threatened while riding today

[stacie]

I was heading home from a short ride today when I had a very unpleasant experience. I was heading through a nice neighborhood that is fortunately populated with restaurants and shops less than a block away. Three men on bikes crossed the grass median and headed to my lane. They were yelling and heading towards me. I crossed to the left lane and they continued to head toward me. I had no choice but to slow down. I spotted an opening big enough for me to escape and headed through it. I knew there was no catching me as they were on mountain bikes or something similar. I had never considered anything like this happening before. Had they been organized and intended to hurt me, I didn't have much of a defense. Fortunately, they were punks just trying to scare me. I thought it was worth sharing.
I"m mostly angry that they have introduced this threat to my peacefulness of riding. I ride alone ALOT and am often in an isolated place. I've never been afraid. Now this "what if" is in my head. :mad:

[LBTC]

{{{{{{Stacie}}}}}}}}}

Not much I can do but offer you a hug and let you know that I understand, having moved from a confrontational cycling community to my new home last year. It sucks to have other people get in the way of your exercise and alone time!

Hugs and protective butterflies,
~T~

[SalsaMTB]

Awww...sorry to hear about that! I've never experienced anything like that. Hopefully it's an isolated thing. Can you change your route a little to avoid the area?

[limewave]

I'm so glad you are alright! It's good to keep your eyes open and always be aware of your environment. I'm glad you could make a safe escape.

Hugs.

[Flybye]

Hey there! Just read your post and cringed. I was riding the greenbelt and had a man in a tree freak me out pretty bad. I found some mace at a running site called. It has an elastic band that is supposed to velcro around your wrist while you jog. I just stretched it around my handlebars and viola'. I have taken it out two times now when I was approaching men who creeped me out! I think it would also be helpful for crotchety old dogs.
It is just like anything else with women, we need to think ahead! Hope this helps!

[Python]

What a horrible, frightening experience:eek:

I was going to suggest you carry Mace too. In the UK Mace is illegal (unless you are a Police Officer). The best we can carry here is an alarm that emits a high pitched squeal which hurts the ears of the assailant but also your own ears too:(

Perhaps you could consider taking up the Martial Arts. I trained in Shotokan Karate for many years. I was also taught street self-defence. I have only used my Karate skills once and that was when I was a taxi driver and got set on by 5 men. I'm only 5'1" and very slimly built but knocked the cr*p out of two of them and the other three slunk away:D

The Martial Arts also keep you very fit and also very disciplined and it teaches you to keep your cool in a lot of situations;)

[Jo-n-NY]

What happened to you Stacie always sits in the back of my head when I ride as I ride solo mostly also. I try to stay on semi populated roads, not a lot of cars, but enough so someone would see if anything happened. I guess you can call it backroad developments that get me from town to town.

It is a shame that we have to think like this.

~ JoAnn

[Python]

It is a shame but it's the society we live in. We've just come back from a bike run round the cycle paths. Part of the path flanks the local nature reserve where we have some lovely trees, plants and wildlife. There was a family, mother father and two boys aged about 11 and 12. Father and two sons were pulling bits off the trees:mad: About a 100 yards further on, they'd broken a fairly big branch off a tree (probably been swinging on it) and just thrown it in the middle of the path:mad:

What hope is there for kids when parents set a bad example like that?

We so desperately need a return to old-fashioned morals and discipline.

[stacie]

Thanks for all the warm thoughts. I don't want to be an alarmist and I certainly don't want anyone giving up their riding. But, I wanted everyone to learn from this. I don't always keep my phone handy, but I will now. Always be able to give a good description of where you are as well. Mace is not a bad idea. Again, it would need to be easily accessible as described. Martial Arts are great but I don't know if it would have helped me if one knocked me on the ground and the others rushed me.
Relax, enjoy, but stay alert as well.

[short cut sally]

stacie, glad you made it out okay, and you've made me think about my own cycling area. i ride solo, all country and low traffic areas. I do carry Halt that is clipped to my handlebar, but wonder just how protected i am with that, I figure it's better than nothing. Does anyone know if that stuff expires? NOt to thread jack this, but just wondering. I've always let my DH know the route i am taking before every bike ride and my estimated time that i should be back home and i have a phone with me but in an attack, not sure how fast i could dial or keep the phone from being knocked out of my hand. BUT that is something i don't want to think about..my mind is wandering now..geesh, sorry..many safe rides to stacie and everyone else

[Python]

Sometimes I feel intimidated but don't let it show. If we were to stop cycling then the thugs would win and I for one find that idea abhorrant, so carry on ladies - just be aware.