Haven't ridden for 3 days because of a very scary man

[staceysue]

That sucks. I'm so sorry you're dealing with that

Can you drive elsewhere to ride for a little while? To let things settle down??

CA

I thought about it - but I have to put my bike in the back of my car and I have a problem taking my wheel off and putting it back on. The brakes always get out of alignment. I know it's because I'm kind of new to riding and I'm doing something wrong.

Maybe I'll go ahead and try to do that today, though.

[staceysue]

If I'm going to go I'd better get going now. I think I'll try to drive somewhere else and go for a ride.

Just for future reference if - you know - I'm missing . . . . his last name is Spalding and he lives in the house with the pet pigeons, set back from the county road!

[Pax]

You could get a nice big can of bear spray (pepper spray) and keep in in your bottle cage, next time he follows you stop (keep your bike between you and him) and say loudly STOP FOLLOWING ME!! Peddle off and when he starts following you again...mace the hell out of him. If it were me and I had a CCW, I'd carry for a while as well.

[Ana]

You could get a nice big can of bear spray (pepper spray) and keep in in your bottle cage, next time he follows you stop (keep your bike between you and him) and say loudly STOP FOLLOWING ME!! Peddle off and when he starts following you again...mace the hell out of him. If it were me and I had a CCW, I'd carry for a while as well.

Yes, but he may have a gun handy....and he is unstable....

[Pax]

Yes, but he may have a gun handy....and he is unstable....

I just can't live in fear, so confrontation is my approach when all other avenues have been exhausted. Seems the only other option is to quit riding.

[Bike Chick]

Hey, I like that idea..............it would be my luck that the wind would be blowing the wrong direction and it would get me instead

Good luck Staceysue and enjoy your ride. Probably not a bad idea to learn how to haul your bike yourself anyway.........kinda like changing a flat tire the first time.

[Bike Chick]

Quitting riding wouldn't be an option.........

[copperlegend]

May I suggest perhaps arranging a meeting with you (and possibly your family) with the local head of police, or some sort of patrol manager or something? Even if you think you look crazy, the police probably don't think so. You certainly have a very real concern here, and it should not be taken lightly. Good luck!

[ginny]

Oh, living in the boonies! So fun! I have had a couple of scary run ins with my crazy neighbors way out in the middle of nowhere. Once, I was pretty sure I would have been kidnapped if my husband wasn't driving slowly up and down the road while I was running... why can't people just live and let live?

I thought of the pepper spray idea too - though that would only work one time. You would get away, but you and your family could probably never walk or ride past him again without him getting very angry. Also, you already know he has a gun, so I'm not sure I would want to enter an arms race with a crazy person. I would absolutely take the other road that he cannot see you on. As far as seeing him trespass, I would call the cops every single time. You could consider getting a restraining order (?) I don't know anything about them. Do you have to confront the individual to get one? I know it wouldn't help, but you would be documenting harassment. Alternatively, I know this seems drastic, but you could consider moving. Feeling safe is so important. If you have to wonder if he's going to show up in your house one day, that will wear on you. I dunno... I know that's extreme, but I thought I would mention it...

Sorry for your predicament...

[tjf9]

Keep trusting your instincts. If your gut says don't ride by this man's property, then don't do it. I agree with the drive to ride advice. You'll at least get to ride, even though it is more of a hassle.

Stay safe!

[Kathi]

Does your stae have a bicycling advocacy group? If so, contact them. Are there and state laws protecting bicyclists. In Colorado it is illegal to harrass cyclists. 3 days after the law passed 2 jerks in an old clunker passed very close to my friend at 50 mph. The passenger leaned out the side of the car and pushed my friend's left hand down. Fortunately, his hand was positioned near the center of his handlebars so he didn't go down. He called 911 and there just happened to be a police officer nearby. The guys were well known in the area for various offenses so they ended up with a court date.

Keep a record of everything (dates, times, actions) the guy does. Pictures or video could be helpful. Our neighborhood was having a problem with a noisy motorcyclist. He was well known as a neighborhood bully and residents were afraid to complain because they were worried he would damage their houses. I kept a record and made it well known, to neighbors and police, that I knew the ordinances, (his muffler isn't regulation) and was keeping a log of his activities, the noise died down.

Do you release your brake before you remove your wheel? It's the first thing you do before loosening the wheel.

Don't feel bad about calling the police when others are breaking the law. I once called the police on my neighbor. He had parked his car near our house, his windows were down and music was playing very loudly. It was 2:30 am and a Sat nite. I thought someone in the neighorhood was having a party so I called it in. Turns out my neighbor was drunk and had passed out with his keys in the ignition. A no, no where I lived so they took him in. I still feel bad about that.

I agree with the others, trust your intuition and ride somewhere else for now.

[kenyonchris]

Also, you already know he has a gun, so I'm not sure I would want to enter an arms race with a crazy person. I would absolutely take the other road that he cannot see you on. As far as seeing him trespass, I would call the cops every single time. You could consider getting a restraining order (?) I don't know anything about them. Do you have to confront the individual to get one? I know it wouldn't help, but you would be documenting harassment.

A restraining order is a civil document, not a criminal one. A protective order is, but I doubt you have a case for its issuance. Harassment is very, very difficult to prove and is not really a good charge. You can get a criminal trespass order against him if he is on your property. And yes, it is the job of the police to respond when you need them...it sounds like you are a frequent flyer with them, but that is not always a bad thing. 911 hangups happen, we ALWAYS respond even when we get a call back. They get irritating when people let their kids play with the phone over and over, but once is understandable.

I am certainly NOT for getting into a gun battle with him. I am not sure how many CHL holders are actually prepared to shoot someone. I don't carry my weapon off duty because I am not prepared to get into a gun battle over anything. On duty, I have to, and I know with 100 percent surity that I would do it to protect myself or someone else. And I know that I am trained to shoot under stress and not hit a kid down the block. I don't know many CHL carriers that train under those conditions, and the statistics involved in civilian shootings weigh heavily in favor of the crazy people and against a casual passerby who gets caught in the crossfire. Find another option for that.

You are in a bad spot. I don't have good advice for you except to ride somewhere else. Being informed is a good thing. Is he a registered sex offender? On parole (in which case he cannot have a weapon even on his own property)? Have protective orders against him? Use whatever is public record. Get a big dog, be aware of what is going on around you, and notify the police of the situation (probably in person, go down and talk to an officer...a good way to start is probably "I know you guys have been out to my place before but....").

Bummer.

[staceysue]

A restraining order is a civil document, not a criminal one. A protective order is, but I doubt you have a case for its issuance. Harassment is very, very difficult to prove and is not really a good charge. You can get a criminal trespass order against him if he is on your property. And yes, it is the job of the police to respond when you need them...it sounds like you are a frequent flyer with them, but that is not always a bad thing. 911 hangups happen, we ALWAYS respond even when we get a call back. They get irritating when people let their kids play with the phone over and over, but once is understandable.

I am certainly NOT for getting into a gun battle with him. I am not sure how many CHL holders are actually prepared to shoot someone. I don't carry my weapon off duty because I am not prepared to get into a gun battle over anything. On duty, I have to, and I know with 100 percent surity that I would do it to protect myself or someone else. And I know that I am trained to shoot under stress and not hit a kid down the block. I don't know many CHL carriers that train under those conditions, and the statistics involved in civilian shootings weigh heavily in favor of the crazy people and against a casual passerby who gets caught in the crossfire. Find another option for that.

You are in a bad spot. I don't have good advice for you except to ride somewhere else. Being informed is a good thing. Is he a registered sex offender? On parole (in which case he cannot have a weapon even on his own property)? Have protective orders against him? Use whatever is public record. Get a big dog, be aware of what is going on around you, and notify the police of the situation (probably in person, go down and talk to an officer...a good way to start is probably "I know you guys have been out to my place before but....").

Bummer.

Yeah - the last thing I want is to be labeled a "frequent flyer" and not have their help if I need it some day. They've only actually been out here the two times, and both of them were 5 years ago (the time when my son accidentally dialed '911' and the time when the hunters were shooting guns outside my window). I did stop by the station about 6 months ago to let them know somebody was prowling on the property (now I think it was probably him) but the other calls were all a year ago or more. . . . .

I checked and he's not on the sexual offender list.

I have a big beautiful very protective German Shepherd. Too bad she couldn't keep up with me on my bike . . . . .

I am probably one of the very few CHL holders who is absolutely prepared to shoot somebody. . . . . but I don't want to talk any more about guns and shooting people anymore on here.