Cyclist Self Defense

[Pricklypet]

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I do not believe in riding scared but i do believe that anyone at anytime its unpredicted that something bad might or eventually happen to any of us here who ride our bikes. It wont matter wether its early dawn or late at night or in the middle of the day, people now a days are quite unpredictable for unknown reasons.

I'd like to give an insight to my fellow cyclist (MTD to Road to Foldies to any type of bike) through the help of Istorya.net that i hope i can reach others out there. Some of us here has a routine bike ride, like for example some of us here would ride up to the famous "Willies" every saturday or on a sunday or to the infamous "manipis" road.
Im sure that no right minded cyclist would go for a ride with out a helmet but aside from the "accidents" that would normally happen like flats or a small crash. What about the spectators the we pass by and have no idea what intentions they have?

(june 30, 2012)
For my case it happened early this morning around 7:20AM+ i just left from willies and was taking my time to catch my breath for awhile (going downhill at a very slow pace) while some of us love to greet fellow cyclist along the way, out of no-where a red toyota Innova with the front passenger side window was open all the way down and a dark skin man with dark shades pointed something at me and shouted "TAGO BRAD!! TAGO!! HUPO DAYUN!!" I was so scared because not to mention i was alone that i slowed down (Hoping they would pass) and closed my eyes and hoped nothing was going to hit me coming from him. I was pretty much sure that it was a gun pointed towards me (God knows if it was real or not) but i just closed my eyes and hoped for nothing will happen to me.

About a minute of closing my eyes, i was so relieved that they were already ahead of me, i was thinking about going back to willies to tell the other what happened but i was too stunned to think it through in time and just kept on saying to myself "what a relieve! what a relieve!" and pushed on. i already thought of the idea about going back to tell the other but i already passed marco polo. It all happened to fast for me to compose my thoughts..

I dont know if it was just a prank by some damn teens but i was scared to my balls that it crammed all the way down. I have been riding my bike since i was a kid started out with the BMX and rode with my dad to MTB trails and TT to provinces when i was 14, i can say to my self i have my own Candace pace for uphill and its not that fast compared to other out there..

This isnt the 1st time for me, actually. Way way back in 2005 or 2004 around bike month? My bike was actually stolen from me while i was riding it, i was on my way to Danao and it happened a few meters from Titay's. I was pushed of my bike, sprained my ankles because i was on my cleats, punched twice on the head, and they drove of with my bike on a motorcycle. -_- It all happened in broad day light and everything was too fast for me to act and i was also alone at the time (i got left behind from the pack)

Another was this year 2012, February, A guy from a motorcycle pushed me of the road thinking i would dismount from my bike but instead sprinted my way to the barangay hall few feet away from me. And i was on my way home! My house was just 3 to 4 blocks away!

I just wanted to share my story hoping that others will know of what happened and hope it wont happen to my fellow cyclist out there on the road.

I'd like to read any advice that you guys could give or similar stories about this.

nag huna-huna ko mag dala og pocket knife? Nya mah hadlok lng jud ko nah basin og moh balos ko naa sila manga kuyog lain nah huwat sa luyo bah rn og sa ako atubangan.. -_-
tawn xd wui, or engun ani lng jud ko ka malas.. D man xd nah hinay ko moh tindak, sakto rah gud, pero kng uphill mah biya.an jud ko ok rah patag.. Nya routine jud baya nako every saturday and sunday jud nah 5:00am moh saka jud ko sa willies.. Nya basin mah timan.an nata bah.. D xd ko ganahan naay kuyog ka bike kng uphill kay hinay kay ko maka saka nya mah dugay rah sila tungod nako bah.. But anyways, maytag d nah tawn mah usab kay wa jud ko plano moh stop og bike tungod lng ani manga hitabo.a.. hehe..

share moh guys kng ok rah advice bah rn or unsa..

MODS: the only thread i found that is somehow similar to mine is this:
https://www.istorya.net/forums/genera...t-cyclist.html

[mindtrickz]

pag puyo nlang sa inyo bro para di walay dautan mahitabo nimo

[trazee]

TS, i can relate what happened to you since im a biker also...in my opinion i would suggest to ride with a buddy, 2 or 3 is good enough, the more the better..before you ride sabot mo na way biya.ay kung kusgan sila nya ikaw hinay then they should ride your pace thats camaraderie, coz you are one group...they are your buddies and you are a buddy to them also..ingon ana mn gud mi with my friends ug naa man gani mag una sa pack its just about a few feet away, dili ka byaan by kilometers hehe, naa man jud time na mo require ug single line we termed it " mag train-train" mo especially highway its not advisable to ride in pack ky mo occupy mo dako nga portion sa highway...

[mudskipper77]

pag puyo nlang sa inyo bro para di walay dautan mahitabo nimo

you are being so helpful brad!

[blacksky]

you are being so helpful brad!

That's a true trait of Filipino. Crab mentality.

[xavisimao]

di diay maayo mag solo ride sa cebu bro? plano ra ba nako balik biking pag maka uli ko cebu..

sa tua pako sa luzon, ang among buhaton before sa group ride is every 20 kms mandatory pahuway gyud ug 5-10 minutes to refresh and regroup bisan pa ug wa pa gikapoy, para sad ma avoid ang stragglers sa grupo, walang iwanan...

di gyud sad hinuon malikayan nga mka solo ride ka, labi na dili mo match ang sked sa imong barkada... kaluoy sa diyos sad sa una, numerous times ko mag solo ride, wa pa man sad ko tulisa or gi binoangan... though there were mga na report nga even ang mga grupo gipang ti-unan ug pusil at point-blank range para kuhaon ilang mga bike...

[rickmags2000]

although i was never been in a situation like yours, everytime i ride its those kind of things thats always behind my mind... i dont recommend also arming yourself for it defeats the purpose of biking, as for me for i ride alone also i try to ride on places that i have been and feel safe and secure and i try not to be too flashy i mean i wear a helmet of course, a climacool shirt not cycling jerseys and loose shorts not cycling pants just so not to attract too much attention... ride safe

[street_of_no_return]

d man gyd maayo mag solo ka. Labina ma tymingan ug og abiriya daun daghan paa gyd kaau mga sipat karun panahuna. Tripan-tripan ka ba. Mas maayo gyd dghan mo

[mio]

Sus, mao ra ba ni permi routa namo kung mag bike. Salamat sa info sir.

[muchacha00]

TS.. did u post it already in Cebucycling...? hope nga imo ma post na did2... para ma aware tawn tong uban nga mosaka diha ila willie... tabuanan raba gud na sa cyclist diha..