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.

[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

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

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 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

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.