Minding my own business

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Hi,
I am a noob on this site, so please be gentle.
For the last 3 years I have cycled about 4 miles each way to work/home.
In the past 6 months, I have had two incidents when cycling on the roads.
First time, I was in a cycle lane and a young thug decided to hit me in the head (luckly I was wearing a helmet) - verbal argument ensues. Tonight I have had another young thug decide it would be funny to lob an unknown item at me, then shout what you going to do about? Phone call to the old bill and he decides he doesn't want to hang around anymore.
Now. is this a common occurance or is it me being unlucky?


Thanks

Podge

LOL... "thugs"?

Hi,
I am a noob on this site, so please be gentle.
For the last 3 years I have cycled about 4 miles each way to work/home.
In the past 6 months, I have had two incidents when cycling on the roads.
First time, I was in a cycle lane and a young thug decided to hit me in the head (luckly I was wearing a helmet) - verbal argument ensues. Tonight I have had another young thug decide it would be funny to lob an unknown item at me, then shout what you going to do about? Phone call to the old bill and he decides he doesn't want to hang around anymore.
Now. is this a common occurance or is it me being unlucky?


Thanks

Podge
Where do you live? Two incidents in six months is not very frequent. Any indication other cyclists are being hassled?

You a Brit mate? Just wondered by the use of the word "thug". This sort of stuff appears to be getting a little more common although lately for me its just been verbal abuse that I get and usually ignore, (although I'm an ex-pat now and no longer home). Obviously after dark is worse, I'm not sure what the answer is except if you are from the UK maybe a martial art? :) ,(I'm actually considering this but have to work it around my shifts).


I heard a tale that Vista and Niteflux rechargable lights have truncheon-shaped NiMh batteries so they can be used as a last resort anti-mugging device ;) . I have 3 and can testify they would do the job, but I don't recommend them as they suck if you overcharge them and never really work properly again.

Anyone know of a good "street fighter" martial art?

You a Brit mate? Just wondered by the use of the word "thug". This sort of stuff appears to be getting a little more common although lately for me its just been verbal abuse that I get and usually ignore, (although I'm an ex-pat now and no longer home). Obviously after dark is worse, I'm not sure what the answer is except if you are from the UK maybe a martial art? :) ,(I'm actually considering this but have to work it around my shifts).


I heard a tale that Vista and Niteflux rechargable lights have truncheon-shaped NiMh batteries so they can be used as a last resort anti-mugging device ;) . I have 3 and can testify they would do the job, but I don't recommend them as they suck if you overcharge them and never really work properly again.

Anyone know of a good "street fighter" martial art?You are right I a Brit, also I have a brown belt in Ju-jitsu, and did a couple other martial arts. Now if I had hit the little sh*t or choked the bast*rd out, I would probably get done.
You have done the right thing and left this crap country, it really is going to pot.
Any thanks 4 the reply

You are right I a Brit, also I have a brown belt in Ju-jitsu, and did a couple other martial arts. Now if I had hit the little sh*t or choked the bast*rd out, I would probably get done.
You have done the right thing and left this crap country, it really is going to pot.
Any thanks 4 the reply
I agree with you, we are going downhill fast, there's no respect for anyone or anything nowadays, let alone for somebody minding their own business. Kids about 14/15 and up are the worst, because they know you can't touch them, and the police would only be interested if you did. We're in a no win situation, where we just have to take the abuse, I just wish I'd emigrated when I was young enough to do so, because this country has sold out to the yobs.

To be honest guys New Zealand is little different, a lot less crime perhaps, but the exact same problems with the young thugs. :(

To be honest guys New Zealand is little different, a lot less crime perhaps, but the exact same problems with the young thugs. :(
That's really disappointing to hear, this cancer of yobbish behaviour, seems to everywhere, how do we get back to a society, that respects eachother, with understanding and self-discipline?

That's really disappointing to hear, this cancer of yobbish behaviour, seems to everywhere, how do we get back to a society, that respects eachother, with understanding and self-discipline?It's all traced back to the parents. Unfortunately, you have alot of Moms and Dads that don't want to be "parents" these days. They want to be "best friends." My 2 kids have plenty of friends AT SCHOOL. At home, they have 2 PARENTS.

As the saying goes, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

That's really disappointing to hear, this cancer of yobbish behaviour, seems to everywhere, how do we get back to a society, that respects eachother, with understanding and self-discipline?
we need to bring back beatings......;)

I live outside Buffalo, NY and it is the same here. I used to commute daily back and forth to work and gave it up, largely because of kids. I have to ride past a junior high school to avoid the main roads and they all know you can't touch them. So they call you names, throw stuff and walk out in front of you. If you lay a hand on them, you will go to jail. In between the kids, parents and their cars, and the school buses- I went back to driving to avoid the stress.

They all think that they're still playing Grand Theft Auto III :(

If you think that emigrating somewhere else like anywhere in North America is going to remove you from that kind of verbal abuse (and sometimes thrown items), think again. I get that occasionally right here in a major city in Canada.

In the past 6 months, I have had two incidents when cycling on the roads.
First time, I was in a cycle lane and a young thug decided to hit me in the head (luckly I was wearing a helmet) - verbal argument ensues. Tonight I have had another young thug decide it would be funny to lob an unknown item at me, then shout what you going to do about?

Now. is this a common occurance or is it me being unlucky?
I'm in Denmark and do quite a bit more cycling, but that sounds about the sort of level I get. Such things are more frequent when it's dark and on Fridays (when the thugs've been drinking since lunch time)

The joys of cycle-commuting hey!

It's best to ignore them, as a reaction will give them the attention they crave. Suggest you find an alternate route for a few days and/or vary your travel time. Chummy will then move on to find some new hobby, like hassling an OAP.

Try not to get into a confrontation, even a short distance cycle commuter is considerably stronger and fitter than these types of thugs and you could do them significant damage, very quickly, without realising it.

to disappointed to hear