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Boys on bikes!

  • 13-05-2020 8:06pm
    #1
    fat bloke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,929 ✭✭✭


    I dunno if it's just around us -Firhouse/Knocklyon area -but the increase, from basically zero, in lads on bikes is absolutely astonishing.
    Yes there are more families on bikes out cycling, yes there are girls as well, and yes there are plenty of men of all ages, old and new, as always. But the biggest trend now harks back to when I was a lad (:)) which was that the bicycle was the default method of "gadding" about if you were a teenager.

    It's fantastic.

    They're out in 2's and 3's and even 10's, and they're exploring and wheelying and climbing the highest local hills and careening down them without a care in the world. All the things that make bikes fun and make cycling great - craic and freedom and and bit of risk.

    I'm almost every day up to the featherbeds on my training path up and down and a couple of days ago there were about ten young fellas, on all sorts of bikes - hand me downs, new hybrids, cheap mtb's, BTW-scheme cast-offs, gathered there at the top of the featherbeds at the right turn which brings you very steeply down to Gleann na Smól. Obviously local ish lads, and yet quite possibly the first time any of them had ever cycled up the top of the hill and they were building up the dutch courage to zoom down it. -Again, just exactly what I would have done, and did, (though not in Dublin) with my mates when I was their age.
    Yesterday, going past the viewing point -four lads together, on the motliest selection of bikes you ever saw. A rusty aul clunker with I'd swear to God 3 speed sturmey archer, a brand new cube hybrid, an aul racer thing, and all being led up the hill by a fella on a BMX!!! - I mean fair feckin' play to him, if he sat on the saddle he'd box his ears with his knees :D. That's a hard hill on a fixie, let alone out of the saddle the whole way up.

    It's been like that now pretty much every day for months with increasing regularity, but every time I see a gang they're further up the hill then before and there are fewer walking. It started out and there'd be 5 lads half way up the Gunny, hardly 200m pedalling done and they stopped, leaning on the crossbars, or walking and panting. Then the gruppettos started making the Hellfire, now they're reaching the viewing point and beyond.

    I'm sure at some stage they'll be the latest scourge on Liveline. 2 wheeled boy racers, scaring pensioners and worrying sheep etc. But until then, it lifts my heart and gives me hope for the future. :cool:


«1

Comments

  • #2
    crosstownk
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,863 ✭✭✭✭crosstownk


    Yep - I've seen similar. I'm just down the road in Terenure. Plenty of young lads out on bikes. Great to see. All in good form and enjoying themselves.

    Great to hear they're tackling the hills too. As a teenager I did exactly that - up to the Hellfire, lock the bikes, walk the rest of the way. Then the best bit - zooming back down. All long before the Tallaght by pass and back when Morton's was on a country lane :eek: I remember one lad came down the hill at speed with no brakes on a Raleigh Grifter using his runners as brakes. :D Mental.

    Really good to see that some young lads have put down the PS4 and are getting out an about and enjoying the bike.
    Untitled Image




  • #3
    07Lapierre
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,255 ✭✭✭07Lapierre


    Great to see...did the same when I was a kid. Now I’m 52 years old and I’ve started playing PS4! :)


  • #4
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,167 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    has anyone else noticed a big increase in the number of carrera bikes on the road? is carrera the brand which enjoys the 'most likely to have been left sitting in the back of the shed till now' accolade?


  • #5
    crosstownk
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,863 ✭✭✭✭crosstownk


    magicbastarder wrote: »
    has anyone else noticed a big increase in the number of carrera bikes on the road? is carrera the brand which enjoys the 'most likely to have been left sitting in the back of the shed till now' accolade?

    Lots of Carerra’s but I’m also I’m seeing lots of Trek bikes too. Mostly hybrids and all sparkly clean.
    Untitled Image




  • #6
    martyc5674
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,521 ✭✭✭martyc5674


    And the reason?- they are not all been run around to scheduled events every evening of the week (hurling/football/piano/martial arts/tennis/horse riding/flying lessons!) so they being forced to get a bit creative and out and about a bit.


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  • #7
    punisher5112
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,644 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    Seeing outside bike shops all around Dublin and outskirts where the new bike boxes are in piles outside, sales seem to be through the roof and yes there are way more out cycling then ever before and big families too....

    You can also see a huge increase in walkers and runners too of course.


  • #8
    listermint
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,104 ✭✭✭✭listermint


    Was definitely hanging around the firhouse knocklyn areas when I was a young lad chasing ladies. Cycled all the way . Ah the days


  • #9
    eeeee
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,855 Mod ✭✭✭✭eeeee


    Can't wait till it's gangs of both boys and girls on bikes tearing around the place. ;)

    If there's one thing to learn in this lockdown, it's how to wheelie. It might take me longer than a year :pac:


  • #10
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,167 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    i only recently learned that my brother once 'borrowed' my prized muddy fox courier comp, when he was about 17, and in a bid to impress some local ladies, decided to pull an endo in front of them. problem was, the brakes were better than he was used to, so he managed to faceplant himself in front of said ladies, and somehow do little enough damage to my bike that i didn't notice.


  • #11
    punisher5112
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,644 ✭✭✭✭punisher5112


    magicbastarder wrote: »
    i only recently learned that my brother once 'borrowed' my prized muddy fox courier comp, when he was about 17, and in a bid to impress some local ladies, decided to pull an endo in front of them. problem was, the brakes were better than he was used to, so he managed to faceplant himself in front of said ladies, and somehow do little enough damage to my bike that i didn't notice.

    What did the ladies think....


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  • #12
    sy_flembeck
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 891 ✭✭✭sy_flembeck


    I brought my bike to the LBS for a repair yesterday and he told me he had 60 bikes in front of me. There were bikes of all colour and creed everywhere. He only took mine in at all because I'm a regular customer. Great to see


  • #13
    NSAman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,441 ✭✭✭NSAman


    now if we can only get the “old lads” out of Lycra... all would be good with the world.


  • #14
    Tenzor07
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,998 ✭✭✭Tenzor07


    Yea plenty of Gangs of lads cycling around in groups, maybe 10 or something....around city centre/North Dublin... Loads..

    When I see them however I put the hammer down, i'm cycling a fairly good bike, and with laptop bag on my back i'm not taking chances...

    These groups could be quite intimidating when they pedal around in their groups, tracksuits/hoods up, some of the sorts i've seen would whip your phone or bag, the Gards won't chase them...


  • #15
    Crocked
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 543 ✭✭✭Crocked


    crosstownk wrote: »
    Yep - I've seen similar. I'm just down the road in Terenure. Plenty of young lads out on bikes. Great to see. All in good form and enjoying themselves.

    Great to hear they're tackling the hills too. As a teenager I did exactly that - up to the Hellfire, lock the bikes, walk the rest of the way. Then the best bit - zooming back down. All long before the Tallaght by pass and back when Morton's was on a country lane :eek: I remember one lad came down the hill at speed with no brakes on a Raleigh Grifter using his runners as brakes. :D Mental.

    Really good to see that some young lads have put down the PS4 and are getting out an about and enjoying the bike.

    I had to do that as a kid from the Hell Fire back down after brakes went to ****e. The smell of burning rubber would make your eyes water. Tyre had worn though to pretty much the runner insole by the time I got home :pac:


  • #16
    retalivity
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,506 ✭✭✭✭retalivity


    Tenzor07 wrote: »
    Yea plenty of Gangs of lads cycling around in groups, maybe 10 or something....around city centre/North Dublin... Loads..

    When I see them however I put the hammer down, i'm cycling a fairly good bike, and with laptop bag on my back i'm not taking chances...

    These groups could be quite intimidating when they pedal around in their groups, tracksuits/hoods up, some of the sorts i've seen would whip your phone or bag, the Gards won't chase them...

    Same in d8. Local scrotes have all taken to 2 wheels, and a lot of the bikes appear ro be new and/or ill-fitting...
    These lads dont appear to want to tackle any hills..just pull wheelies, block traffic, and roar shi1te at ppl


  • #17
    Tenzor07
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,998 ✭✭✭Tenzor07


    retalivity wrote: »
    Same in d8. Local scrotes have all taken to 2 wheels, and a lot of the bikes appear ro be new and/or ill-fitting...
    These lads dont appear to want to tackle any hills..just pull wheelies, block traffic, and roar shi1te at ppl

    Seem to be everywhere around city centre and a lot of the rougher areas of the city, they've moved on from Horses and scramblers probably due to the success of the Gardai tackling the issue...However they all know that the Gards are unlikely to try and disperse them, what Gard wants to be seen to pursue lads on bicycles in a patrol car, and any foot patrols won't catch them....


  • #18
    Mc Love
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,015 ✭✭✭✭Mc Love


    I'm cycling all the roads I used to do as a young un now too - Really fascinating to see the changes in the environment


  • #19
    padd b1975
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,782 ✭✭✭✭padd b1975


    Lots of young lads on road bikes.

    Are they back in vogue?


  • #20
    TheBoyConor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,292 ✭✭✭TheBoyConor


    Most of the good bike are probably robbed.


  • #21
    cletus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,050 ✭✭✭cletus


    This thread started out so positively...


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  • #22
    TheBoyConor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,292 ✭✭✭TheBoyConor


    Do you really think a 13 or 14 year old is going to go out and buy an oversized hybrid bike?


  • #23
    Idleater
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,236 ✭✭✭Idleater


    padd b1975 wrote: »
    Lots of young lads on road bikes.

    Are they back in vogue?

    I was chatting to the guys in my lbs - must have been before Christmas- and they were saying that the kids (youths) were all into the bikes. Specifically 29er MTB, but hybrids an a second choice.

    Gangs of them tearing around on footpads. There's so many here that some gangs have to use the road. It's funny to see.

    I got comments on the my Brompton (obviously failed on wheel size) and road bike (pointing out wheel size seemed moot) but they didn't notice (or care) that my mtb was 26"


  • #24
    cletus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,050 ✭✭✭cletus


    TheBoyConor wrote: »
    Do you really think a 13 or 14 year old is going to go out and buy an oversized hybrid bike?

    Is there any chance that any of them are taking whatever bikes are in the shed at home? Dad's BTW scheme bike etc.?

    It's depressing that the first conclusion jumped to when we finally see young kids on bikes, being active etc, is that they're all scrotes on stolen bikes.


  • #25
    MojoMaker
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,747 ✭✭✭MojoMaker


    I think there's definitely a bit of "borrowing whatever's at home" going on yes. Great to see alright and easy to differentiate between the enthusiasts out for a bit of capering around and the troublemakers out in packs, with hoods up and looking for mischief.


  • #26
    TheBoyConor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,292 ✭✭✭TheBoyConor


    Yes, of course some of them might be genuinely borrowed from family or friends.

    But I don't think it is completely unreasonable to expect that when it is a large gang of juvenile males, that a significant portion of the newer and better spec bikes are going to be "borrowed" on a more permanent basis, and to expect that some of them will just end up in the canal after the joyride is over.

    While it is good to see young lads out on bikes, I'd be worried that they will be down on the greenways and walkways by the canals abusing and intimidating passers by. There is an ongoing major problem with gangs of youths knocking people off of bikes to steal them. They do it down there because the paths are narrow and you can't avoid them, you must pass by them. They could push you off, or they might swing a punch or stick at you as you pass by. Often they don't even want the bike - it is bike jacking for the thrill and sake of it. Steal your phone too if they can get it handy. People have been injured and are intimidated going down there.


  • #27
    fat bloke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,929 ✭✭✭fat bloke


    For a crowd that hate labels, we're awfully quick to label! :D

    Anyway, they're not louts unless they're wearing lycra, everybody knows that.


  • #28
    Sam Quentin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,229 ✭✭✭Sam Quentin


    The bikes should be turned upside down with the lad still sitting on on the saddle and the serial number verified...then on your way with a clip round the ear.


    [Ps: this is meant as a humerus post and I think it's great to see as it's exactly what I did as a kid]


  • #29
    cletus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,050 ✭✭✭cletus


    TheBoyConor wrote: »
    Yes, of course some of them might be genuinely borrowed from family or friends.

    But I don't think it is completely unreasonable to expect that when it is a large gang of juvenile males, that a significant portion of the newer and better spec bikes are going to be "borrowed" on a more permanent basis, and to expect that some of them will just end up in the canal after the joyride is over.

    While it is good to see young lads out on bikes, I'd be worried that they will be down on the greenways and walkways by the canals abusing and intimidating passers by. There is an ongoing major problem with gangs of youths knocking people off of bikes to steal them. They do it down there because the paths are narrow and you can't avoid them, you must pass by them. They could push you off, or they might swing a punch or stick at you as you pass by. Often they don't even want the bike - it is bike jacking for the thrill and sake of it. Steal your phone too if they can get it handy. People have been injured and are intimidated going down there.

    Significant portion? How many teenagers on bikes at the moment do you think have stolen them. Are we assuming here the majority of teenagers in general are criminals?

    I teach in a secondary school, so I'm around teenagers quite a bit. Hanging around in a group and being loud doesn't make you a criminal, it makes you a loud teenager hanging out with your mates. Most of them are not aware of the levels of intimidation this can cause people, especially when they are not attempting to be intimidating in the first place.

    Are there young lads going around on stolen bikes? Yep. Is it the majority of them, I sincerely doubt it


  • #30
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,167 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    i guess that when my parents were sold a bike too big for me because 'he'll grow into it', people looked at me when i was cycling it and assumed i'd nicked it.


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  • #31
    fat bloke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,929 ✭✭✭fat bloke


    There could be a delicious up-side to scrotes-on-bikes, statistically a significant proportion of them will experience the stinging pain of having a bike stolen from them. :)


  • #32
    keane2097
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,775 ✭✭✭✭keane2097


    cletus wrote: »
    Significant portion? How many teenagers on bikes at the moment do you think have stolen them. Are we assuming here the majority of teenagers in general are criminals?

    I teach in a secondary school, so I'm around teenagers quite a bit. Hanging around in a group and being loud doesn't make you a criminal, it makes you a loud teenager hanging out with your mates. Most of them are not aware of the levels of intimidation this can cause people, especially when they are not attempting to be intimidating in the first place.

    Are there young lads going around on stolen bikes? Yep. Is it the majority of them, I sincerely doubt it

    I'd say the ratio of large gang of juvenile males to gangs who go around robbing bikes is about 100:1.


  • #33
    Tenzor07
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,998 ✭✭✭Tenzor07


    TheBoyConor wrote: »
    While it is good to see young lads out on bikes, I'd be worried that they will be down on the greenways and walkways by the canals abusing and intimidating passers by. There is an ongoing major problem with gangs of youths knocking people off of bikes to steal them. They do it down there because the paths are narrow and you can't avoid them, you must pass by them. They could push you off, or they might swing a punch or stick at you as you pass by. Often they don't even want the bike - it is bike jacking for the thrill and sake of it. Steal your phone too if they can get it handy. People have been injured and are intimidated going down there.

    Like the OP says, he's seen a lot around by the Hellfire and the viewing point, where a lot of people will cycle(within their 5k) on bikes that would be worth upwards of €5k... and inline with HSE recommendations will be cycling alone, to come across groups of up to 10 young men on scrap or stolen bikes is extremely intimidating, all they have to do is push you off the bike and cycle away back down the hill on your bike which is worth more than a used car...
    Not an issue pre-covid as a lot of people would cycle in groups and there'd be more normal people around, so less chances of being robbed or attacked.

    As the gangs on bikes are in groups then chances are they are all from different households and up at the viewpoint probably more than 5k from home, I would hope the Gardai are actively turning them back home or charging them..


  • #34
    fat bloke
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,929 ✭✭✭fat bloke


    Tenzor07 wrote: »
    Like the OP says, he's seen a lot around by the Hellfire and the viewing point, where a lot of people will cycle(within their 5k) on bikes that would be worth upwards of €5k... and inline with HSE recommendations will be cycling alone, to come across groups of up to 10 young men on scrap or stolen bikes is extremely intimidating, all they have to do is push you off the bike and cycle away back down the hill on your bike which is worth more than a used car...
    Not an issue pre-covid as a lot of people would cycle in groups and there'd be more normal people around, so less chances of being robbed or attacked.

    As the gangs on bikes are in groups then chances are they are all from different households and up at the viewpoint probably more than 5k from home, I would hope the Gardai are actively turning them back home or charging them..


    Lest there be any confusion, being the OP I'd like to distance myself from the above opinion (which of course Tenzor is wholly entitled to hold but I fundamentally disagree).

    There are loads of people up around the Hellfire and beyond to the Featherbeds -drivers, walkers, sightseers, motorcyclists, sneaky-joint smokers. All groups of lads on bikes which I've met have been civilised and good-natured, open to a bit of banter as I pass. As I said, I'm up there every day for nearly 3 months and illegally parked-cars partially blocking the road is the only and ever-present antisocial behaviour that I want Gardaí to act upon. Certainly not sending young cyclists home.


  • #35
    cletus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,050 ✭✭✭cletus


    Jesus, lads, you'd swear there were roving bands of marauding and pillaging teenagers countrywide going around stealing every bike visible


  • #36
    Boardnashea
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 864 ✭✭✭Boardnashea


    Not exactly relevant to OP bt I love when the local Tri Club have an open day for kids and you get all the types of bikes listed above trying to race around the park.
    15 year olds on the bike they had when they were 30 cms shorter and, as above, boxing their ears with their knees if they sit on the saddle and 10 year olds who can't get their feet on the ground cause they are dads commuter. They need a rolling start and catch them on the finish line before they fall!
    There is always a trail of rust and cobwebs around the track from the machines pulled from ditches and behind sheds.
    It alway reminds me of ...
    https://youtu.be/_ATOsniJvL8


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  • #37
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,167 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    is it some sort of transition like this, when a school student goes out on a bike without his uniform and schoolbag?
    asking for a friend.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIh0kMPdlUc


  • #38
    TheBoyConor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,292 ✭✭✭TheBoyConor


    Maybe up by the hellfire and featherbeds isn't as bad as down by the canals, but there is a lot of intimidation and antisocial behaviour going on down there with youths, many of them on bicycles. And I think that teacher should come off of it with the bleeding heart. Groups of juvenile males hanging around with some of them on bikes worth 5 grand - I'd be genuinely surprised if a lot of them weren't stolen and if half of them didn't end up in a ditch or a canal by the end of the day.

    Look at what goes on:
    https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/shocking-footage-shows-cyclist-repeatedly-17125449
    https://www.thejournal.ie/canal-crime-courts-4122979-Jul2018/ - I know people will say I'm victim blaming but that woman was a fool to keep going down the path with this carryon happening daily. She should have picked a safer route. She could have avoided it if she was a bit smarter about it
    https://www.thejournal.ie/dublin-cyclist-attacks-4925837-Dec2019/
    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/gardaí-conducting-grand-canal-patrols-after-attacks-on-cyclists-1.4118613

    I remember listening to the discussions on these attacks. In a lot of cases they were after the bikes.

    I would be extremely wary of congregations of juvenile males who are in an area without any specific purpose.


  • #39
    cletus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,050 ✭✭✭cletus


    TheBoyConor wrote: »
    Maybe up by the hellfire and featherbeds isn't as bad as down by the canals, but there is a lot of intimidation and antisocial behaviour going on down there with youths, many of them on bicycles. And I think that teacher should come off of it with the bleeding heart. Groups of juvenile males hanging around with some of them on bikes worth 5 grand - I'd be genuinely surprised if a lot of them weren't stolen and if half of them didn't end up in a ditch or a canal by the end of the day.

    Look at what goes on:
    https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/shocking-footage-shows-cyclist-repeatedly-17125449
    https://www.thejournal.ie/canal-crime-courts-4122979-Jul2018/ - I know people will say I'm victim blaming but that woman was a fool to keep going down the path with this carryon happening daily. She should have picked a safer route. She could have avoided it if she was a bit smarter about it
    https://www.thejournal.ie/dublin-cyclist-attacks-4925837-Dec2019/
    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/gardaí-conducting-grand-canal-patrols-after-attacks-on-cyclists-1.4118613

    I remember listening to the discussions on these attacks. In a lot of cases they were after the bikes.

    I would be extremely wary of congregations of juvenile males who are in an area without any specific purpose.

    I am that teacher, and believe me, I'm far from a bleeding heart.

    The only poster talking about youths on 5k bikes is you.

    That section of the canal is well known as a dangerous area, has been for a while. There is a thread on this forum about it. Those incidents that you are pointing out are being carried out by a relatively small number of thugs. They're thugs now, and they'll most likely be thugs when they're adults.

    However, that small group is not representational of male teenagers as a whole.

    I don't know what age you are, but I'm 40, and I remember being a teenager. If I wasn't in school or working a part time job, then wherever I was, I was there without a specific purpose. Mostly hanging around with friends, and probably being too loud.

    So I'll ask again, theboyconor, what percentage or portion of teenagers on bikes, around the city and county of Dublin if you like, are roaming gangs of bike thieves?


  • #40
    TheBoyConor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,292 ✭✭✭TheBoyConor


    well if I saw a pack of scummy looking juvenile males going around abusing and intimidating people on a mish mash of rusty old scrap bikes and ill-fitting and expensive road bikes, my first thought is that the expensive ones are probably robbed.


    Why don't the Gardaí go up there and take the serial numbers of those bikes and see are they robbed. Then we can talk about percentages. But we know the Gardaí won't do a single thing - because there's no point and they too are probably half afraid.

    Gangs like this being rude and obnoxious are extremely intimidating, even if they don't realise it. Especially to the elderly or infirm.

    In my work, I have had my work crew assaulted, charged with stolen vehicles, bricks thrown through windscreens and much more. Marauding gangs of young fellas, many of them in bikes are the usual culprits.
    In once case a crew working in a public area had to endure a morning of harassment that reached a climax when the big man of the gang decided to ram a stolen jeep through the job site at speed, sending barriers, tools and freshly poured concrete in all directions. It is only through quick reactions and luck that workers people weren't injured or killed. Their crime? trying to install better facilities for these ungrateful scrotes.

    So I hope you can forgive me for being somewhat suspicious when it comes to congregations of juvenile males. My experience of them has been mostly extremely negative.


  • #41
    Mc Love
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,015 ✭✭✭✭Mc Love


    The OP was talking about a group of mates, not thugs. You can tell straight away if they are skobes too though, so I think its unfair to say that if you see a group of boys on bikes that they are thugs.

    On my morning cycle, there were two lads on bikes on the road, waiting for another mate to join them, but this was between 07.30 & 08.00 - fantastic to see young lads like this heading out on their bikes.

    Just to add - most of the skobes I see are on scramblers and the like, not on push bikes.


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  • #42
    keane2097
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,775 ✭✭✭✭keane2097


    TheBoyConor wrote: »
    well if I saw a pack of scummy looking juvenile males going around abusing and intimidating people on a mish mash of rusty old scrap bikes and ill-fitting and expensive road bikes, my first thought is that the expensive ones are probably robbed.


    Why don't the Gardaí go up there and take the serial numbers of those bikes and see are they robbed. Then we can talk about percentages. But we know the Gardaí won't do a single thing - because there's no point and they too are probably half afraid.

    Gangs like this being rude and obnoxious are extremely intimidating, even if they don't realise it. Especially to the elderly or infirm.

    In my work, I have had my work crew assaulted, charged with stolen vehicles, bricks thrown through windscreens and much more. Marauding gangs of young fellas, many of them in bikes are the usual culprits.
    In once case a crew working in a public area had to endure a morning of harassment that reached a climax when the big man of the gang decided to ram a stolen jeep through the job site at speed, sending barriers, tools and freshly poured concrete in all directions. It is only through quick reactions and luck that workers people weren't injured or killed. Their crime? trying to install better facilities for these ungrateful scrotes.

    So I hope you can forgive me for being somewhat suspicious when it comes to congregations of juvenile males. My experience of them has been mostly extremely negative.

    Marauding gangs of young fellas on bikes carrying around bricks to throw through car windscreens? Will you ever **** off.


  • #43
    cletus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,050 ✭✭✭cletus


    TheBoyConor wrote: »
    well if I saw a pack of scummy looking juvenile males going around abusing and intimidating people on a mish mash of rusty old scrap bikes and ill-fitting and expensive road bikes, my first thought is that the expensive ones are probably robbed.


    Why don't the Gardaí go up there and take the serial numbers of those bikes and see are they robbed. Then we can talk about percentages. But we know the Gardaí won't do a single thing - because there's no point and they too are probably half afraid.

    Gangs like this being rude and obnoxious are extremely intimidating, even if they don't realise it. Especially to the elderly or infirm.

    In my work, I have had my work crew assaulted, charged with stolen vehicles, bricks thrown through windscreens and much more. Marauding gangs of young fellas, many of them in bikes are the usual culprits.
    In once case a crew working in a public area had to endure a morning of harassment that reached a climax when the big man of the gang decided to ram a stolen jeep through the job site at speed, sending barriers, tools and freshly poured concrete in all directions. It is only through quick reactions and luck that workers people weren't injured or killed. Their crime? trying to install better facilities for these ungrateful scrotes.

    So I hope you can forgive me for being somewhat suspicious when it comes to congregations of juvenile males. My experience of them has been mostly extremely negative.

    Go back and have a read of the first post, and see do you think that's what the op was talking about


  • #44
    Pigeon Reaper
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,294 ✭✭✭Pigeon Reaper


    I think I took a wrong turn and ended up in after hours....


  • #45
    Sam Quentin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,229 ✭✭✭Sam Quentin


    cletus wrote: »
    Jesus, lads, you'd swear there were roving bands of marauding and pillaging teenagers countrywide going around stealing every bike visible


    Just in Dublin :D


  • #46
    Sam Quentin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,229 ✭✭✭Sam Quentin


    TheBoyConor wrote: »
    well if I saw a pack of scummy looking juvenile males going around abusing and intimidating people on a mish mash of rusty old scrap bikes and ill-fitting and expensive road bikes, my first thought is that the expensive ones are probably robbed.


    Why don't the Gardaí go up there and take the serial numbers of those bikes and see are they robbed. Then we can talk about percentages. But we know the Gardaí won't do a single thing - because there's no point and they too are probably half afraid.

    Gangs like this being rude and obnoxious are extremely intimidating, even if they don't realise it. Especially to the elderly or infirm.

    In my work, I have had my work crew assaulted, charged with stolen vehicles, bricks thrown through windscreens and much more. Marauding gangs of young fellas, many of them in bikes are the usual culprits.
    In once case a crew working in a public area had to endure a morning of harassment that reached a climax when the big man of the gang decided to ram a stolen jeep through the job site at speed, sending barriers, tools and freshly poured concrete in all directions. It is only through quick reactions and luck that workers people weren't injured or killed. Their crime? trying to install better facilities for these ungrateful scrotes.

    So I hope you can forgive me for being somewhat suspicious when it comes to congregations of juvenile males. My experience of them has been mostly extremely negative.

    Here here well said.. if no one can understand the 2 sides of this thread, then they must be living under a rock.


  • #47
    smacl
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 15,776 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    Tenzor07 wrote: »
    Like the OP says, he's seen a lot around by the Hellfire and the viewing point, where a lot of people will cycle(within their 5k) on bikes that would be worth upwards of €5k... and inline with HSE recommendations will be cycling alone, to come across groups of up to 10 young men on scrap or stolen bikes is extremely intimidating, all they have to do is push you off the bike and cycle away back down the hill on your bike which is worth more than a used car...
    Not an issue pre-covid as a lot of people would cycle in groups and there'd be more normal people around, so less chances of being robbed or attacked.

    I'm cycling up to the viewing point every morning at the moment early enough and even by 6:30-7am there is a steady trickle of roadies going up and down by then. It's not really that isolated. I stopped cycling up there at lunch so as to avoid the crowds. The amount of bikes out on the road is quite heart warming in my opinion. I've seen quite a few families with reasonably young kids tackling Stocking lane and fair forks to them. Lots of teens cycling up to the Hellfire, but then there's always been teens up there.


  • #48
    Hamsterchops
    Registered Users Posts: 3,278 ✭✭✭Hamsterchops


    As long as everybody is wearing cycle helmets then all is ok. Far too many boy cyclists currently shooting about without their helmets :(

    I take my kids out for a cycle everyday and we wouldn't never venture out without helmets.


  • #49
    smacl
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 15,776 Mod ✭✭✭✭smacl


    Hamsterchops wrote: »
    As long as everybody is wearing cycle helmets then all is ok. Far too many younger cyclists currently shooting about without their helmets :(

    I take my kids out for a cycle everyday and we wouldn't never venture out without helmets.

    You're on the wrong thread, for helmet discussions try here; https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057030568


  • #50
    MojoMaker
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,747 ✭✭✭MojoMaker


    Wrong thread, wrong forum.


  • #51
    eeeee
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,855 Mod ✭✭✭✭eeeee


    Mod Warning: This is a thread appreciating the increasing number of young people on bikes. It is NOT a thread on helmets, (there's a mega thread on that linked above, please familiarise yourself with the arguments made several times on that thread before contributing) nor is it a thread castigating young people on bikes. There is a separate thread for issues with youths on the canals.

    This is an appreciation of the jump in numbers of young people on bikes. It's great. I personally can't wait for the non - boy gangs / mixed gangs to form!

    Any further OT posts will just be deleted.


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