Chester Greenway

[ebikeerwidnes]

I have looked at a similar route from here to where the grand kids live - called the Liverpool Loop

but I have seen a few reports that refer to it as "bandit country"
especially in school holidays

so I have avoided it

 

[Dirtyhanz2]

Really sorry to hear this, if you want a bit of company through the greenway one day to get towards wherever you're heading, give me a shout. I'm off on Wednesdays and about random weekend.

Thank you much appreciated

 

[Dirtyhanz2]

Thanks everyone for your kind comments
it’s much appreciated ❤️

 

[fossyant]

Indeed; it's desperately sad / ironic that the very thing that makes these paths appealing (getting away from the danger of dickheads on the roads) is also what makes them appealing to the greasy little sh*ts committing these offences.

Stuff like this always turns my mind to plausibly-deniable cycle-centric weapons one might get away with carrying for such an occasion; although as yet I've drawn a blank. Not sure it'd wash claiming a 24" Katana was necessary for removing thorns from tyres..



Sorry to hear that; fair play for sticking to your guns and fending the little bastards off though!

While people will always claim "it's only a bike and can be replaced", "it's not worth your life" etc, when it comes down to it I'm very attached to my gear and I think for a lot of us the value of our bikes extends far beyond their perceived financial worth.

It'd break my heart for some little maggot to take my gear; especially-so if I just rolled over and let them - even if it was for self preservation I'm not sure I could live with myself.

While the physical and mental scars of this nasty ordeal will likely linger, I hope you can take some comfort from standing your ground and thrwarting your assailants - do you think there's any chance the police will catch them?

Thing is with these attacks, and I did tell the police, I am quite good at getting up from a crash without harm. Who knows what would have happened... I'm well practiced at crashing and getting up !

They did assure me the known lads weren't 'carrying' - i.e. knives etc.

I do have farb spray in the panniers, but it would take a fair few seconds to go find it. - My solution was to increase speed and smash through it.

 

[Brandane]

Sorry to hear about this experience, @Dirtyhanz2 , all very unnerving.
It is reports of this kind of thing that puts me off the kind of cycling I used to enjoy most, i.e. heading off solo and exploring new long distance routes on multi day tours. It's got to the stage now that I would be very wary of venturing along some of these isolated canal paths or cycleways, especially in urban areas.

 

[Brandane]

Stuff like this always turns my mind to plausibly-deniable cycle-centric weapons one might get away with carrying for such an occasion; although as yet I've drawn a blank.

A heavy U lock?

 

[Drago]

Be careful with weapons of any type, even everyday objects. Unless you're skilled in it's use then the bigger combatant (physics wins every time, particularly if assisted by adrenaline and goofballs) will assume possession of said item, andnif thats not you...

A quick application of 4 stiff fingers to the windpipe of the biggest of them usually makes the others reassess their career options. And then run for all you're worth. The trick is to give it the old "please don't hurt me" routine and look scared, and then strike when their guard is down.

 

[wafter]

A heavy U lock?

Probably not a bad idea; although accessibility could be an issue as I typically carry it in the panniers as there's no room on the frame with a couple of water bottles... plus it's not really "Brompton positive".

 

[wafter]

Thing is with these attacks, and I did tell the police, I am quite good at getting up from a crash without harm. Who knows what would have happened... I'm well practiced at crashing and getting up !

They did assure me the known lads weren't 'carrying' - i.e. knives etc.

I do have farb spray in the panniers, but it would take a fair few seconds to go find it. - My solution was to increase speed and smash through it.

Oh, that's alright then - might sustain serious injuries coming off the bike before getting robbed, but at least you won't get stabbed. Probably.

Good call on the farb spray - probably has some merit if you empty half a can into your assailant's eyes; although even though it's "UK legal" I suspect you could still be on a sticky wicket depending on how you used it.

Don't get me wrong; as much as I'd love to see these gobshites burned alive on the village green I have no affinity or capacity for violence or confrontation. Always best to avoid a situation when possible and that would always be my priority; however from the flip side these scrotes are only going to carry on regardless until discouraged by someone's actions.

 

[Brandane]

these scrotes are only going to carry on regardless until discouraged by someone's actions.

And the legal system upon which we are supposed to rely has raised the white flag to them.

 

[Ian H]

Chester Greenway! I didn't know he'd died.

A friend used to have a house that backed on to the greenway. She used it quite a lot, running and cycling, without any untoward incidents as I recall.

 

[Drago]

And the legal system upon which we are supposed to rely has raised the white flag to them.

True, although you have to be alive to face the legal music.

Then only time, about 2 decades ago, that I had to use force was to prevent three sheets relieving me of £300 I'd just taken out of a cash machine. They threatened to stab me but hadn't produced a knife so before they had time to think I nutted the closest and felt his face go it, went to punch the second but misjudged it and sort of clotheslined him over the bridge of his nose with my forearm, and then ran like Usain Bolt on acid before the third decided to be a hero.

I never reported it. I'm pretty sure I broke something in the face of the first one and although it was righteous I didn't fancy the grief of hassle at work of being investigated or even suspended. Fortunately it wasn't my home town so there was no chance of me being recognised, and it was long before widespread ANPR so I kept schtumn and a quiet eye on the local news website for that area.

The legal system is all well and good, but even better if you never need to get involved with it.

 

[Cavalol]

Chester Greenway! I didn't know he'd died.

A friend used to have a house that backed on to the greenway. She used it quite a lot, running and cycling, without any untoward incidents as I recall.

It's usually pretty good, in fairness I think the only trouble I've encountered was actually from cyclists.

 

[Chislenko]

Chester Greenway! I didn't know he'd died.

A friend used to have a house that backed on to the greenway. She used it quite a lot, running and cycling, without any untoward incidents as I recall.

Yes, used it myself for cycling but not for years now, still use a section of it for running.

However it has progressively got worse. I have seen lads on ebikes with their faces covered and didn't think anything of it until I read this. Also you are constantly buzzed by the superfast ebike drug courier, back and forth all day. And if you cycle past the old Blacon station area you get a free hit of cannabis as you go past from the congregated users.

 

[Ian H]

Yes, used it myself for cycling but not for years now, still use a section of it for running.

However it has progressively got worse. I have seen lads on ebikes with their faces covered and didn't think anything of it until I read this. Also you are constantly buzzed by the superfast ebike drug courier, back and forth all day. And if you cycle past the old Blacon station area you get a free hit of cannabis as you go past from the congregated users.

You've reminded me that we did come across cannabis fug, but this was before ebikes and scooters became popular.