Be carefull out there!

[wisecrack]

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

 

[SwissVan]

 

Sad and glad that Raynard is ok...

 

Imagine your a thief and you pick someone like Raynard to run away from...The **** was lucky.

 

 

 

[Azonic]

I rode that same stretch the previous Sunday, alone, twice past that same spot. Looks like I'm going to have to carry my stungun with me again.

[Poison Ivy]

The funny thing is (if you can call it funny) is that they don't realise that you are kinda attached to your bike and don't come off it so easily....

 

Had the same experience once where a guy was hanging on to my shirt and while I'm still going forward, still on the bike....only thing that happend was a torn shirt (and a stollen cell phone)

[Speedi]

Joh thats bad hey!

 

 

 

 

[gummibear]

I rode that same stretch the previous Sunday' date=' alone, twice past that same spot. Looks like I'm going to have to carry my stungun with me again. [/quote']

 

Stun gun...i carry a .25 with me when i ride.its the only way i feel safe.

 

Glad Raynard is OK.Afriend of mine and her partner were  robbed of their bikes in the same place  a few years back.

WindblownPE2009-02-20 07:42:26

[Azonic]

I know of an old oom selling a hand held pellet gun, might get his number.

 

Problem is all the portable self defense devices are so big. I also carry pepper spray.

 

If you shoot someone with a .25 you will be arrested for attempted (hopefully successful) murder and become someone's Nancy in St. Albans...

 

[gummibear]

No not that easily.A lot of guys are carrying knives with them,sore a guy the other day out at Greenbushes with a dagger cable tied to his frame.

 

Give the robber a whack with a carbon soled cycling shoe,i think that will be murder.