if you ever ride in London

[Flibb]

I cycle to work every day and am just glad most of its on bridleway. Havent had any trouble like yours in the past 6 years, my main problem isp eople not seeing me, how can you miss somebody in a high vis jacket, with flashing leds and 2x10 spot lights??

As to carrying something, well you cant carry anything as a weapon, not even for self defence. But you can carry a bike lock, chain and padlock style, wiggle
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/
have some nice ones. I have one in a saddle bag. Main reason is to lock the bike up, but a friend used one in anger on a car.

[Rob]

Sorry to hear your experience mate!

'Offensive Weapons' prompted me to post. I had very similar experience with a white van, he drove straight at me. It was reorted to the feds, and I thought that was that. But no! They actually arrested him, for "using a vehicle as an offensive weepon", plus dangerous driving and failing to stop. I think they were covering all bases

The short of it was, he went to court. CPS dropped assault charge through no evdence, yet he had made full confession/statement . He got 6 points and £400(ish) fine. I received £1000 through Criminal Injuries Board.

Anyway, there is hope he'll end up in court. Main thing is your OK.

[turkster]

That really nasty mate. I hate that kind of **** from drivers. Hope you are ok.
I cycle a good bit in a city but never had anything as bad as that. Manydrivers seem to think they have a god given right to overtake you even if it requires them breaking the 30 mile speed limit in a dangerous spot A few months ago I had some git trying to overtake me on a blind corner when i was going fast on a relatively narrow road. He very very nearly ran straight into the front of a bus and cut me right off in the proceess of avoiding it.

The real saving grace of being on a bike is that you have a lot more manoeuvrability and better acceleration. If one has good control over the bike it is usually possible to get out of trouble as you say.
I had a friend who cylced through cork to get to college last year and he coundnt even cycle with one hand off the handlebars. God knows how he didnt get killed

As for a a defensive weapon a good metal pump would be quite effective as weapon and couldnt be considered a weapon before you use it either ;(. Also a good heavy snake type bikelock would be fairly lethal although you need to be able to access it very quick.

[shiato storm]

UPDATE::

The Plate Number was correct after all. I called DFS this morning and told the manager of what ever store this punk belongs to about the assault on me and that the police have a statement. . . 'we take this seriously sir' etc...
well, so do the police, you shall recieve a call from them in due course. bye bye now.
the fact that I got the number palte correct shows that having a calmly working mind beneath the mealstrom of abuse being hurled at me helps

I have informed the police of my astuteness and that the plate was registered at DFS and is correct as in my statement.

so, for all of you budding plate coppiers, the plate number we shall be mostly making is: AE51YTC
and then running through cameras at speed

and the driver we shall be mostly avoiding is: Darren Dickenson, employee of DFS [aka utter n*b]



p.s. I know carrying a weapon is a really stupid idea - i actually had a fishing knife in my bag at the time which i forgot about [luckily! but i've taken it out now.

[shiato storm]

p.s. cheers for amusing/sportive/cautionary and various other bits of info - much appreciated.

i'm calling police again tomorrow - think I want to press charges after some thought on the matter - people like that shouldn't be allowed out, or even to intimidate people [though i wasn't having any of it - clash of egos perhaps? met his match? wonder if this isn't the first time its happened...]

[Alex]

Good on ya for pressing charges, he may well think twice before pulling this on someone else!

Good luck with it all!

[lynni]

yeah go on press charges, i would..... needs teaching a lesson

[shiato storm]

smacking me up? oh no sir! i'll smack him down a notch

I shall also be writing a formal letter to DFS, any tips gladly recieved! I might even use my dear old dad's letter headed paper - being a barrester [a QC no less, dealing in cases worth billions e.g the new wembley, Heathrow T5...lots of big stuff] that should put the Sh*tter up them in short - "you chose the wrong guy to start a fight with!"...

[shiato storm]

70% of Lorry drivers have had sex in the shower. The other 30% havent been to prison yet.

...i think thats about right.

[Rave]

Sue DFS- they employed him and put him in a lorry and he presumably started on you during the course of his paid employment- I'd say you have a good case against them.

Rich :¬)

[Grey M@a]

70% of Lorry drivers have had sex in the shower. The other 30% havent been to prison yet.

...i think thats about right.

ROFL good one.

[shiato storm]

make them bend over and take it? i shall try my hardest to find the biggest bar of soap I can.

[Moonshade]

I'm very sorry for you mate, I hope everything will workout properly for you!

[steve threlfall]

70% of Lorry drivers have had sex in the shower. The other 30% havent been to prison yet.

...i think thats about right.

lmao

I have just read this thread. Sorry to hear about this shiato, at least your not injured

There are some real phycos about

Goon on you for pressing charges. Keep us updated.

[shiato storm]

indeed i shall...how long does it take police to investigate things like this usually? days, weeks months?

[Big RICHARD]

Too long. Long enough for him to do it a few times again before he gets the knock on his door from the old bill.