Mindless attack

peterjc

All,

I try to commute to work at least 3 days by bicycle (50k round trip). My route takes me from Lucan via the Strawberry beds and the City to Sandyford and back. I am used to it and enjoy the fact that I can beat the traffic. Apart from the odd motorist that feels the need to shout at me my commute is easy. Except for yesterday evening...

On my way home while on the Strawberry Beds a white Mk2 Ford Transit van drew up along side of me (first thing I noticed was how close it was). The passenger then leaned out of his window and with both hands pussed me into the ditch! This was not a tap on the shoulder, or an innocent mistake, this was done with force and planning. I was doing 30km at the time, 20m earlier and I would have hit a wall, earlier still I could have been in the Liffey!

I have a heavily brused left shoulder and a buckled front wheel but apart from that I am fine but I could have been killed.

Just had top get this off my chest!

Peter

unionman

Please tell me you've reported this. Did you get a number?

Hope you're feeling OK.

Wreck

Try getting it off your chest to the gardai, sounds like a serious assualt.

peterjc

A car driver comming behind rang the Gardai and I am off to the station to make a formal report.

Unfortunately I was hitting the deck at the time so I did not get a number and the car driver behind saw it all happening but was in more shock that I so she too did not get a number.

All's well - still alive!

Peter

niceonetom

i'm losing faith in humanity.

this's crazy stuff. gardai have to be put on the case, and be very sure they understand how serious this is.

heal well, and get back on the bike as soon as you can. it can be difficult to get your confidence back.

peterjc wrote: »

All's well

not if these fella's think this is a joke worth repeating it's not.

chris85

Thats shocking OP, Why the f**k would somebody do something like that?

Hopefully the guards mite be able to figure out who it is.

eve

It's amazing what people will do 'for kicks' or on impulse.

A neighbour of mine when I was younger used to drive to work and gave a lift to someone every now and then. They were on the N3 between the M50 and Clonee when his passengar decided it would be fun to scare a motor bike coming up on their left. Without saying a word to the driver he waited til the bike was almost level with them, then swung the door open. The guy hit the door and was sent flying through the air. Think he sued for 30k in damages.

Ghost Rider

That guy needs to be jailed. Please tell me you'll press charges if the cops ever find out who he is...

Anyways, hope you're feeling better. As the boy Tom said, get back up on that bike (or a bike) sooner rather than later, even if it's just for a short spin.

Victor Meldrew

Ghost Rider wrote: »

That guy needs to be jailed. .

Or put in stocks at the nearest bike shop with a placard around their necks...

or made hand-wash all the cycle shorts after the wicklow 200

Shocking..... I had some cave dwellers shout at me in Ranelagh and wave hands in front of me , just a scare, but still.

Pure vermin.

Best you can do is not let that stop you from doing what you want.

rubadub

That is bizarre, could be viewed as attempted murder let alone serious assault. Lads in fights with reason can punch a guy who can fall and be killed and get locked up. Why would somebody risk life in prison for no reason? totally unprovoked.

DaDa

I honestly feel sick after reading the OP's story.

You can be mindful of so many things, but when I read things like this... it beggars belief!

kenmc

I can only hope that it was "just" a case of mistaken identity on the scumbags part, and not something he is going repeat again and again. Perhaps he thought you were the same guy that got his daughter pregnant or reported him for flytipping or something.
I hope you're going to be ok, and that that guy is found and hung by a testicle from 6 foot until his feet reach the ground again. What a mindless moronic d1ckhead.
It's stories like this which have me considering wearing a helmet cam or bike cam, on the offchance that if something like that ever happened I'd have video evidence of it. Perhaps if every cyclist was to use one, and it was known in the motoring community they'd be less likely to pull a stunt like that. Just like speed cameras..... oh ...well never mind.

Marathon Man

Although i am sickened at the op's story it doesn't surprise me. Anybody who would do that has no respect for law or human life and will no doubt do it again. You were lucky op that you didn't get messed up bad. There surely must be cameras on that stretch of road. See if there is any way you can get access to the footage. Don't let the acts of scumbags stop you from living your life the way that you want to. If you were at that stretch of road at the same time today chances are you'd see them. Even scumbags keep routines. Please keep us informed of how your attempt to track them down pans out.

Caroline_ie

Oh wow ... that's very serious ... what a bunch of *£$$%& idiots .. I am speechless that anyone could do such a thing ...

Thank god you're alright.

Glowing

That's disgusting behaviour - I'm sure they're mother is very proud.

Glad you're alright, sounds like you were lucky considering.

D1ckheads.

Predhead

It may not be much consolation but you can feel better in the knowledge that these losers will achieve nothing in life.

Chips Lovell

I've said it before, but van drivers are just the worst.

Was riding up the North Circular a few years ago when a guy leaned out of a van and screamed at me. Got the fright of my life but stayed upright. It pales in comparison to this though.

Caroline_ie

el tonto wrote: »

Was riding up the North Circular a few years ago when a guy leaned out of a van and screamed at me. Got the fright of my life but stayed upright. It pales in comparison to this though.

That also happens to me on a regular basis ...

Studoc

That is appalling! Sorry to hear about that. Hope they string those knackers up by the knackers.

peterjc

I stuck a hack front wheel on my bike and I will be back on the bike this friday.

I am not going to stop cycling - may review my route but I am not going to stop.

Thanks for the feedback - Just put the message out there to warn you about the loonies! but I guess you already know there out there!

Peter

oobydooby

Thank goodness you're not too badly injured. You sound very calm about this. I'm in a temper just reading about it. Like others have said, please follow this up with the gardai - these thugs will end up seriously hurting somebody. Glad to read about the good samaritan motorist behind you too.

kona

Not suprised to be honest, this country is full of ignorant cu.nts:mad:

society has gone to ****, and i blame this half arsed government, firstly we need to drop this pc bollox, and then reward the gards for beating these pieces of embryotic ****e to within a inch of their dis-advantaged life, then beat then 9/10 of a inch more.

these people only understand violence, cyclists take too much **** off taxi drivers, busses and white vans, and the odd chelsea tractor, dont take any **** off them, when they are minus a wing mirror they will understand,
not right, but its more right than assault.:o

OP I hope you are kay, and this c.unt gets bottled in town some night when he picks on the wrong person.:D

uberwolf

this is the worst yet.

Danbo!

el tonto wrote: »

I've said it before, but van drivers are just the worst.

And of course in the OPs post, its a white van. Glad your okay, but are you sure you didnt hit your head? You seem shockingly calm!

as oobydooby said id be livid..

Caroline_ie

Apparently the latest craze is to slap cyclists in the WW mts on the head as they drive by. A friend of mine was told this by a Gard from greystones, so obviously some incidents have been reported.

Raam

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Apparently the latest craze is to slap cyclists in the WW mts on the head as they drive by. A friend of mine was told this by a Gard from greystones, so obviously some incidents have been reported.

I'll have to keep a sharp eye out for this one

kenmc

jeez the Wicklow 200 is going to be great fun for the gougers...... 1500 people all lined up to play WhackAMole with

edit: although having a sneaky helmet mirror installed would allow you to see them coming up behind you leaning out to hit you and for you to 'accidentally' launch a half-brickthrough the windscreen as "a preaction to the fright of getting smacked" - of course you were just carrying it initially for weight training....

Victor Meldrew

kenmc wrote: »

jeez the Wicklow 200 is going to be great fun for the gougers...... 1500 people all lined up to play WhackAMole with

edit: although having a sneaky helmet mirror installed would allow you to see them coming up behind you leaning out to hit you and for you to 'accidentally' launch a half-brickthrough the windscreen as "a preaction to the fright of getting smacked" - of course you were just carrying it initially for weight training....

Thumb tacs & epoxy resin anyone?

topper75

CCTV should surely enable the gardaí to get this individual. I know it is a white van - common vehicle etc. - but a proper investigation should get them as it is a major route in the capital afaik. I view it as serious assault. They have to be brought to justice for such a malicious attack. Hope you (OP) are physically OK at least.

Builderfromhell

For the sake of balance, I would like to mention that I drive a Van, small truck and car as well as cycling around town.
As an ardent cyclist I watch out for cycles before turning etc. and give cyclists right of way at all times.

Not all Van drivers are anti cyclists nor are all cyclists saints.

Danbo!

Builderfromhell wrote: »

Not all Van drivers are anti cyclists nor are all cyclists saints.

Blasphemy!

rubadub

Builderfromhell wrote: »

Not all Van drivers are anti cyclists nor are all cyclists saints.

This is really about scumbags, doesnt matter what mode of transport they are in. The scumbag in this van would probably have been throwing rocks if he was on foot. I got stones thrown at me around croke park.

'accidentally' launch a half-brickthrough the windscreen

Brick weighs too much, unless you get those fancy carbon fibre ones

This is lightweight, and if you catch up with the car you can unload a full blast in the window.
http://cgi.ebay.ie/PEPPER-SPRAY-PEPERONCINO-DIFESA-PERSONALE-LEGALE_W0QQitemZ230230154996QQihZ013QQcategoryZ15503QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.ie/PEP-CAP-SELF-DEFENSE-PEPPER-SPRAY-PROBABLY-THE-BEST_W0QQitemZ290213789697QQihZ019QQcategoryZ12113QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

SerialComplaint

topper75 wrote: »

CCTV should surely enable the gardaí to get this individual. I know it is a white van - common vehicle etc. - but a proper investigation should get them as it is a major route in the capital afaik. I view it as serious assault. They have to be brought to justice for such a malicious attack. Hope you (OP) are physically OK at least.

I was thinking about CCTV too. Look out for any CCTV cameras along this route. Check with the Anglers Rest or any other pubs or businesses on that route to see if their CCTV cameras pick up traffic on the road. The Gardai should really be checking for this, but no harm is doing a bit of detective work yourself.

OP - Hope you're feeling better. I wonder if it would be worthwhile hanging around at the top of the hill for 15-30 minutes on a few evenings next week to see if you can spot this guy on his regular commute.

Gary ITR

peterjc wrote: »

All,

I try to commute to work at least 3 days by bicycle (50k round trip). My route takes me from Lucan via the Strawberry beds and the City to Sandyford and back. I am used to it and enjoy the fact that I can beat the traffic. Apart from the odd motorist that feels the need to shout at me my commute is easy. Except for yesterday evening...

On my way home while on the Strawberry Beds a white Mk2 Ford Transit van drew up along side of me (first thing I noticed was how close it was). The passenger then leaned out of his window and with both hands pussed me into the ditch! This was not a tap on the shoulder, or an innocent mistake, this was done with force and planning. I was doing 30km at the time, 20m earlier and I would have hit a wall, earlier still I could have been in the Liffey!

I have a heavily brused left shoulder and a buckled front wheel but apart from that I am fine but I could have been killed.

Just had top get this off my chest!

Peter

Did you text George Hook today about this? Either it was you or else it also happened to somebody else

bobtjustice

Glad your ok... words cannot describe the contempt I have for people like this.

AFC_1903

peterjc wrote: »

On my way home while on the Strawberry Beds a white Mk2 Ford Transit van drew up along side of me (first thing I noticed was how close it was). The passenger then leaned out of his window and with both hands pussed me into the ditch! This was not a tap on the shoulder, or an innocent mistake, this was done with force and planning. I was doing 30km at the time, 20m earlier and I would have hit a wall, earlier still I could have been in the Liffey!

I have a heavily brused left shoulder and a buckled front wheel but apart from that I am fine but I could have been killed.

I'd something similar happen to me 10+1/2 years ago just ouside the town limits of a town called Banff, in North East Scotland, 6 miles from my family home. I aged 15 at the time (Picking on a kid - shame on them), not exactly well built, and was going about 20mph. To my left was a pavement, and one of those walls (8ft high) made out of jaggedy rocks bound with concrete.

A navy Vauxhall Cavalier (the irony is not lost on me) came up behind me and went to pass me. It was still light, despite being late evening, so the driver definitly saw me. As did the passenger. He leant out and gave me a quick push. My front wheel hit the kerb, I went over the handlebars, in my greatest spill to date [and *touch wood* nor will I have a worse one in the future]. I did not get the plate of the car, nor was there witnesses - it being a quiet enough road and all.

I was wearing those thin, slightly shiny, tracksuit pants that tear/melt with friction that were popular back then with a t-shirt and one of the old bike helmets. You know the type, a big lump of polystyrene with a lycra cover. I had removed the (red and white) cover as it made the helmet look a wee bit more acceptable, and didn't have any refleciveness anyway. When I looked up to see the car dissappearing around the corner I could also see a trail of bits of polystyrene sticking out of the wall. Had I not been wearing the helmet that *WOULD* have been bits of my head and a hospital visit. My knee was also banjaxed - I still have a marked knee - and I could see white (kneecap?) in amongst all the torn flesh and blood. After sitting at the side of the road for a while, til my head stopped spinning, I walked back into town, pushing a bike with a knackered front wheel, to a friends house (this was pre-mobile phones) then after getting cleaned up, and calling home, to the cop shop to report it.

Much as I loath to say it, these kind of mindless morons have been doing this for years, not just in Ireland, and as the roads get busier, and people get more ignorant it will only get worse. I live in Cork now, and have more trouble with people who don't look than intentional morons. I'd say most people on this forum have almost run down people who step out without looking, have almost been doored, or swiped by people who are just too damn lazy to look.

Anyway, look out for yourself lads, crashes hurt!

DirkVoodoo

I don't think I need to echo the sentiments of fellow cyclists here made about sick ****ers like that.

Assault, pure and simple. It would be all over the news if someone tried ramming another car off the road.

Something to be said for having a drinks bottle filled with cement in a spare cage. Many a time I have wished I had something to lob at a rear windscreen that has endangered my life!