Do we just accept and carry on?

[covie]

What i would like to do is knock at the police station closest and force them with a laywers letter to ride with me till such time they can prove the criminals are behind bars.

oh gawd i just made the mistake to go to the SAPS webiste bwhahaha what a @#$@#$ joke, http://www.saps.gov.za/

 

and they apparently going to be one day late for the worldcup.

[_Daemon_]

the cops are a joke..if the cycling community does not do something about it, it will just go on and get worse. Perhaps "donate" a bike to a hi-jacker fitted with a tracker and see where the bike goes?

[covie]

Daemon, unfortuanitly private enteprise will have to intervene on this one, i.e. make it mandatory by bike manufacturers to fit some sort of transmitter in the frame of the bike before its even allowed to hit the market.

 

i.e in certain countries its illegal to buy a car without a car radio, they record 0% radio theft simply becuase they killed the market for second hand radio's.

 

But once again, this will be another expense added to law obiding/tax paying citizens.

[AndreZA]

A while back when the blue light gang started and JM used them it was made public that anybody who fears for their life may apply to use them. Why not apply to use them while out cycling.

[Harry Potter]

Ha ha, and they woul like the Saps to buy them some bikes and helmits and riding kit etc. they might ride 5km then they hit the wall, and two weeks later nobody will trace the bikes for they are lost

[Mojoman]

That SAPS site is chronic!! What we need is a company like this over here:

http://www.chipntrace.com/

[Kletterer]

If we accept that there is no immediate solution,  no armed guard on the path, no satellite cycle tracker, etc, what then? Stop riding outdoors?

 

If it is true that we are such a resourceful bunch of people, with money to spend on bikes, equipment and events, then we should be able to turn this STRENGTH into our own response.

 

I read sometime, somewhere about community centres offering free bicycles against some contribution and participation. If bikes are stolen to be sold for 500 bucks as means of transport, then why not make bicycles available that cost just that, or less? And plenty of them, too.

 

One could get people to donate their old bicycles, drop off spares and parts, raise funds from interested sponsors and donors and run 'bike shops' out of an old warehouse or factory near the townships. There, anyone can come, use the workshop to assemble, repair and service their rides with the help of volunteers. A store makes used bicyle parts available.

 

Getting access to parts and workshop will require for any aspirant to pay a minimal fee, say 100 Rand, and subscribe to some sort of 'give back' commitment, ie assisting with maintenance, cleaning, maybe even guarding trails, etc.

 

Such an initiative could also promote itself at races or places like Groenies and Northern Farms where the 'volunteers' could provide assistance, information and attract more support from cyclists.

 

I realise that this sort of activity would not be the answer, but it might convert or prevent some souls from buying stolen goods while becoming part of a cycling community.

 

Maybe it would help another issue too. More cyclists make for more awareness about road safety. Why are we so far behind to Europe when it comes to our safety on the roads? The sheer numbers over there make all the difference.

 

We should do everything we can to get as many South Africans as possible to change to cycling, no matter if they are presently commuting on foot or by car...

 

...an idealistic thought, I know...

 

 

[Slave]

If we accept that there is no immediate solution' date='  no armed guard on the path, no satellite cycle tracker, etc, what then? Stop riding outdoors?[/quote']

 

We continue to ride and take calculated risks. I.e. we either ride in bunches or we stop going to areas we know are high risk.

 

 

 

If it is true that we are such a resourceful bunch of people' date=' with money to spend on bikes, equipment and events, then we should be able to turn this STRENGTH into our own response.[/quote']

 

And just what sort of response is going to work? In an ideal world, the raising of awareness would have been suffucient. SAPS would more than likely have done more than just sit arround waiting for a shift change.

 

 

I read sometime' date=' somewhere about community centres offering free bicycles against some contribution and participation. If bikes are stolen to be sold for 500 bucks as means of transport, then why not make bicycles available that cost just that, or less? And plenty of them, too.[/quote']

 

There are many of them around. They are sold by Game, and Dion, and Makro. They are called cheap chinese knock-offs except that they sell for around R1900.00 and it is way more expensive to buy one of those than to get a nice recently stolen high end one for around R500 from the neighbourhood crook.

 

As long as there is a market, bikes will continue to be stolen.

 

 

One could get people to donate their old bicycles' date=' drop off spares and parts, raise funds from interested sponsors and donors and run 'bike shops' out of an old warehouse or factory near the townships. There, anyone can come, use the workshop to assemble, repair and service their rides with the help of volunteers. A store makes used bicyle parts available.

 

Getting access to parts and workshop will require for any aspirant to pay a minimal fee, say 100 Rand, and subscribe to some sort of 'give back' commitment, ie assisting with maintenance, cleaning, maybe even guarding trails, etc.

 

Such an initiative could also promote itself at races or places like Groenies and Northern Farms where the 'volunteers' could provide assistance, information and attract more support from cyclists.

 

I realise that this sort of activity would not be the answer, but it might convert or prevent some souls from buying stolen goods while becoming part of a cycling community.

 

Maybe it would help another issue too. More cyclists make for more awareness about road safety. Why are we so far behind to Europe when it comes to our safety on the roads? The sheer numbers over there make all the difference.

 

We should do everything we can to get as many South Africans as possible to change to cycling, no matter if they are presently commuting on foot or by car...

 

...an idealistic thought, I know...

 

 

[/quote']

 

While I think you have some interesting ideas, the car guards became a source of employment for many. You donate money to some out-of-work chap who shows you where the parking is, how to get in and how to get out. Never mind that you needed to be able to see to pass your license and that you need to be able to get into and out of parking spaces for the same reason.

 

IMHO, we are being held to ransom by a small minority of people who are criminal. They create the need to employ car guards, bike guards, trail guards. Where will this end?

 

And why should we be held to ransom. The police need to get off their jacks and do something. (OK,  when you are all done rolling on the floor laughing your asses off......)

 

Seriously, if the current guv-ment are too k@k sleg to do anything, perhaps we need to employ a lot of out of work recces and go hunt down a few ring leaders and try the old African kangaroo court justice system. It seems to work wonders.

 

Nothing will change while the mindset of the masses is to believe the cr@p that guv-munt tell them and until there is a decent enough opposition to keep whoever the ruling party is, in check.

 

Just my opinions.  

[covie]

Only problem i see with the above statement is that apparently these guys only target top bikes, they know brands names models colourschemes. So i seriously doubt they would take 5 20k plus bikes to ride around the skimms or sell to the locals.

 

These guys are organized they have a distrobution and offset system in place. and the cops need to track that down.

[HowellingWulf]

Have a look at this. This was written by one of the bikers involved.  It is from a motorbike forum.

Ok, Finally. I have a moment to explain what happened. We went up riding our regular route past the spot where the broken down house is. This now being more or less between Wierda Park and Erasmia on top of the mountain range. This is a regular route for pedestrians, as it would save them about a 5-10km walk. Ive never felt threatened there nor ever suspected its a dangerous area. Ive been there in the region of 20 times. Never have I had any problems, and had many a pedestrians walking past me there. Greeting, smiles waves etc. Im not an aggressive person. So, as per normal, we stopped to pop a quick coffee,as its 7:45 in the almost winter morning, and the view is as always, exceptional from there. Its a climb only dual sport/offroad bikes, bicycles and 4x4 can make. As we were drinking coffee this "person" (as I can think of a few other names!) comes walking our way, no biggie, this has happened to me before, we are friendly folk. When he was about 2m away from me, he said "down". Im still standing there with my coffee, smiling at him. Then I saw the gun. Still not a problem, come closer, ill show you bikers are not easily phased. I then asked him if he is sure, and if he is serious that he wants to go through with this today(I was really ready for him). It was then that the other "person" came climbing through the broken down house's window, sprouting a nice and shiny 38 special! Finally I took a sip of my coffee, then had my hands in the air, still holding my both the flask and mug. No point being only 3 people and fighting 2 armed gun men. We then had the normal drill, lie down next to each other. I still had my coffee and asked if I can drink it, I mean, this will take a long time. We are alone in the veld, no one for miles. The one "person" said I could drink it, the other said no. Screw that, ill drink my coffee! Im thirsty after all. I think that they are amateurs, they allowed me to take a close look at them, and I will be able to identify them very easily. We we're just about finished with all they took, as they were not interested in the bikes. Then the group of cyclists (luckily no women) caught up with us. These two criminals then hid in the bushes again, and we were still stuck on the ground. They were a tightly knit group of five and arrived basically together, and got pulled into our situation. Our robbery was basically over,now it started again! As we were to many to handle for now, they started tying us up with fence wire, they prolly stole from the broken down house, or nearby farmers. Now that we were a bigger group, we were no longer allowed to look around. The second thing that makes me think they were amateurs is, that they requested the pin codes of all the phones they stole. Don't they know we block that!? It started getting quiet, and I started to look around again, I mean, we are not going to lie there the whole day, we still have some riding to do, nothing left to steal!  http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/Smileys/default/smiley.gif The one bastid was still there, and threatened to shoot me if I look again. He was not going to take any chances, he took a pick and pay bag, and put it over my head, and put my helmet on my head so that I cannot see. (Not so that I cannot breathe). The one guy did not get tied down, nor did he hand over his cell phone. Once they were gone, he untied us all and phoned the police. These oke's were on foot, and could easily have been caught, if the ZA police service was not so up to sh*t (pardon my french). We phoned the police, and their answer was: "No one was shot, we will be there in 2 hours". This is totally unacceptable! We helped the cyclists get down the mountain, and flagged down a cop van. The woman inside the van was not too keen to come and have a look. The cyclists then climbed into the van, and went to the Erasmia police station. We could care less at this moment about road rules etc, and rode on tar to Wierda Brug Police station. (Useless station in my opinion). The photo of the smaller criminal was on the wall, for get this: ARMED ROBBERY. To which the police didnt really care when I responded... We know where they are, come help us, we'll catch them. What do we get from the police, nada! Im not pissed that I got robbed, its life, im not even traumatised, im VERY ANGRY with how things are handled!

Quoted from this tread: https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum_posts.asp?TID=84536&PN=3

[covie]

Glad to hear all is good. So they didnt take the bikes, now there is a great case in point for getting your facts before publishing.

 

A friend of mine had the same issue, he got home and saw that he was being robbed, he phoned the SAPS telling there is a burglary in progress.

 

Standard answer nobody in your neighbourhood, well get to you in a hour or so.  het then hung up.

 

2 minutes later he phoned the SAPS again telling them not too worry about that police car comming out. And when the operator asked why he simply said no worries I shot them.

 

Almost exactly 4 minutes later a police car showed up, and arrested the buggers. Although he now has some charge against him for lying to the police lol

[1kTT]

I was one of the cyclists robbed. The report above is completely accurate. The guys took the 5 bicycles and left the motorbikes.

 

 

 

After having been through the incident, I went back and had a look through all of the posts on the hub about what guys would do- guns, pepper spray, escorts etc.

 

 

 

I can honestly tell you that there was absolutely no chance to use a gun (nobody was carrying one) it all happens too quickly and there are too many variables and people around to get caught in the crossfire. I cant see pepper spray being of any use either other than to escalate the situation.

 

 

 

Riding in a large group made no difference, we were 5 guys (plus the 3 motor bike riders), all experienced mountain bikers, alert and in a pretty close group. I dont think the guys would have had any problem handling 10 cyclists.

 

 

 

I dont know what the answer is except at the moment I will not be doing much mountain biking.

[covie]

1kTT I am happy you're alright.

 

However I hope the only reason you will not be doing much biking is while you wait for the insurance co to pay out.

 

If you want to quit becuase of the experiance well I have a harsh speech prepared just for that

[1kTT]

1kTT I am happy you're alright.

 

?

 

However I hope the only reason you will not be doing much biking is while you wait for the insurance co to pay out.

 

?

 

If you want to quit becuase of the experiance well I have a harsh speech prepared just for that

 

 

 

I dont want to quit, I love riding too much.

 

 

 

I just cant see myself mtbing anywhere around JHB North anytime soon. It just wont be any fun thinking that round any bend you could have a gun at your head. sad but true.

[cat-i]

 

 

Daemon' date=' unfortuanitly private enteprise will have to intervene on this one, i.e. make it mandatory by bike manufacturers to fit some sort of transmitter in the frame of the bike before its even allowed to hit the market.

 

i.e in certain countries its illegal to buy a car without a car radio, they record 0% radio theft simply becuase they killed the market for second hand radio's.

 

But once again, this will be another expense added to law obiding/tax paying citizens.

[/quote']

have asked for such a device at work (we make, among other things, tracking devices) -  they can make one, but only to track while i ride - battery life is an issue, if it has to be on all the time - in this case, it might work, though - switch it on every time you go ride - recovery would have to be quick, before the battery dies. and before they discover that the saddlebag doesn't have tools or money in it

 

maybe it's time i remind the engineer of his little afterhours-project to secure my bike ...

cat-i2010-05-10 12:53:40

[Zula]

So is there anywhere to ride anymore in northern JHB?

 

 

 

-The spruit also is'nt so safe, but it had calmed down of late. I have even seen SAPS on bicycles patrolling. However now, the condition of the spruit prevents riding.

 

 

 

-Northern farms?? Well we all know about that place

 

 

 

-Kyalami/Bealiue route? Well that still seems to be ok, pretty residential as well.

 

 

 

-Bike Park? Not the place to do even 40+km's

 

 

 

-Ok then Van gaalens and teak are pretty cool, but are slightly further out.

 

 

 

 

 

THIS TOWN IS KILLING ME