Out for my usual early morning ride around the riverbanks at 6am this morning when I came accross 4 lads, 2 on mopeds doing donuts on the grass. They saw me and tried to surround me and spat a drink at me but I saw a gap and cycled between them. One tried to grab my handlebars as I went past. They were clearly all wasted as their eyes were glazed over. Next thing one of them chased after me on his moped and tried to run me off the path down the bank into the river. Eventually I had no choice but to stop. I tried to get my phone out to call for help but every time I tried to use it he attempted to grab it. Eventually he just said “bye” and drove his bike into me pushing me down a steep bank. By this time the other three had turned up and were contemplating coming down the bank after me. I managed to get my phone out at this point and dialled 999. When I held it to my ear they sped off. No chance of catching them as no number plates on the scooters. Police turned up and basically said that unfortunately I was just another victim of crime and that would be the end of it as they will never likely be identified. Fortunately just cuts and grazes and most importantly bike is OK!!! FFS!
Sounds horrible mate, glad you weren't badly hurt. I tend to assume the number of toerags/nutters is lower early mornings, but clearly not totally zero. Where are/were you?
Horrible for you mate. Really horrible.
Be kind to yourself the next few days... speaking as someone who was assaulted on the bike myself, the memory can last. It did make me want to try and arm myself with something for my commute...
Utter scum.
jeez! that sounds pretty traumatic for you.
i dont know what i would have done in that situation. Its a sorry state of affairs that you cant go for a ride without this happening.
Is Pepper spray legal?
Horrible experience, hope it doesn’t put you off.
Should have told the cops that you were having a curry.
A holes....😡
That's a crap and crazy start to a day.Glad you are OK and don't give yourself a hard time over 'what ifs'. I hate the idea of us all having to camera up and film everything 'just in case' but it does feel at times now that that is the only option these days. 😞
Utter ****s! Hope you heal soon and Lowey’s advice is good.
Where are/were you?
Durham.
I’m obviously now really nervous about going out again but the alternative is riding on the road which I hate doing when I’m on my own…
Maybe I’ll feel better about it later..🤷♂️
Hope you're alright. As someone else who enjoys their early morning solo rides in remote places, I can relate. Been a couple of times I've felt uneasy when encountering groups, but thankfully nothing's ever happened.
Don't let it stop you. Easier said than done I know.
I've got front and rear Cycliq camera/lights I bought when I commuted on road and have often thought about using them on my morning offroad rides, but it feels like overkill. Perhaps not though.
Thats horrible. i really feel for you OP 🙁
where do you live
Horrible mate. Having grown up in the North East and been on the receiving end of this type of random violence in my youth I fully sympathise with you. Nasty situation to be in.
Where are/were you?
Durham.
This explains the lack of police interest. They're all too busy investigating people for eating curry.
proper rubbish mate
some people deserve to be put in a little box and fired into space.
i hope it doesn't put you off.
Is there a local FB group you can use to ask and see if anyone in that area may have CCTV or doorbell footage - might have something showing them on their way to or from?
Add a description of them and the bikes as best you can remember, might also help.
If that prompts someone else to report a similar incident, then the Police may have to take it more seriously if there's a pattern.
Sadly cameras are the only real alternative, whether that puts them off or escalates it in these circumstances I'm not sure.
Bastards
Hopefully karma will do its thing and they'll end up getting filled in and chucked in the canal.
Hope you are not too shaken up.
Is Pepper spray legal?
Not in the UK (neither most of Europe) it’s classed as a firearm.
You can get small spray canisters of criminal ‘identifier’ dye (eg. Farb Gel) Which I’m sure would be disorientating if you squirt it in their eyes. Manufacturers claim up to 4 metres effective distance. Of course, scumbags hunting in packs make this less effective, yet possibly better than nothing if truly cornered?
That's horrible. Must be feeling crap.
Try to remember, MOST people are good people. It only takes a tiny percentage to ruin it.
Sounds like a bad experience. Sorry to hear it.
You're OK though which is the main thing I guess.
I’m OK, thanks all. Just a bit shaken up. I’m going to try hard to carry on with my early morning rides. Watch out for a “what is the best on bike camera” thread!!! 😂
Although I’d love to be Jack Reacher I’m clearly not and I wouldn’t dream of arming myself with anything at all. Trouble with that is a) you’ve got to be prepared to use it and b) no better than them at that point. Not to mention the legality of anything like that. Powerless actually in reality which is a sad state of affairs.
Anyway, thanks for all the sympathy, cheered me up and reminded me that not everyone is a @**#.
Oh and Durham @andybrad
Very sorry to hear about your experience. That is horrible and ultimately frustrating as it brings a feeling of powerlessness.
On the plus side, try and take some solace in the fact that bad things happen to bad people - they're likely to get what they deserve one way or another.
Bad luck, glad you & your bike are alright. Some proper 🔔🔚s about.
Aye the young team really don’t give a **** now !! Brazen as you like knowing they are pretty much untouchable !!
I had a lad around 11 years old ranting at me and trying to tell me how to do my job few weeks back 🙁
was just another victim of crime and that would be the end of it
This is indeed the case. My son and friend were attacked in the local park ... to the extent that his friend had difficulty eating for a few days due to jaw pain. Only 5 months later after a stiff letter to our MP did the cops actually get off their arse and come and speak to him.
as they will never likely be identified.
And if they are it won't make the blindest bit of ****ing difference. The cops know who did my son but say there is no chance of a prosecution as there were no witnesses ( apart from my son's 3 friends and the other 14 people in the gang)
see if anyone in that area may have CCTV or doorbell footage – might have something showing them on their way to or from?
Last I heard going in a direction isn't a crime. This won't help in the slightest. The OP needs independent witnesses that actually saw the blows land and are willing to testify
Aye the young team really don’t give a **** now !! Brazen as you like knowing they are pretty much untouchable !!
This 😒
A word to the wise: if you have a "usual" ride then your movements are predictable.
I had a lad around 11 years old ranting at me and trying to tell me how to do my job few weeks back
I get that every day!!
They are very likely from a very small estate nearby which used to be a police no go area apparently and did at one point have cctv in cages on long poles but it has been off for a while as I understand the area improved - this is info from Mrs OS who grew up here. The cameras are still there but they aren’t active. Police actually said that they have had antisocial behaviour reports regarding bikes and they are pretty sure the culprits come from this estate but they have no resources and can’t catch them at it. Apparently in Peterlee they just ride about the town with balaclavas on knowing they are untouchable because of the inability of the police to catch them.
These were proper scary looking scallywags and had they not assaulted me I was going to call the Police anyway.
Anyhow there were no witnesses (despite the number of runnners/walkers about generally, there were none at this time.)
In an unrelated incident a few weeks ago my 12 year old got off the school bus with 3 friends and they were approached by two older lads who were holding a phone up videoing. One of the lads just started punching my son’s friend in the face while being videoed claiming “this is going on TikTok this is”. It all happened within sight of my house about 40m away and is partially on my cctv but the police say nothing will happen as the boy doesn’t want to press charges as he fears reprisals. The cctv isn’t good enough to actually identify their faces as it’s top of the frame and too far away.
Honestly the world is a mess.
Glad to hear you're ok, getting assaulted is not a pleasant thing to experience.
As someone who's been assaulted multiple times (3 times in private life, 4 at work) I'd advise you watch out for delayed reactions to it, can take a day or two for the brain to fully process what has happened. If you have a partner then to watch for changes in behaviour as you may not notice them. Also don't let it out you off riding early, it's one of the safer times, you were just unlucky.
I just want to wish you all the best.
What a dreadful thing to happen. But as others have said it is rare and these horrible excuses for human beings will end up doing this to the 'wrong' person one day, getting their comeuppance.
We live in a 'nice, quiet' area and this happened in a local park to a youth on his mtbike, the bike was forcibly taken with violence, lots of witnesses. Police said the same to his family, that the horrors (on scooters and with face masks) can't be identified. Luckily our councillor and MP have got involved.
Honestly the world is a mess.
Yep. These nasty people need a jolly good talking to!
Either that or a slap, but apparently violence isn't the answer. So it's only going to get worse.
@oceanskipper, where exactly was this? Just wondering which estate they might have been from.
It’s the Sherburn Road estate.
Sorry to hear about this and hope you are ok. Whilst every part of me is wanting to suggest taking a few mates with you on the next few rides it will just escalate things. Evils shits like this will know other evil shits.
My suggestion would be to get a rape alarm. I have them attached to the dog leads in case my wife or kids run into any trouble whilst they are out and about. It would be simple to attach one to your stem or under the saddle. Bullies etc work on the fact no one knows what they are doing, a screetching rape alarm may just be enough to make them reconsider.
It’s the Sherburn Road estate.
Thought so. It's always been a lovely place. We're you down near Houghall?
I had a similar thing happen along the canal when i lived in the midlands, luckily i was tooled up, the fear left my body and entered theirs.
Had a similar incident (though no contact) with 3 chuffs chasing me and the GF on mopeds near Chesterfield.
I'm a bit immune to seeing off-road bikes and mopeds - but don't expect them to bother us generally.
Clearly times are changing.
It's such a shame that the countryside was the last amazing thing about the UK - is becoming a bit of a refuge for A/S behavior or worse. Bugger off back to the 'burbs.
Scary stuff, hope you're ok OP and back on the bike soon
I had a similar thing happen along the canal when i lived in the midlands, luckily i was tooled up, the fear left my body and entered theirs.
We want details...😀
We’re you down near Houghall?
I was down past the old walled gardens when I first saw them. Opposite the Amateur Rowing Club when he shoved me down the bank. Luckily there’s a railing at the bottom otherwise me and the bike would have gone in the river. Couldn’t get back out initially as too steep.
Hope you're okay chap? Take it easy and try and find things to fill your soul the next week or so.
Little ****ers could do with some restorative justice. By restorative I mean waterboarding until they see the error of their ways.
Sorry to read this, I had a similar thing happen a while ago, lots of things occur post event how you could have handled it better but it's really not worth the risk. Now I just carry a few quid and copies of I'd.
2 weeks ago my local cycle path was taped off, the scrotes had mugged an old lady, how brave. They are only kids, hang about the track picking their victim depending on vulnerability. I just make eye contact and stare them out, a kid did jump out once on me I stopped he legged it.
If you are struggling go back with a mate to recover your confidence.
If there was a like button all the responses would have got a like from me. Thanks for all the sympathy/empathy/encouragement. Cheers everyone. 👍
I’m keen to go back out soon and I have changed the SOS setting on my phone so that repeated presses of the side button will actually dial 999 without any further intervention. Part of the problem this morning was that I had gloves on and couldn’t operate my phone. I didn’t want to let go of the bike in case they saw that as an opportunity to nick it and as he was already trying to grab the phone it made it impossible to swipe the screen one handed with the other holding the bike.
Get a knackered phone to carry in your pocket & if it happens again*, chuck it at him/them.
Keep your actual phone hidden obs.
*Hope it was a one off!
Most of my routes feel pretty safe, but I think I'm gonna look into that side button 999 tip.
Sorry it's taken your awful experience to learn that. Little a holes. Hope you can get through this OK.
Had a few things like this happen to me. And not always the young ones neither.
Takes a while to get the head right after.
One thing that always helps me is when I caught a gang member on his own and he actually cried as he thought I was going to hurt him!
I did not of course but maybe he grew a brain.
They are mainly just daft children young or old.
Stay cool and keep riding
Stuff em
That sounds like a horrible experience OP. I would at least ask the police to refer you to victim support and don’t be afraid to ask them for counselling. I had a bad experience that Durham police made far, far worse with their inept response and I had two years of mental anguish that put me on my arse. Try not to let it get to that stage!
Damn, that is somewhere I occasionally ride, I'd best watch out. I was recently in the woods near Houghall (which is close to there) when our little dog was almost flattened by a lad out of control on a bike.
In defense of Durham Police when I had my garage broken into they did recover some of the stolen items and made a successful prosecution.
That’s a good shout re the victim support - thanks. I went out this morning and was decidedly nervous - I avoided the route in that I used yesterday and in fact I may never go that way again, at least not in the early morning anyway. Utter scumbags.
For anyone local this is where it happened:
Anybody else amazed that the yobs were up that early?They must have been up all night.
Yeah they looked like they had been out all night, they were wasted, eyes all glazed and bloodshot.
This ought to ping to GCN or GMBN
Could they of been after your bike or was it just attempted murder ? "bye"
Zen waves sent your way.
Looking into the 999 thing on my phone now, and I must watch more Jack Reacher (Series version), get some tips.
Tbh I think they were contemplating coming down the bank to get the bike but given how steep it was they thought twice, in that time I had dialled 999 so they gave up. No 1 scumbag definitely was after getting hold of my phone. It wasn’t a targeted attack as there is no way they knew I’d be there and they weren’t lying in wait. If the bike was their target they could have got it before I went down the bank. I go out a lot but it’s not at the same time and often I go elsewhere.
This is terrible news, ad luck OP and I'm glad you are safe.
The same thing happed to Russ Jones of Hackney GT fame on Wednesday night. Riding home from Beastway racing and he's had his bike nicked from under him. He needs it for upcoming completion, really bad news.
That is bad news Kryton,used to know Russ,hope he's OK.
They will have been on drugs OP. I always try to remember that the North East is actually the Wild West. Vigilance is required at all times.Take care,Neil.
The front of my 'steed'is also shod with bomber 55rs!You really wouldn't want to get in front of it.
Awful to hear OP, I hope you get the help you need to get past this and recover your mojo quickly.
OH runs down there from time to time. The Sherburn Road estate has a bit of a reputation - she's been ok so far but tends to stick to non-quiet times of day.
As for Houghall woods - they're very nice (especially at this time of year), but do occasionally attract some unusual types. Not so long ago a man (now caught) had a habit of running naked through the woods alongside joggers.
The front of my ‘steed’is also shod with bomber 55rs!You really wouldn’t want to get in front of it.
??? Is confusion, why not?
OP that is shocking! Couldn’t believe what I was reading.
Hope you’re okay OP. It’s a terrible feeling when something like this happens to you and, as others have stated, it can take a few days for you to process. The little ****s will pick on the wrong person someday.
This makes me both very sad and very angry a the kind of world my kids are growing up into. Hope you are ok.
good to know where our taxes are going
grimep
Free Membergood to know where our taxes are going
Conservatives cut ~15,000 from the police numbers.
