Got this via my club here in PE. Route I cycle almost every day. Our local triathlete Raynard Tissink had a scare on Saturday morning whilst out on a training ride. <>st1\:* { BEHAVIOR: url(#default#ieooui) } <> ----- Original Message ----- From: To: admin@masterspe.co.za Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 2:19 PM Subject: Fw: From Raynards Website Raynard attacked while out riding Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 On Saturday 14 Feb, Raynard was out doing an 80km ride in the morning. He was about half way into the ride, on Draaifontein Rd just before the bridge over the highway, when he saw a man walking towards him on the opposite side of the road. The guy crossed the road and as Ray approached lunged towards him, hooking his arm through Raynard?s, trying to pull him off his bike. Raynard was in his aero position doing about 30km/hour up the incline. He was lucky enough to stay stable on his bike, and with sufficient bike skills, avoided falling off his bike. He was forced to stop though, as his foot had come out of the pedal on the powercranks. The guy stood looking at Raynard, as if he was waiting. Raynard got off his bike, took the shock stick out of his back pocket and chased after the guy ? who ran down the embankment and hid in the bushes. Now whether he had a weapon, or a group of friends waiting in the bushes with him, we do not know. But Raynard figured it was best to just get out of there as quickly as possible. Raynard was clearly shaken by the incident, and lucky to have gotten off without any injuries or loss. Had the guy come at him with a knife, or in a group, it would have been a different story. Whether he had hoped that Raynard would fall, and his intentions were to grab the bike and ride away, we don?t know. (Although it would have been slightly amusing watching him trying to make a quick get away on the Powercranks.) The fact of the matter is that nobody is safe. This was a young guy, probably only 17 or 18. He seemed to be alone, and Raynard did not see any weapon ? yet he was brave enough and determined enough to try and attack someone who clearly looked stronger and bigger. They have no fear and no remorse and will attack everyone and anyone to get what they want. Imagine what could have happened if this had been a woman riding on her own. Everybody knows of some or other incident that has happened, either to themselves or to friends or family. You have to be aware of everybody and everything around you, all of the time. You have to try and ride in groups, and do not take any risks. Raynard is a professional athlete, this is what he does to make a living. As if it?s not enough worrying about traffic taking you out, you also have to worry about every person, standing or walking on the side of the road. Welcome to Africa! Natalie
