Hit by Arrogant Parent at PWC Pump Track

[V12man]

I know what's considered "correct" these days, firstly I say well done to you SIR for remaing calm, I was raised to avoid conflict, But BIG BUT, if I was hit, pushed attacked I was raised to protect myself ,,,yes in this situation it would have escalated to an unneeded situation but you never know what the idiots intentions were, maybe he didn't stop at a push and decided to put in a liberty shot

I hope I could say I would remain calm and behave in the "correct" manner

But I fear I'm really *** at doing that if some plank decides he is going to push me around,,,especially if I am minding my own

I saw the results of a new trick yesterday - spray pepper spray on your hand and give him a slap... or just wipe the hand on the face....

 

Youngster was still screaming like a girl 30 min after it happened... I would be really interested to know the brand used...

[Wyatt Earp]

I know what's considered "correct" these days, firstly I say well done to you SIR for remaing calm, I was raised to avoid conflict, But BIG BUT, if I was hit, pushed attacked I was raised to protect myself ,,,yes in this situation it would have escalated to an unneeded situation but you never know what the idiots intentions were, maybe he didn't stop at a push and decided to put in a liberty shot

I hope I could say I would remain calm and behave in the "correct" manner

But I fear I'm really *** at doing that if some plank decides he is going to push me around,,,especially if I am minding my own

Nothing wrong with a little self defense when someone takes liberty .

[Paul Ruinaard]

This is the reason I don't go there.

 

It's a kids party venue.

[Milosh]

The pump track is right at the kiddies venue , so positioning bad and looks like a kiddies track to ;-) go figure

 

Also the pump track is a foreign concept to most .

However the signs do mark it and explain so really should just be obeyed , should not be a hard concept !

[Dirkitech]

For one, I will not go to PWC until this has been resolved for you OP. Second, lay assault charges- if you let it slip, you give the ahole permission to do it again and to others

[VicanZA]

Place looks small and sound like its run by people who only care about cash! Easy fix don't support the place.

[Vangar]

Place looks small and sound like its run by people who only care about cash! Easy fix don't support the place.

Cycle lab is involved so yeah.....care about cash. OP lay assault charges, guys like that need to be taught that violence is just wrong.

[Wyatt Earp]

I have never ridden there, and I don't sen to be missing much .

[marko35s]

I know what's considered "correct" these days, firstly I say well done to you SIR for remaing calm, I was raised to avoid conflict, But BIG BUT, if I was hit, pushed attacked I was raised to protect myself ,,,yes in this situation it would have escalated to an unneeded situation but you never know what the idiots intentions were, maybe he didn't stop at a push and decided to put in a liberty shot

I hope I could say I would remain calm and behave in the "correct" manner

But I fear I'm really *** at doing that if some plank decides he is going to push me around,,,especially if I am minding my own

I would like to say I would be better than that, more controlled, more sensible and all adult like.

But nah if you touch me all bets are off. I can take people mouthing off, gesturing and telling me what they are going to do to me but for some reason touch me and the fuse is lit. 

[Wyatt Earp]

I would like to say I would be better than that, more controlled, more sensible and all adult like.

But nah if you touch me all bets are off. I can take people mouthing off, gesturing and telling me what they are going to do to me but for some reason touch me and the fuse is lit. 

Just like that 

[Bloukrans]

I would like to say I would be better than that, more controlled, more sensible and all adult like.

But nah if you touch me all bets are off. I can take people mouthing off, gesturing and telling me what they are going to do to me but for some reason touch me and the fuse is lit. 

I'm so relieved the 57 year old on the bianchi bike did not touch you on your studio!

[CycleLab]

I was debating whether or not to post this seeing as this is definitely a Friday thread, but I've heard stories time and again of parents at PWC confronting those on the pump track. Thinking about it last night, I thought  we need to work with PWC to try sort this out.

 

So here it goes:

Lead up

Dave, my SO(Harmony) and I decided to try the new routes at PWC on Saturday (7/2 @~9am). It was the usual birthday party rush for a Saturday so we went straight to the trails and did the new rust preventer, green mile and ventured to zombie bird house. To our dismay only ewok was open on the other side of the High Way. 

 

We decided to head back after ewok and hit the pump track. Trying to teach Harms how to get her pomp pump on for the next PWC event (there were only 2 ladies, so she is keen to try since ladies are allowed to pedal  ). Anyways, as most will know, the pump track is filled with most 4-8 year olds this time. So you might get a clean lap in or end up helping a poor kid or two up one of the bigger rollers/berms.

 

Any ways, so whilst we going around (probably the 4th lap or so) an irate mother confronts Dave on the second straight (I only got stompies of this, so he'll have to share). The gist of it, "This is a kids track" and he referred her to the sign and management, to whom she briskly walked. 

 

In the mean time we carried on doing our thing, waiting patiently for the kids, helping them if they fell etc.

In the interim, the mother returned to read the sign and promptly talk to her husband.

 

Confrontation

So while I was going around now, the husband chirps from the side of the second straight:

"This track is for little kids, and if you hit my child I'll f***en hit you!"

To which I respond (slightly out of breath, a few laps dopes that to a person :/)

"Have you seen me come even close to hitting a child on this track"

 

This ballie moved quick I tell you, from the out side of the track to the inner section of track before the 180 berm blocking my path. I thought he was trying to get me to ride into him to prove his point, so decided to just detoured around him on the grass and carry on.

 

Nope! Hi Stepped into me, thrusting his elbow into my shoulder almost pushing me off the bike!!

We proceeded to exchange words, and he was of the (Arrogant) opinion the sign with "Pump track" on it was for the bigger bmx track. After thanking him for physically assaulting me and correcting him, I returned to Harms, who was now visibility shocked and didn't want to ride anymore!

 

F*** it I though, and we carried on around the track for another 10min, under the beady eyes of this father. But Harms just didn't want to ride now.

 

After it all 

We went to do some more trails and the bmx track and upon returning, found PWC finally had an official there. I decided I'm not going to let this slide (I'm normally very chilled with things) and went to the management desk, where they took our number as management was "out for an 1hr". The two at the desk seemed to not care at all. 

I'm yet to hear back from PWC management.  

 

Suggestions?

So we were talking post incident about what PWC can do to better remedy this situation. I know the parents and BDay parties are a cash cow for the park and help fund many of the upgrades. But surely there is a way to look after other riders as well?

• Put a boundary around the pump track with a sign at the entrance like the skills area.
  • This will help prevent children/parents from just walking across the track.
  • Will be easier to show parents. 
• Inform parents where the kiddies pump track is upon entrance.
• Set up times in half hour intervals or so, were kids can ride and then those over 13 can ride.

 

Have at it!

Good morning NukeproofPeanut,

 

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. It is an unacceptable situation that we strive to avoid.

• Our signage implementation is underway currently and this will limit access to a single entry / exit point and includes new rules for the pump track.
• We are in the process of training and implementing marshals for the pump track and jump track areas for the weekends and they will manage the use to allow more advanced riders dedicated use of the track for training.
• We have already built a kids pump track in the kids area to start limiting the use of the main pump track by young riders.

I will send you a DM with our contact details so we can speak to you directly.

 

We apologies for the situation and will investigate accordingly.

 

Thank you

PwC Bike Park Management.

[Capricorn]

hot damn, feathered and tarred can take a leaf out Cyclelabs playbook: how to faceplant gracefully. Well done CL for getting ahead of it by copping to the shortcomings, but doing something constructive about it, not pleading innocence while throwing more rocks.

[Bman]

Honestly hats off to you for being able to keep your cool.

I cant see that I would of been able to do the same.

Had that ballie come and stand in front of me I would have lifted the front wheel last minute straight into him and ridden over the idiot.

[NixM]

hot damn, feathered and tarred can take a leaf out Cyclelabs playbook: how to faceplant gracefully. Well done CL for getting ahead of it by copping to the shortcomings, but doing something constructive about it, not pleading innocence while throwing more rocks.

Could not agree more. Admit to the mistake, make plans to sort it out and everybody moves on happy. So many LBS should take note of this. Well done.

[G00SE]

Good morning NukeproofPeanut,

 

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. It is an unacceptable situation that we strive to avoid.

• Our signage implementation is underway currently and this will limit access to a single entry / exit point and includes new rules for the pump track.
• We are in the process of training and implementing marshals for the pump track and jump track areas for the weekends and they will manage the use to allow more advanced riders dedicated use of the track for training.
• We have already built a kids pump track in the kids area to start limiting the use of the main pump track by young riders.

I will send you a DM with our contact details so we can speak to you directly.

 

We apologies for the situation and will investigate accordingly.

 

Thank you

PwC Bike Park Management.

 

Could you give us some sort of time lines to the above actions you are going to be taking, as every time there is an incident, cyclelab is always planning signage, but it seems slow in being realised...

 

Dont get me wrong, there has been some good work done, and the plants around the BMX track look awesome...  I think you could have used the plant budget on sorting the signage out before beautifying the berms though.

 

Please also make sure the signage is SUPER CLEAR! Because as was pointed out, the pump track is right in front of the party spot, so it is only natural that the kids and parents will gravitate towards it - the kiddies track is somewhat to the side and gets neglected in favor of the pump track.