all wrong, in retrospect... >> >> Andy, what was the outcome of the collision you had with that idiot? >> >> Leah >> >> Sent from my iPad >> >> On Feb 3, 2021, at 6:47 AM, ascpgh <asc...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Glad you are significantly OK, that your bike is in experienced hands >> and the responsible have been identified and addressed. Nothing good ever >> comes from conflicts like that. >> >> >> Remedy is mostly repair and only rarely involves taking you fully back to >> where you started on a bike. Before reaching that degree you find yourself >> accosted for not having covered your bike as a high value item on your own >> insurance since it is worth more than the $150 bike-shaped objects at the >> big box stores considered normal despite the intentional acts of the >> others. >> >> I haven't been deliberately targeted for purposeful injury or damage >> until last summer when I was by an individual who put his bag down, >> stepped off the curb into the trafficked avenue lane with his hands and >> arms up to grab me verbalizing his intent audibly to his friends. I was in >> traffic, moving around 15 mph with nowhere to move for safety. When he >> moved aggressively toward me I leaned toward him and let my helmet and >> his chin be the first contact. Do not attempt. In this case it was me >> leaning to prevent being knocked into the traffic next to and behind me. He >> put me into a situation fearing not being able to walk home if my bike was >> damaged by his actions and not more than a second to deliberate options. >> >> Andy Cheatham >> Pittsburgh >> >> On Monday, February 1, 2021 at 12:50:20 AM UTC-5 Litho wrote: >> >>> **Cross-posted from FB Riv Page** >>> >>> Hello All. Looking for a little expertise / advice on my Riv. I was in a >>> collision on my Appaloosa last week. A group of kids on bikes deliberately >>> rammed into me on a multi-use trail here in Napa. My handlebars took the >>> brunt of the initial impact, but me and the bike went tumbling across the >>> pavement and into the road that parallels the trail. Unfortunately my hand >>> was on the brake lever at the time and was crushed in between. I have >>> surgery this week to repair the fractures and rebuild the joint on my >>> knuckle. >>> >>> I'm trying to assess all of the damage for the police report. The front >>> and rear derailers were bent and scraped, the rear derailer hanger is >>> slightly bent, but should be easy to straighten. There are numerous >>> scratches, chips, and a couple of small dents on the frame, but I don't see >>> any visible cracks or deformations anywhere. The brake lever was rotated on >>> the bars but doesn't seem to be broken. The stem and bars were knocked 90 >>> degrees in the initial impact but don't have any visible damage. >>> >>> Anything you would recommend checking or inspecting? The damage may just >>> be cosmetic, but I don't want to overlook anything. Hopefully, I'll just >>> end up with some glorious beausage and a good story. >>> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/hXKnSOlBJvY/unsubscribe >> . >> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/93ba2cc2-d6c2-462f-8bd5-78a5298a951an%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/93ba2cc2-d6c2-462f-8bd5-78a5298a951an%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/37802b46-bc78-4a20-8b18-069cfd9345cen%40googlegroups.com.
