Ambushed on the cycle path this morning!

[emily_in_nc]

:mad:

Wrote it up on my blog: http://bebelize.weebly.com/1/post/2013/02/playful-prank-or-malicious-intent.html

I'm fine, just a little sore (especially my badly skinned knee), but it just really pisses me off. At least we're only here for three more weeks, so it could be worse!

[Blueberry]

Awww Emily - that really stinks:( I'd be furious. Sorry your adventures in Belize are having such an icky end.

[Pedal Wench]

Can you file a police report?

[murielalex]

That's messed up. Glad you're going to be okay.

[tealtreak]

So sorry to hear this and hope this type of thing isn't a "new craze"...but... here in VA we have had a big problem with sabotage of that sort and worse on our Mt bike trails....): (The worse being bridge supports cut 90% through...luckily they have all been found before someone rode over the ravine...)

http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?t=25005

so sad.........

[goldfinch]

Muriel said it well, that is really messed up. I am glad you weren't badly hurt!

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks everyone, and yes, I know these kinds of things can (and do) happen everywhere -- tacks on the road even in the Tour de France!

Police report just no help here -- the police are close to worthless on most of the big crimes, and for something small like this, way out of town and where there were no witnesses, it wouldn't do any good, trust me. They aren't going to go up there to the boonies and lie in wait to see if it happens again. Just not worth my time and life energy.

I'll heal, but I am not looking forward to riding up there again. Sad thing, it's the best riding area on the island.

[OakLeaf]

Oh, man. So sorry that happened to you - glad neither of you is badly hurt, and hope you heal up soon.

Somebody was prosecuted a few years back for doing that after a rider I believe died, or at least was very seriously injured, but I know it was in the USA and I don't recall exactly where. People are such a-holes.

[emily_in_nc]

So sorry to hear this and hope this type of thing isn't a "new craze"...but... here in VA we have had a big problem with sabotage of that sort and worse on our Mt bike trails....): (The worse being bridge supports cut 90% through...luckily they have all been found before someone rode over the ravine...)

http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?t=25005

so sad.........

Thanks tealtrek.

I looked at that thread and found it very interesting that they don't want you to disturb the sabotage. So, you call 911 and you have to WAIT for them to come out b/c you don't want anyone else to encounter it. Will they drop everything and come quickly? I sure hope so, since you're stuck there waiting. I can understand their reasoning, but it's probably not a very high-priority crime, so you could be waiting awhile.

The very first thing we did is take down the fishing line. Not very easy as it was very strong and did NOT want to break. But we didn't want anyone else to be hurt, of course. And in Belize, even if we had called the police then and there, it could have taken hours for them to show up...if they ever did. I've heard way too many horror stories of much more serious crimes (assault, home invasions, burglaries..) where they either don't show up until the next day or take hours to get there. And we didn't actually even have a cell phone on us as this was just a couple miles from where we live. We have never had any problems when out riding so don't always even carry one -- just like in the old days back in the US.

I hate to hear that this kind of thing is happening in a lot of places. It's such a small-minded and cowardly thing to do! :mad: :(

[indysteel]

Wow; that's just awful. I'm really sorry you had to deal with that, Emily.

[Crankin]

I'm glad you're OK, and glad you're coming back to the US. I know this happens everywhere, but, the thought of the police not responding, etc. is scary to me. It's bad enough to hear stories of rude treatment, etc. by the police from my clients, but ignoring crimes is not a good thing.

[yellow]

:-(

Glad you are OK!

[solobiker]

I am so sorry this happened to you. I do not understand why someone would even do that. It makes me so mad that this type of thing occurs. All you or anyone that this has happened to were just out trying to enjoy their day. Grrrrrr

[Catrin]

Glad you are ok! This is just terrible, glad you are coming back soon.

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks everyone. Today most of the immediate scrapes and scratches from yesterday are much improved. However, I have a sore neck on the left side -- I guess some whiplash from where the fishing line caught me in the face and then pulled me back. And a sore muscle area near the underarm on the right side. Weird. We're getting ready to ride bikes to town for groceries, and I think I'll be fine. We will be on a much wider road where the chance of something like this happening again are minimal.

But yes, it does suck that the police are not good here. In fact, they have been a real joke up until recently. There are some new officers in town and a new constable, and apparently things are improving, but I still know that something like is is so minor they'd probably not take it seriously. The town is FULL of tourists right now, and keeping them safe in town is their primary concern, not some isolated prank in the boonies north of town. Even in the US, though, I am not sure I'd bother to report a line across a bike path that happened once. Would you?

[OakLeaf]

Even in the US, though, I am not sure I'd bother to report a line across a bike path that happened once. Would you?

I'd report it for sure. You're lucky to have escaped with minor injuries - this could be a deadly booby trap. The chances of someone actually getting caught, obviously, are small, unless someone's been running their mouth (which happens more often than you might think :rolleyes:) - but I'd still make a report. Occasionally someone is caught and prosecuted.

[Blueberry]

If it happened near where I live, I would report it. It it happened in a more remote area, it would depend on how likely I thought the cops were to actually respond.

[Artista]

Emily, I'm so sorry that this happened to you. I would definitely report it in the U.S. Even if the culprit isn't caught right away, these incidents are publicized in the Denver news. The publicity encourages people to report suspicious activities on the trails, which could prevent a deadly prank in the future.

[roguedog]

THAT EFFING SUX! WTF is wrong with people?? (I just had to kinda yell the indignation and anger and all that.)

Glad you're ok and healin' up and it hasn't stopped you.

Aren't you coming back stateside soon? Where did you all decide on? AZ or FL or ..?

[emily_in_nc]

If it happened near where I live, I would report it. It it happened in a more remote area, it would depend on how likely I thought the cops were to actually respond.

And that's my point exactly. Where I live, I can predict with 99.9% certainty that nothing would happen. It's a very different world down here when it comes to things like police protection.

[Wasp]

So glad your going to be ok. What kind of POS does stuff like that?? Someone could of been seriously injured or worse! Is this a common occurrence in that area?

[AppleTree]

HIDEOUS! Just over the top outrageous... it is hard for me to fathom what goes on in some peoples' wormy little minds.... what is the point? I am SO glad to hear that you and your husband weren't seriously hurt.

But I always like to think that karma comes back to bite the lowlifes who do this sort of thing. At least that is my wish. Usually I wish it for people who break glass over the bike trail, but this time I will wish it for whoever strung that wire over the cyclepath. Losers.

[OakLeaf]

There's a part of me that takes a sick satisfaction in learning that it's not only in the USA that people do stuff like that. :( :(

[malkin]

people people people

Glad you are okay and back on the bike.

[emily_in_nc]

Is this a common occurrence in that area?

Another expat posted in the comments area of my blog that it is -- though he mentioned logs, nails, glass, and telephone wires being used on the path. But that is mostly where people pass through other's properties on the beach side. Property owners don't appreciate motorized vehicles (golf carts and motorbikes) on the beach, and I totally appreciate that as our condo is right on the beach, and we HATE it when a motorcycle roars by, spewing gas fumes into our home.

But where this happened to me his was on a part of the path that is open to motorized vehicles and goes behind the houses, NOT on the beach. That's what was so weird and confusing about it. There aren't even any houses that close by.

But yes, sabotage like this can happen anywhere. Just haven't ever experienced it before anywhere. I don't understand why some people are so hateful to want to hurt others. But I do believe in karma. May whoever did this get theirs!

[emily_in_nc]

Aren't you coming back stateside soon? Where did you all decide on? AZ or FL or ..?

Yes! We're flying back to the US on March 10. Can't wait. :-)

We're going to travel around for a couple of months, mostly visiting relatives. Then in mid-May we'll be heading out to Prairie Village, Kansas, where we'll be renting a house from friends of ours who are going cruising in their sailboat. We'll be kind of informal house-sitters, but they understand we plan to travel. We want to spend some time in the west, and Kansas is an easier place to do that from than our previous state of North Carolina.

[redrhodie]

I just read this, Emily. That really sucks. People can be so horrible. I'm glad you walked away from that.

[IBrakeforPastry]

I'm so sorry, and yes, it should be reported. Even if the culprit for one incident isn't caught, they may be able to connect him/her to another one that they don't get away with. You were very lucky - a few inches lower and you could have damaged the larynx. I once knew an ear/nose/throat doctor and he told me about a case where a snowmobiler ran into a rope across the trail and almost lost his voice. They saved his life, but I think he may have only been able to talk in a whisper (or just very hoarse sounding) after that.

Sorry - I didn't mean to sound so dramatic. On a lighter note, maybe you can now nobly excuse yourself from the overnight visit you didn't want to take ;)

[Serendipity]

Emily, that is horrifying!

Glad to hear that you are recovering. I think it would find it hard to cycle in the same area after an incident like that - afraid that it would happen again!

[Jo-n-NY]

Hi Emily, I just tuned in here & read your post. I am so sorry to hear of the horrible mishap you had. I am just glad you were not injured too severly. This could have been much worse for you if that line was placed in at a different height. I have heard that is something that kids do on a local bike path. I do not ride that path anymore because of walkers, joggers etc. and never saw it but my husband heard of this happening. Sick way for kids to have fun.

Anyway, it is good you are returning the states very soon. I certainly will look forward to hear of all your traveling adventures here :)

~ JoAnn

[PamNY]

What a scary experience! Best wishes for recovery -- I'm so glad your injuries weren't any worse.

People ca be terrible.

[TigerMom]

They have been doing this fishing line trick on the river trails in Los Angeles/Orange county to steal people's bikes/wallets.

Very horrible.
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2010 Santa Cruz Juliana with R kit and Crampon pedals
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[emily_in_nc]

They have been doing this fishing line trick on the river trails in Los Angeles/Orange county to steal people's bikes/wallets.

Wow, no kidding. I hate hearing that this is going on in so many places! I am almost positive that it was an isolated incident here as I can't even tell you how many times we've ridden on this section of trail without incident. There was no one there who saw it happen or who the unlucky victim was as far as I could tell. You can hear people in the bushes here, and nothing rustled. We hung out for awhile there afterwards just in case, and letting me compose myself.

Fortunately my injuries were minor and are well on the road to healing. The scrape on my knee looks much worse than it feels -- it hurt a lot the first two days but is now painless so long as I don't bump it (OW!)

I would ride there again b/c there is only one short section where doing this would be a possibility -- in most parts of the trail, there are no trees on either side to tie anything to. I would just go r e a l l y slowly!

Oh, and as for the neighbors thing, we ran into them today outside the building (despite our best efforts to avoid them!) and had a friendly conversation. They didn't even mention the beach house thing, so perhaps it will just slip through the cracks. I've already decided to tell them that we have too much going on with the move to go up there, but thanks very much for their invitation. And that's not totally untrue -- our real estate agent is always calling needing this or that bit of information, and we are busy making reservations and plans for our return. Soon we'll be packing and taking donations to various places, so we really are going to be busy.

Thanks everyone -- your support has been overwhelming. Just reinforces my feelings that TE is the best of the 'net! :)

[Grog]

I'm so sorry Emily, this is terrible. Yes, karma will eventually catch up with the offenders.

[emily_in_nc]

I posted on the weight management thread, but I wanted to follow up here as well.

We rode along the same path where this happened yesterday afternoon, and all went fine. I was verrrrry nervous riding along that particular stretch, but we went slowly, and DH went first and held up a hand just in case. Once we got past the "danger zone", we had a fantastic ride. And with a tailwind all the way home, we were all smiles!

My injuries have all healed except for a scab on my knee. I'm even planning to go back to yoga tomorrow morning.

Thanks again for all the support, ladies. You're the best!

[jobob]

Excellent!