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Cyclist knocked off bike then punched repeatedly by car passenger

Rider left with broken nose after collision and assault in Barrow on Monday

A cyclist from Cumbria has spoken of how he was knocked off his bike by a speeding driver – and was then punched repeatedly by a passenger from the vehicle.

The incident happened at around 7.15pm on Monday evening close to the Tally Ho pub in Schneider Road, Barrow, reports the North West Evening Mail.

The victim, a 32-year-old man named only as Alan, sustained a broken nose in the attack.

He said:" I was riding back from a group and after a car came speeding around the corner, I got knocked off my bike.

“A man, who was the passenger, got out of the car and punched me four times in the face.

“He ran of the car so quickly – I was just completely shocked.

"The woman who was driving was shouting out of the window trying to get the man to stop.

“I still feel shaken up from it and anxious to even go out.”

Alan’s partner Rebecca, aged 33, described her shock when she saw him on his return to their home.

She said: “He was so distraught when he came home with blood everywhere.

“It was just that initial shock of seeing him and I immediately thought he got knocked over, but then to find he had been both knocked over and punched and attacked was awful.

“It’s hard to get your head around that someone could do this and it was awful to see particularly for our one-year-old daughter.”

He went to Furness General Hospital but will reportedly have to wait a week for the swelling on his nose to subside sufficiently so his injury can be treated.

Police are investigating the assault, and have said that the vehicle involved was a Vauxhall Meriva.

The attacker is described as a white male aged around 30 and of medium build, 6 feet in height and with black hair.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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19 comments

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ktache | 5 years ago
0 likes

I have just stuck both New York chains on my newish kitchen scales, the standard is 3kg, the Fagadabadit is at 4kg.  Wow, never knew.  The weighty cost of keeping my bicycles.

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ktache | 5 years ago
3 likes

It's the older one, so a little thinner on the links, also a bit shorter, it's for my good bike, Ti hardtail  MTB.  I want it to be there when I get back.  Utility cylist and commuter, if out for a proper ride will take the lighter new york chain (old) which would be the minimum I would trust.

Did drop it on my foot once, lucky not to break bones.

For my new bike (which might only be a few weeks away, rohloff problems) I may buy a Pragmasis 16mm chain, if it will fit through the spokes, but that will be a leave at work lock.

I wear them over the shoulder too, other side than the courier bag, you get used to it.  The price of keeping the bicycle.  And as I said, remarkably calming to people being aggressive.

Avatar
ChrisB200SX replied to ktache | 5 years ago
8 likes
ktache wrote:

It's the older one, so a little thinner on the links, also a bit shorter, it's for my good bike, Ti hardtail  MTB.  I want it to be there when I get back.  Utility cylist and commuter, if out for a proper ride will take the lighter new york chain (old) which would be the minimum I would trust.

Did drop it on my foot once, lucky not to break bones.

For my new bike (which might only be a few weeks away, rohloff problems) I may buy a Pragmasis 16mm chain, if it will fit through the spokes, but that will be a leave at work lock.

13mm should be(more than) enough, I can tell you it's heavy enough!

Of only passengers were licenced and insured and cars fitted with number plates to identify passengers!

Avatar
ktache | 5 years ago
10 likes

I did once have a drunken passenger attempt to get out of a moving vehicle, three times, before the car came to a stop.  All I did was comment on a very close pass at a pedestrian refuge pinch point.  His aggression melted away when I removed my Kryptonite New York Fagadabadit chain and held it in a defensive manner.

Avatar
daccordimark replied to ktache | 5 years ago
1 like
ktache wrote:

I did once have a drunken passenger attempt to get out of a moving vehicle, three times, before the car came to a stop.  All I did was comment on a very close pass at a pedestrian refuge pinch point.  His aggression melted away when I removed my Kryptonite New York Fagadabadit chain and held it in a defensive manner.

Wow, I've just looked that chain up, do you really ride with a 7kg lock in your panniers? That's some serious training!

Avatar
Legs_Eleven_Wor... replied to ktache | 5 years ago
4 likes

ktache wrote:

I did once have a drunken passenger attempt to get out of a moving vehicle, three times, before the car came to a stop.  All I did was comment on a very close pass at a pedestrian refuge pinch point.  His aggression melted away when I removed my Kryptonite New York Fagadabadit chain and held it in a defensive manner.

Good man.  Everyone on a bike in this country should carry some means of defending himself or herself.  

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Legs_Eleven_Worcester | 5 years ago
4 likes

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

ktache wrote:

I did once have a drunken passenger attempt to get out of a moving vehicle, three times, before the car came to a stop.  All I did was comment on a very close pass at a pedestrian refuge pinch point.  His aggression melted away when I removed my Kryptonite New York Fagadabadit chain and held it in a defensive manner.

Good man.  Everyone on a bike in this country should carry some means of defending himself or herself.  

I prefer to tow along a fat man for that purpose

 

Avatar
Legs_Eleven_Wor... replied to hawkinspeter | 5 years ago
2 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

ktache wrote:

I did once have a drunken passenger attempt to get out of a moving vehicle, three times, before the car came to a stop.  All I did was comment on a very close pass at a pedestrian refuge pinch point.  His aggression melted away when I removed my Kryptonite New York Fagadabadit chain and held it in a defensive manner.

Good man.  Everyone on a bike in this country should carry some means of defending himself or herself.  

I prefer to tow along a fat man for that purpose

 

Useless bastards at amazon don't sell those.  

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Legs_Eleven_Worcester | 5 years ago
3 likes

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

ktache wrote:

I did once have a drunken passenger attempt to get out of a moving vehicle, three times, before the car came to a stop.  All I did was comment on a very close pass at a pedestrian refuge pinch point.  His aggression melted away when I removed my Kryptonite New York Fagadabadit chain and held it in a defensive manner.

Good man.  Everyone on a bike in this country should carry some means of defending himself or herself.  

I prefer to tow along a fat man for that purpose

 

Useless bastards at amazon don't sell those.  

Try eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KORA-Models-1-72-FAT-MAN-ATOMIC-BOMB-w-Bomb-Trolley/132498669509?hash=item1ed9893fc5:g:s4gAAOSwp7tafPm2

See if you can pick up one of these to add a bit of spice to it:

 

Avatar
dassie replied to Legs_Eleven_Worcester | 5 years ago
0 likes

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

ktache wrote:

I did once have a drunken passenger attempt to get out of a moving vehicle, three times, before the car came to a stop.  All I did was comment on a very close pass at a pedestrian refuge pinch point.  His aggression melted away when I removed my Kryptonite New York Fagadabadit chain and held it in a defensive manner.

Good man.  Everyone on a bike in this country should carry some means of defending himself or herself.  

I'm told that the best form of self-defence is beat a hasty retreat, otherwise, I guess it's look scary, failing that, block and counter attack.  Actually using  an implement, I suppose comes under reasonable force, and the item not being carried specifically as a 'weapon'...  Zefal HPx pump looks quite imposing.  edit

Avatar
Butty replied to dassie | 5 years ago
0 likes

dassie wrote:

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

ktache wrote:

I did once have a drunken passenger attempt to get out of a moving vehicle, three times, before the car came to a stop.  All I did was comment on a very close pass at a pedestrian refuge pinch point.  His aggression melted away when I removed my Kryptonite New York Fagadabadit chain and held it in a defensive manner.

Good man.  Everyone on a bike in this country should carry some means of defending himself or herself.  

I'm told that the best form of self-defence is beat a hasty retreat, otherwise, I guess it's look scary, failing that, block and counter attack.  Actually using  an implement, I suppose comes under reasonable force, and the item not being carried specifically as a 'weapon'...  Zefal HPx pump looks quite imposing.  edit

You could always sacrifice your bike to block attacks.

Unhook the chain then have the chainrings do their worst on the assailant.

 

Avatar
Legs_Eleven_Wor... replied to dassie | 5 years ago
2 likes

dassie wrote:

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

ktache wrote:

I did once have a drunken passenger attempt to get out of a moving vehicle, three times, before the car came to a stop.  All I did was comment on a very close pass at a pedestrian refuge pinch point.  His aggression melted away when I removed my Kryptonite New York Fagadabadit chain and held it in a defensive manner.

Good man.  Everyone on a bike in this country should carry some means of defending himself or herself.  

I'm told that the best form of self-defence is beat a hasty retreat, otherwise, I guess it's look scary, failing that, block and counter attack.  Actually using  an implement, I suppose comes under reasonable force, and the item not being carried specifically as a 'weapon'...  Zefal HPx pump looks quite imposing.  edit

One thing that has always surprised me is that every single video I've seen where a car driver gets out of his car and threatens a cyclist - or actually strikes the cyclist - is characterised by the retreat of the latter.

You are not a punchbag, and you are not a child whom drivers can 'punish'.   This is the correct way to deal with the selfish fucks in their cars: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0GO0RfhYdo (some swearing so maybe turn the volume down if you're in the office)

Avatar
giff77 replied to Legs_Eleven_Worcester | 5 years ago
1 like

 

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

ktache wrote:

I did once have a drunken passenger attempt to get out of a moving vehicle, three times, before the car came to a stop.  All I did was comment on a very close pass at a pedestrian refuge pinch point.  His aggression melted away when I removed my Kryptonite New York Fagadabadit chain and held it in a defensive manner.

Good man.  Everyone on a bike in this country should carry some means of defending himself or herself.  

Mate of mine (who happened to be a retired marine) was threatened once by an irate driver. He calmly replied in his best emotionless Belfast accent. That if the aggressor was going to hit him he had better ensure that he put him down first time. The driver then hesitated. Went three shades whiter. And meekly returned to his car. Always have a wing man I say. 

Avatar
Legs_Eleven_Wor... | 5 years ago
1 like
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brooksby | 5 years ago
0 likes

I wonder if it was a case of mistaken identity, and that the motorist and his passengers were looking to 'do over' someone in particular... 

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boringbutton | 5 years ago
9 likes

If they do catch him it will be a £10 fine and a kitkat.

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Rick_Rude replied to boringbutton | 5 years ago
1 like

aries2580 wrote:

If they do catch him it will be a £10 fine and a kitkat.

2 fingers or 4?

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ktache | 5 years ago
5 likes

And the motorist, careless driving maybe, driving without due care and attention almost definitely and not stopping at the scene.

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peted76 | 5 years ago
16 likes

I hope they catch this scumbag, that's just horrible.

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