Did someone try to kick me off my bike?

[B-B-BikeyStrike!]

Well, I was riding on Coldharbour Lane towards Camberwell this afternoon, when a street urchin was cycling rather aggressively at me. Or did I imagine it?

I was riding along at a steady pace when this street urchin overtook me on his bike and cut me up - instinctively I pressed the brakes and slowed down, a bit confused. With him about a metre in front of me I think he was trying to block me and had his right foot stuck out as if he was about to kick me.

I held back until he did a u-turn, with him looking at me. At this point I sped up quick and lost him. Wasnt sure if this was aggressive or just crap cycling behaviour. Anyone else experience this?

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Very difficult to tell what was going on there. I wonder whether he was relying on another scrote backing him up but back up didn't come. Main problem on that road is oblivious drivers impatient from the many lights.

 

[Moodyman]

Sounds like a bad dream and then you woke up.

 

[Matthew_T]

Get a camera.

 

[Pedal Bob]

Street Urchin? Did this happen in the 19th Century?

 

[Mile195]

Hard to say, but there are alot of "characters" live round that area... Hoping that it was just another youth with no road-sense... Although if you looked like you had anything on you worth pinching it wouldn't surprise me if his intentions might have been a bit more "underhand". Either way, I think I would have done the same as you - stay out of his way, or ride faster than he can.

 

[mattobrien]

Get a camera.

A camera has certainly helped cut out all close passes for you, so it must be the answer to the cycling world woes ;-)

 

[Matthew_T]

A camera has certainly helped cut out all close passes for you, so it must be the answer to the cycling world woes ;-)

The whole purpose of a camera isnt to stop things happening, just to show other people what happened. People rarely see it unless they look or it is pointed out.

 

[akb]

The whole purpose of a camera isnt to stop things happening, just to show other people what happened. People rarely see it unless they look or it is pointed out.

 

[MarkF]

Last summer some 14/15 year old kids (3.10pm school on my commute) used to egg each other on to do "something" as I rode past them each day. It's amazing really as I am 6'1" and well built. One day a kid came right to the kerb edge, he'd passed his school bag to a pal, he was going to kick me, I knew it and he knew it. I made eye contact with him and put on a "Don't even think about it face", but he was now under peer pressure. As he made to kick, he was too slow and a 15mph slap caught him bang on his lug hole.

 

[Kies]

That's what most kids need .... A slap!!!
Not condoning child abuse - but the odd wack never did me any harm!

(puts soapbox down)

 

[sickboyblue]

He was probably checking if you had a phone strapped to your handlebars..

 

[Pale Rider]

He may have been on two trips at the same time.

 

[RedRider]

Was cycling along there myself this afternoon but not guilty!

Never had much trouble but over the years there's been a coupla times when kids have acted-up nearby. Once a group of four of five stopped to vaguely block me down a backstreet so I sped up and swerved the half-hearted kick. Just the other evening I was a bit further away, nipping along East St when I took a spud in the back! Pretty hefty shot from close range so lucky it didn't hit anything sensitive like my bike. I growled 'dickhead' and carried on.

 

[MarkF]

That's what most kids need .... A slap!!!
Not condoning child abuse - but the odd wack never did me any harm!

(puts soapbox down)

Never had a problem since and I see the same group most days, they smile at me more now................kids are kids, they can be silly, it's no big deal but there was no point getting off my bike and trying to discuss the "problem" was there?