Cape Town danger areas

[Links MTB]

Another attempted bike-jacking on Helshoogte over the weekend!! Seems a lot lower down on Helshoogte than where my wife was bike-jacked earlier this year. This was shared by a cyclist friend of mine who got it off one of the cycling groups he's on: 

"Sunday morning at about 8h20 I was starting up Helshoogte. About 50 meters past the speed cameras two males were sitting idly on the barrier railing. As I approached, I got the feeling that they look suspect. I took my pepper spray (stream, not mist) out and kept it in my hand. I passed the first guy without incident, but as I got to the second guy (10 meters further) he stood up and rushed at me with n knife. Since the pepper spray was already in my hand it only took a second to start spraying at this chest and face. He was clearly taken aback by the sudden action and jumped over the barrier and stood there. I kept spraying in his direction and gave him the %@&$ a good piece of my worst vocabulary. Best thing to do if you see dodgy guys just hanging out near a dangerous spot, is to go to the other side of the road. Stay safe out there."

[ChrisF]

16 minutes ago, Links MTB said:

.... Best thing to do if you see dodgy guys just hanging out near a dangerous spot, is to go to the other side of the road. Stay safe out there."

 

^^^ THIS ^^^

[HristoZA]

Seriously frustrating. Stellenbosch has some of the best riding, but every entrance except polka seems to have consistent muggings. 

[MORNE]

1 hour ago, ChrisF said:

 

^^^ THIS ^^^

Thats what i did….and i still got bike jacked, but on the other side of the road😝😒…

Best thing is to not be in a known hotspot, alone, in the first place. Thats the only reason why i follow this thread. To know where NOT to ride anymore. I’m over it. I ride bikes because i want to relax. There is no relaxing when riding on the road anymore.  

if they decide they want to get you, those few meter extra probably don't mean much. Especially when travelling up hill. Thats a tried and tested M.O. thats how they got me even after i went to the other side of the road. 

Thinking about my bike incident again….the skollie doing his best Pythagoran theory while now sprinting full speed with a knife overhead to intercept you….is way scarier than a guy casually walking into your path,  showing you he has a knife and telling you to give them your crap. This has also happened to me before while on foot, and although it also sucked….it was all pretty ‘civil’ compared to being flanked and chased down by an idiot wielding a knife, fully intent on using it as a means to get me on the floor.

[Skubarra]

33 minutes ago, MORNE said:

Thats what i did….and i still got bike jacked, but on the other side of the road😝😒…

Best thing is to not be in a known hotspot, alone, in the first place. Thats the only reason why i follow this thread. To know where NOT to ride anymore. I’m over it. I ride bikes because i want to relax. There is no relaxing when riding on the road anymore.  

if they decide they want to get you, those few meter extra probably don't mean much. Especially when travelling up hill. Thats a tried and tested M.O. thats how they got me even after i went to the other side of the road. 

Thinking about my bike incident again….the skollie doing his best Pythagoran theory while now sprinting full speed with a knife overhead to intercept you….is way scarier than a guy casually walking into your path,  showing you he has a knife and telling you to give them your crap. This has also happened to me before while on foot, and although it also sucked….it was all pretty ‘civil’ compared to being flanked and chased down by an idiot wielding a knife, fully intent on using it as a means to get me on the floor.

Have to agree with you - other side is not going to be of any help, especially on a climb like Hels. Best to turn around and wait for others if you really have to cycle that way. Or even better join a group and dont cycle alone. If nothing else it will improve your odds...

[Mamil]

I rode the Woodstock bridge on Sunday around lunchtime, about 50 m behind 2 other guys that I tailgated from the waterfront. 

Lots of tension there. People loitering and watching. Definitely a no go area, I'm rather going to take my chances with the taxis on strand street and the bridge.

On Saturday I was on the MTB solo and opted to head over the Glen and tafelberg road and then back to Southern suburbs over the mountain... Saw not one other rider and no hikers past tafelberg. 

Spooky

It's not feeling so lekker riding like this with a thought that suggests I'm just waiting for my number to come up but I'm not prepared to stop riding. 

Might trade in one of my stable and look for a higher end gravel bike ... Any excuse will do

 

 

[bleedToWin]

12 hours ago, Skubarra said:

Or even better join a group and dont cycle alone. If nothing else it will improve your odds...

It probably does improve your odds, but the thread revival was about an incident where the last member of a group was taken out which is just absolutely disheartening. 🙁

[SoloCyclist]

1 hour ago, bleedToWin said:

It probably does improve your odds, but the thread revival was about an incident where the last member of a group was taken out which is just absolutely disheartening. 🙁

I need to stop being the sweeper along this section...........damn

Edited November 12, 2024 by SoloCyclist

[Skubarra]

1 hour ago, bleedToWin said:

It probably does improve your odds, but the thread revival was about an incident where the last member of a group was taken out which is just absolutely disheartening. 🙁

True - it might buy you a few moments to react but if the attack is planned...

I mentioned this few months back on this thread, but I was riding 30km/h+ when I saw mr bad news standing next to the street, I crossed over to the other side and sped up. As I went bye oke flung a massive rock my way which hit & bent my back wheel. Probably helped a bit that with the distance from him the rock lost some momentum before it hit my bike, but being on the other side of the road did not "save" me.

[INDABUSCHE]

Morning Fellow Hubbers, Some advice please from a Gauteng rider. I will be in CT, staying at Dolphin Beach, Marine Drive , early Dec. Plan is to ride towards Koeberg and back each day. Is this a reasonably safe ride and are there any issues that I should be aware / concerned about.

Thanks for your input. Tim 

[RustyHWR]

7 minutes ago, INDABUSCHE said:

Morning Fellow Hubbers, Some advice please from a Gauteng rider. I will be in CT, staying at Dolphin Beach, Marine Drive , early Dec. Plan is to ride towards Koeberg and back each day. Is this a reasonably safe ride and are there any issues that I should be aware / concerned about.

Thanks for your input. Tim 

Dolphin Beach to Koeberg ( Melkbos) is very safe up until now. 

[INDABUSCHE]

2 minutes ago, RustyHWR said:

Dolphin Beach to Koeberg ( Melkbos) is very safe up until now. 

Thank you

[Wannabe]

I've heard of another two cyclist's riding together that got attacked at the Woodstock bridge over the weekend. Uninjured but cellphone taken.

Something needs to be done here, before there is a serious incident.

 

 

[splat]

1 hour ago, Wannabe said:

I've heard of another two cyclist's riding together that got attacked at the Woodstock bridge over the weekend. Uninjured but cellphone taken.

Something needs to be done here, before there is a serious incident.

 

 

Another lady was relieved of her phone there recently.
A sizeable group (two groups of 4 from opposite directions) boxed her in and very politely took what they wanted.
When she reported it at the cop shop, she was one of 10 for that day.

So, most of the incidents don't make their way here.
Which means that the situation is way worse than we think it is.

[Wannabe]

Absolutely boggles my mind, if there were 10 incidents reported on the same day, how long before the lights go on at SAPS or the other Law Enforcement agencies that this is a hotspot and should be acted on.....

[The Ouzo]

this thread is enough for me to cancel any plans of coming down there in March.

Frightening