Bad things that happen on tour

[jay clock]

I have a done a fair bit of touring - typically a week but longest 4 weeks across France and Spain. You encounter a fair few minor problems but nothing disastrous. Even people who cycle the world seem to have remarkably few problems. The naysayers overestimate the problems.

However I follow a few blogs on Crazy Guy on a Bike and sadly came across this nasty tale https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=uZ&page_id=438320&v=1a

Luckily it sounds like he is ok but I am waiting to see the next update

 

[jay clock]

Just read his guestbook and he is ok (ish)

 

[snorri]

I'm not clicking on the link, sounds as if it might be a bit gory.

 

[ColinJ]

Blimey!

 

[steve50]

I'm not clicking on the link, sounds as if it might be a bit gory.

Not gory, the guy had a nasty experience on his travels, some violence involved but the main thing is he survived to tell the story.

 

[Mrs M]

Lucky escape

 

[raleighnut]

 

[MarkF]

Wowee! I've met nothing but good people and oddballs thankfully. He should have incapacitated the guy after slugging him out.

 

[Debade]

Thousands of miles of touring and never an event like this. Matter of fact I cannot think of an encounter with a stranger that was bad. There were a couple times it did not feel comfortable but vast majority of evening stays were with Warm Shower hosts so there was some information about our host.

On our recent North Sea tour, my wife separated her shoulder as a result of a fall in the UK. The support we received from total strangers as well as our Warm Showers host could not have been more amazing. We thought however since the hospital did not provide a bill or really collect much personal information, we were not going to be charged. Somehow, an incredibly poorly addressed envelope finally arrived at our home with a bill for the hospital. We are happy to pay as the care could not have been better and staff more professional.

 

[Simon_m]

christ, poor chap

 

[jay clock]

I read tons of CGOAB blogs and this is massively unusual. He posted an update in the CGOAB forum https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/forum/board/message/?o=uZ&thread_id=676150&page=1&nested=0&v=f

 

[Tin Pot]

The problem with risk assessing activities like international bike touring is the small number of people involved and the low likelihood that you know enough of them to form a statistically valid opinion.

Hence we fall back on the "nothing bad has ever happened to me" attitude.

 

[TheDoctor]

Thankfully, I've experienced nothing but kindness and consideration while cycling about. Cases like this seem genuinely rare.

 

[RoubaixCube]

Thats why you never tour alone. I would not even consider setting foot in mongolia alone as the people there are too unpredictable.

Either go in a big group where its a bit safer or hire a small security detail to provide escort like on top gear. Youre going to be going through some real dodgy parts of the world and not everyone will be as civilised as the more richer and well developed countries.

If i really had to go alone I would find out if it would be legal to carry a firearm along my travels just as peice of mind. You never know what youre going to come up against but at least you have some way of protecting yourself in a dire situation like this.

Obviously my opinion isnt going to be the most popular one but If not to defend yourself from humans then to defend yourself against the wild animals that you may encounter along the way.

Im glad that William got away safely, I hope to be able to donate some money to him so that he can replace whatever it was that was stolen.

 

[Dogtrousers]

That's horrible. I had to skim read it as I could see where it was going, and didn't fancy the gory details. The last time I went on to CGOAB was to read the distressing story of @SatNavSaysStraightOn 's dog encounter.

I'll stick to gentle routes round the South of England and Northern France. I suppose there's always the risk of being ambushed a rabid retired colonel with a few too many pink gins inside him, or a café-Calva crazed Norman farmer. But I'll take my chances.