A club rider from south London says he has lost “freedom and independence to go and ride my bike” after escaping an attempted bikejacking by motorbike-riding muggers in the latest of a series of incidents.
The victim, a road.cc reader, told us they were threatened by the offenders, who told him they would take his bike (a 2022 S-Works Tarmac SL7) or stab him, during the frightening attack on Thursday evening on Layhams Road, in West Wickham.
The road is a popular route for cyclists riding out of the capital into the Surrey and Kent countryside, and is part of the same area where riders were, in April, warned of a moped gang seemingly targeting lone female cyclists after a rider was held down and had their bike stolen during an attack.
Recalling the latest incident, the reader said: “Two men on bikes went past me. One electric motorcross style and one superbike replica 125cc bike with a loud exhaust. They pulled into a side road, let me ride past them and then came after me.
“They swerved in front of the bike to box me in and stop me. I managed to turn around and sprint off. They came after me again, rode alongside and said, you have two options, you give us the bike or we stab you, then they boxed me in again. I did not see a knife so this may have just been a threat.
“At that point a car turned up that I shouted at to get them to stop and then a group of riders also turned up and the guys on motorbikes fled.”
The Penge Cycling Club member says he wishes he had taken the advice of a recent email from the club chairman advising members to only ride in groups as “the situation has got so bad”.
“They were both wearing balaclavas so very difficult to ID them for the police but I knew as soon as they went past me that they were dodgy,” he continued.
“The police are taking the situation seriously and are looking to try to connect any similar cases.
“The saddest thing for me apart from being very shaken is that it has now taken away my freedom and independence to go and ride my bike whenever I want as I am now in fear of a similar situation.
“They are obviously targeting this road and area surrounding it as they know it is a very popular thoroughfare for any cyclists heading out of London. My bike is a 2022 S-Works Tarmac SL7 which is worth a huge amount of money so they clearly know what kind of bikes they are looking for.”
In April, a female cyclist was held down and had their bike stolen during an attack on Beddlestead Lane in nearby Warlingham by two men on a scooter.
> Female cyclist held down and bike stolen during frightening attack
Following the incident, another local club, Dulwich Paragon, warned riders to stay vigilant, ride different routes and ride with other people “until there are signs the police have got on top of the situation”.
Meanwhile, in October, professional cyclist Alexandar Richardson was knocked off his bike and threatened by a gang with a machete in Richmond Park, in south west London.
At the time, the then-Alpecin Fenix rider, who finished third at last week’s national championships, said the attacks were “becoming a common occurrence in parts of London”, with the gang taking his team-issue Canyon Aeroad.
It was the second violent robbery in the park within a 24-hour window after the owner of a 2021 Cannondale System Six was pushed off his bike by two balaclava-clad men on an electric scooter.
-1024x680.jpg "“Clear anti-cyclist bias”: Lawsuit filed against Toronto police after cop doored cyclist… before ticketing rider over incident")
47 thoughts on ““They said give us the bike or we stab you”: Another cyclist targeted by motorbike-riding muggers on popular route out of London”
How hard can it be for the
How hard can it be for the police to cycle these routes on bikes set up with trackers? If there is no element of risk for the thieves then they’d be stupid to give up on this profitable venture.
How hard can it be for them
How hard can it be for them to deal with fully documented reports of vehicles on the road with no MOT or VED for over 2 years, when all the work is done for them? They still don’t do it, so expecting any action over ultra-low priority offences against cyclists is a truly forlorn hope!
Different departments.
Different departments.
I do take your point. However
I do take your point. However, holding women down and stealing from them. Pulling out machetes. Threatening to stab people. I’d say that’s higher priority than pulling people with no MOT.
BazzaMann wrote:
In some ways I agree, but the party of Laura Norder has been in power since 2010 and there’s not much of it. From the mean (Downing) streets of London to the traffic lights of Lancs, your average offender knows he* will get away with it because despite more laws than ever, enforcement is very low. And as anyone with a toddler or puppy will tell you, consistent application of rules is essential.
*pronoun choice is deliberate.
the traffic lights of Lancs
the traffic lights of Lancs
You’re underselling the Wild West ‘no tiresome over-regulation of traffic here in Lancashire’ ethos of the Red Nose Police, by failing to advertise the amount of money to be saved here by evading insurance, MOT and VED for years on end
Here is my featured Evader BMW MV57 GXO down at Garstang Tennis Club this morning, during the Scarecrow Festival
“They are obviously targeting
“They are obviously targeting this road and area surrounding it as they know it is a very popular thoroughfare for any cyclists heading out of London.”
It wouldn’t surprise me unduly if they’re targeting that road because they live on it. Lots of young men on mopeds, quad bikes etc frequenting the properties at the southern end of Layhams.
Often saw burnt out cars on
Often saw burnt out cars on Skid Lane and Beddlestead Lane. New Addington and the bottom end of selsdon are a bit rough , but there are places like that all over.
This story and the recent one in Otford actually put me off going out this morning, even though I would be out and back before most get out of bed on Sunday. If I lost my bike like this I would struggle to replace it, but I still want to enjoy riding it and prefer the back lanes with little traffic, but that puts me at higher risk of attack.
I was out this morning and no
I was out this morning and no sign of them. I think there are too many cyclists and muggers can’t be bothered to get up early. They were apparently out on Friday evening (Jackass Lane) so at the moment weekday evenings seems to be their MO.
AidanR wrote:
I suspect I was given the once-over on Pilgrim’s Way (which is Kent, not London for “Great Eastern”‘s benefit) a couple of Wednesdays back. Two blokes on mopeds, passing me rather more carefully and inquisitively than is usual. I don’t know if they wanted an (even) softer target, or if my bike didn’t meet their requirements.
I’d still put money on them being from the compounds on Layhams Road: I can’t think where else you could get to round there on a knackered moped with a £10k bike over your shoulder without attracting some attention.
They were out that far? Noted
They were out that far? Noted! I have a pretty nondescript bike so I’m hoping I wouldn’t be targeted, but you never know.
You may well be right about where they’re from, but given that this has happened in Richmond Park too, I’m not sure they’re bothered about attracting attention.
Subtlety of the expense and
Subtlety of the expense and leaving everything bar the drivetrain filthy, dried mud and dust. Same as when I’m locking them up. Don’t know if it works.
As with everything, just hope my very expensive insurance will pay out.
Brauchsel wrote:
I suspect I was given the once-over on Pilgrim’s Way (which is Kent, not London for “Great Eastern”‘s benefit) a couple of Wednesdays back.
— AidanR Was it also during the evening?
mihma wrote:
I’ve seen two reports of muggings near Star Lane, both last Thursday evening.
St Mary Cray’s Star Lane
St Mary Cray’s Star Lane (since we’re talking London/Kent borders)?
Dnnnnnn wrote:
Yes. One on Star Lane and one on Poverest Road.
What happened in Otford?
What happened in Otford?
Is simply get off my bike
Is simply get off my bike push them over whilst they straddle theirs. Pinch their keys. Possibly twist helmets around with their heads still in them so they point the wrong way. Squirt some sugary gels in there petrol tanks. Oh and confiscate their knives.
Society is full of feral kids with police struggling to cope.
Really? So you have one
Really? So you have one scrote on a moped in front of you and one behind you, they both have knives, what do you think Scrote B is going to be doing while you’re dealing with Scrote A?
Haven’t you seen the movies?
Haven’t you seen the movies? They only attack you one at a time.
chrisonatrike wrote:
Well I’d bravely run away if
Well I’d bravely run away if I could. I’ve no doubt the first commentor (or yourself of course) would totally take them down though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU8949uj5YI
chrisonatrike wrote:
I would very much be of the running away persuasion, I assure you! If I couldn’t run away I’d let them have my bike, much as I adore it and can’t really afford to replace it, I’ll fight to defend people (or myself) if it’s absolutely the only option but there ain’t a piece of property on earth I’d risk getting mashed up for.
Or if two do attack at once
Or if two do attack at once you simply time a duck so that they end up hitting each other.
It’d look good in a film. I’m
It’d look good in a film. I’m not convinced it’d work out that way in real life.
A sting operation will sort
A sting operation will sort these scumbags out. A high end bike and then taser the bastards!
Failing that. Pepper spray in your bar bag.
The first should be tried by
The first should be tried by the police
The second is illegal.
It’s why I always have a
It’s why I always have a heavy duty D-lock on me.
Not that this kind of thing happens up here in the sleepy north Midlands.
However, I have had confrontations with irate motorists before, who soon back off when they see you have a heavy, blunt object in your hands.
Would I give up my pride and joy to scrotes on the off-chance they do actually have knives and are willing to use them?
It’s easy to say just hand over your bike, phone, wallet etc, but all that does is embolden them and what starts as threats can quite easily escalate. In the right circumstances I’d give them a taste of their own medicine, there’s nothing I hate more than bullies.
I stepped in to stop bike thieves with angle grinders in Camden Town just before the pandemic started and got the “do you know who I am” from them. They soon effed off when I put the biggest on his arse when he got a bit too cocky.
Owd Big ‘Ead wrote:
But do you train with it? More – do you train you + D-lock (delivering a devastating strike, can parry, but a slow-moving weapon) vs. someone likely younger than you with a knife? How well do you train? Practice makes … habit.
Even more than that – do you train the bit that comes before e.g. can we stop the conflict escalating before it’s potentially kill or be killed?
Each to their own and there’s something to standing up to people. Sometimes just having that confidence in yourself can mean trouble passes you by. There is over-confidence though. I believe a fast knife – or several – is a great leveller.
As I said, I take each
As I said, I take each situation as it comes. I’m no hero and I’m very much aware of how my age can work against me with slower reaction times when dealing with young men, but to always give in, while the sensible solution, doesn’t neccessarily mean that you aren’t going to get stabbed anyway. If emboldened by victims just handing their belongings over, many bullies will take it that step further anyway, they get a buzz from it. If someone is daft enough to carry a blade in the first place, they are equally daft to use it.
I don’t condone violence, but having been a violent man in the past as part of my job, I may well see the world in a totally different prspective to others.
If we all just throw in the towel every time, they win. Then what do they do? Going after cyclists is probably considered a relatively easy target to them. What next, a lone female walking home at night. Someone’s daughter, wife, girlfriend? If the Police had a higher profile crooks wouldn’t be so brazen in their attitudes and members of the public wouldn’t feel like they need to take the law into their own hands.
Then again, it’s London, somewhere I escaped from decades ago and have very few reasons to visit anymore, but when I do there is definitely a different, more menacing vibe wherever you tend to be.
Owd Big 'Ead wrote:
I’m genuinely intrigued as to what your job was!
I was riding solo around the lanes in question this morning, and came to the conclusion that my best bet if I saw moped riders coming would be to hope a fence or gate with my bike. I don’t have experience of violence and although I would consider standing up to one, I couldn’t stand up to three.
I came to the same conclusion
I came to the same conclusion although there’s not much fencing alongside those lanes. At those long stretched fields there’s literally nothing one can do.
AidanR wrote:
I don’t condone violence, but having been a violent man in the past as part of my job, I may well see the world in a totally different prspective to others.
— AidanR I’m genuinely intrigued as to what your job was!.— Owd Big 'Ead
Supply teacher?
It sounds as if you didn’t
It sounds as if you didn’t ‘escape’ London – you couldn’t handle it. You’re all talk – if you think London is ‘menacing’ you must be a wuss.
Blimey – are we going to see
Blimey – are we going to see a lock tonfa duel?
chrisonatrike wrote:
You’d need two for that wouldn’t you – one for each leg?
mdavidford wrote:
Mount a single long one to the front of the bike and use as tri-bars. Hey presto! You’re now twice as dangerous (in the opinions of some people)!
Knife attacks are extremely
Knife attacks are extremely dangerous.. there’s a good reason cops wear stab vests in risky locations.
Dan, in the interests of
Dan, in the interests of journalistic accuracy and to avoid the toxicity of mainstream media can you change ‘motorbike-riding muggers’ to ‘muggers riding mopeds’?
I assure you that motorcyclists have no interest in mugging though accept that’s a generalisation. Secondly 125cc is a learner vehicle with a low cost of use for the jobbing criminal so moped is closer. Of course there will be a range of people involved in any mode of transport from the charming to the criminal. So there’s always going to be some wrong’uns. The key attribute is mugger not motorcyclist. The best motorcyclists at MotoGP, WSBK, and BSB are often keen cyclists so serious athletes in training. ‘Bikers’ riding American cruisers are a Hollywood myth, amusingly more likely to be a Dentist, Doctor or Actor in California. Moped riding chavs, something quite different again..
Lets not disrespect other vulnerable road users on account of a few chavs.
Strange take. The use of
Strange take. The use of motorcycles is a key part of the crime, I don’t think anybody would look at that headline and think “bloody motorcyclists at it again”. I’ve never noticed much toxicity towards motorcyclists in the mainstream media (and I used to be one so I would’ve noticed). Mentioning that they are using motorcycles for their crime is denigrating motorcyclists about as much as mentioning that they use knives is denigrating chefs. I certainly would see no link between them and someone taking their R1 out for a Sunday spin. If you really want to do something about offensive stereotypes, you might consider not using the socially derogatory stereotype term “chav” to describe the criminals…
“one superbike replica 125cc
“one superbike replica 125cc bike with a loud exhaust”
If you genuinely interested in Journlistic accuracy then why do you wish to describe this motorcycle as a moped, a moped has a max engine capacity of 50cc
Mopeds also have pedals
Mopeds also have pedals (hence the ‘ped’ bit), so scooter might be more accurate, although in this case one of the bikes was described as an electric motocross style bike. I’ve seen people riding these, but they ride them on pavements and don’t treat them as an actual motorcycle.
Whilst that is undoubtedly
Whilst that is undoubtedly the etymology of the word, I am not sure it is now the accepted (or at least unique) definition. The more common definition was, I thought, a motorbike with a small capacity engine.
Mopeds, (motor) scooters and
Mopeds, (motor) scooters and motorcycles are all motorcycles.
Pub bike wrote:
Nope, distinct license types and competence.
Balance Bikes, Penny Farthings and Time Trials are all cycles, so no distinction there…
A motorcycle, often called a
A motorcycle, often called a motorbike, bike, cycle, or (if three-wheeled) trike, is a two- or three-wheeled motor vehicle..
Which police authority covers
Which police authority covers this area? Will road.cc post an update from the police about what they are doing?