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

[Selkie]

Please do re-read Kenyonchris' post about carrying a gun. She is a police officer, and I really respect her experience.

Agree 100%.

Echo the advice of steering clear of him, not engaging him, and trusting your instincts.

[Trek420]

+1 what owlice says. 'cept the big and formidable thing. I'm 53 years old, nearsighted, a little chubby, 5' nuthin, not intimidating in the least, slow to anger ....

Vary the route. Besides safety concerns of "she always rides here at 6am on Sunday" but it's fun to vary the route. It's good for training (or so I hear since I'm out of shape ) and keeps everyone guessing

Carry a cell phone at all times, keep it charged of course. If something feel odd make it a real call not a fake. Keep your eyes on the situation as you dial but call. I'd rather call to give my location and the situation and risk it being nothing really than not call.

Remember if you call 911 from a cell in most areas you reach highway patrol who has no clue where you are. If your dearie calls from home they have his location nearby at least. Its good idea for all of us to program the POTS (plain o' telephone service) number to police/highway patrol/medical into the cell of where we live, commute, ride. Not just situations like this one but you never know when another rider will need emergency help.

I think it was Velogirl on this board who a long time back wrote of being on a training ride way out in the wilds of the Bay Area (you'd be surprised how remote it can be/feel within sight of the the busy city) when a group ride came upon a rider down. Although everyone had cell phones between trying to direct Hwy patrol to the remote area and trying to get the nearest local number for medical it took and agonizing time to get help.

Whatever the emergency situation have that number programmed in even at home. It's rare but the 911 system can go down.

But anyway I'd avoid the nutzo neighbor.