Attacked Sunday at 845pm, Westbound on Adams @Damen
I read that resurrected thread about the Humboldt Park attacks for the first time only yesterday and, since I live in HP and it seems like you have to go through a violent neighborhood to get anywhere in Chicago by bike, resolved to buy some pepper spray. I spent much of yesterday wondering what I'd do in that situation, so my immediate reaction to the guy running onto Adams, holding what looked like a chair like a baseball bat, was you have got to be kidding.
I could see five or six others rushing the street beyond him, but couldn't spare much attention from the guy with the chair, staring me right in the eyes and grinning as I shouted "Don't even think about it, you... [insert language to embarrass a sailor wherever you can make it fit syntactically, and then insert some more]." His swing missed thanks to a tight swerve and when he threw the chair, it went wild over and behind me. Turning up Damen, I saw another guy running toward me. There was no way I'd get past him, so I cocked my leg for a kick and gave him my best. I don't know if I connected. His elbow went right into my chest and stopped the bike hard. A couple other guys came up from behind and waled on my back until I hit the ground, my head bouncing off the pavement.
As any cornered animal will tell you, adrenaline's a hell of a thing. While a few guys kicked me in the chest and back, two other guys tried to steal the bike, and I wasn't letting go. The conversation was of the "from hell's heart, I stab at thee" style, and when one fumbled with the rear pannier ("what the f.ck is this?!" he cried in frustration. Fair play to Ortlieb: the mounts shifted, but the bag remained fastened securely to the rack), I kicked with my free leg, hissing "You can't have it! You can't have it!"
Since we were in the middle of the southbound lanes on Damen, cars eventually came, and the men ran west empty-handed. I got on my bike to pursue, but the chain had slipped and I fell to the ground again. At this, I called them every emasculating name in the book to taunt at least one of them back to me. One guy in particular seemed outraged at what I'd just called him, but he kept running. Cars whizzed up and down Damen, and a few rubberneckers pulled to the side and watched. One man had stepped out of his car, asking if I was alright. "Do you want to call the police?" he asked. I looked west down Adams' empty street and shrugged. "You're bleeding," he said. "Probably," I replied. "Nothing I can do about it now." I stumbled over to the northbound side of Damen, rechained the bike and rode home, unsure whether it was sweat or blood pouring down my face and neck, annoyed to distraction by the new rubbing and scraping from my front fender.
My friend suggested that I file a police report when I got home, and so I did. Where crime is reckoned in documents and numbers, it seemed smarter to be a statistic than nothing at all.
Beyond nausea, headache and feeling like I went ten rounds with Tyson, I'm doing alright. The wounds are bloody but not deep. Here are my observations:
1. It wasn't even nine pm, so cars were bound to come by within a couple of minutes. If this had happened at three or four in the morning, when I often ride past Adams and Damen, it may have been a more protracted and painful experience. I probably would have lost my bike, too.
2. By putting up a fight, I think I confused and slowed them down long enough to get through it. If they had all focused on kicking the hell out of me and then taking the bike, or the reverse, then they surely would have left me senseless and bikeless.
3. These guys knew what they were doing. They had every possible route covered in the event I'd gotten past the guy with the chair, which suggests that they've done this before, and perhaps will again.
4. Next time I'm riding, if I see a group of men standing on all corners, I'll turn around and GTFO. If, like last night, I don't have the distance or time, then I'll lock the brakes, screech to a halt and wait for them to approach. A few shots of pepper spray would, with hope, buy me some time to get out of there.
5. I believe in the efficacy of helmets.
6. Most importantly, that thread about the HP attacks saved my skin. If I didn't recognize what was coming as quickly as I did, then I'd have been knocked off my bike by that chair, and it would have been game over. The Chainlink's earned my Paypal donation several times over, I reckon.
Some people have asked why my first impulse wasn't to call the cops. If they'd taken my bike, I'd have considered it, but given the time it would have taken for the police to arrive, six guys with nothing to show for their efforts in that neighborhood wouldn't have been found, IMHO. There's also the same impulse I felt the first time I got right-hooked by a car: just get out of there. It's not always the best response, but it's often the hardest one to deny.
Edit: crap, I'm down two water bottles.
Happy cycling.
I could see five or six others rushing the street beyond him, but couldn't spare much attention from the guy with the chair, staring me right in the eyes and grinning as I shouted "Don't even think about it, you... [insert language to embarrass a sailor wherever you can make it fit syntactically, and then insert some more]." His swing missed thanks to a tight swerve and when he threw the chair, it went wild over and behind me. Turning up Damen, I saw another guy running toward me. There was no way I'd get past him, so I cocked my leg for a kick and gave him my best. I don't know if I connected. His elbow went right into my chest and stopped the bike hard. A couple other guys came up from behind and waled on my back until I hit the ground, my head bouncing off the pavement.
As any cornered animal will tell you, adrenaline's a hell of a thing. While a few guys kicked me in the chest and back, two other guys tried to steal the bike, and I wasn't letting go. The conversation was of the "from hell's heart, I stab at thee" style, and when one fumbled with the rear pannier ("what the f.ck is this?!" he cried in frustration. Fair play to Ortlieb: the mounts shifted, but the bag remained fastened securely to the rack), I kicked with my free leg, hissing "You can't have it! You can't have it!"
Since we were in the middle of the southbound lanes on Damen, cars eventually came, and the men ran west empty-handed. I got on my bike to pursue, but the chain had slipped and I fell to the ground again. At this, I called them every emasculating name in the book to taunt at least one of them back to me. One guy in particular seemed outraged at what I'd just called him, but he kept running. Cars whizzed up and down Damen, and a few rubberneckers pulled to the side and watched. One man had stepped out of his car, asking if I was alright. "Do you want to call the police?" he asked. I looked west down Adams' empty street and shrugged. "You're bleeding," he said. "Probably," I replied. "Nothing I can do about it now." I stumbled over to the northbound side of Damen, rechained the bike and rode home, unsure whether it was sweat or blood pouring down my face and neck, annoyed to distraction by the new rubbing and scraping from my front fender.
My friend suggested that I file a police report when I got home, and so I did. Where crime is reckoned in documents and numbers, it seemed smarter to be a statistic than nothing at all.
Beyond nausea, headache and feeling like I went ten rounds with Tyson, I'm doing alright. The wounds are bloody but not deep. Here are my observations:
1. It wasn't even nine pm, so cars were bound to come by within a couple of minutes. If this had happened at three or four in the morning, when I often ride past Adams and Damen, it may have been a more protracted and painful experience. I probably would have lost my bike, too.
2. By putting up a fight, I think I confused and slowed them down long enough to get through it. If they had all focused on kicking the hell out of me and then taking the bike, or the reverse, then they surely would have left me senseless and bikeless.
3. These guys knew what they were doing. They had every possible route covered in the event I'd gotten past the guy with the chair, which suggests that they've done this before, and perhaps will again.
4. Next time I'm riding, if I see a group of men standing on all corners, I'll turn around and GTFO. If, like last night, I don't have the distance or time, then I'll lock the brakes, screech to a halt and wait for them to approach. A few shots of pepper spray would, with hope, buy me some time to get out of there.
5. I believe in the efficacy of helmets.
6. Most importantly, that thread about the HP attacks saved my skin. If I didn't recognize what was coming as quickly as I did, then I'd have been knocked off my bike by that chair, and it would have been game over. The Chainlink's earned my Paypal donation several times over, I reckon.
Some people have asked why my first impulse wasn't to call the cops. If they'd taken my bike, I'd have considered it, but given the time it would have taken for the police to arrive, six guys with nothing to show for their efforts in that neighborhood wouldn't have been found, IMHO. There's also the same impulse I felt the first time I got right-hooked by a car: just get out of there. It's not always the best response, but it's often the hardest one to deny.
Edit: crap, I'm down two water bottles.
Happy cycling.
Views: 907
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Michelle Gregorek on
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Yes Liz, I have considered the combination of bus and bike and it is most likely the way I will go.
Liz said:Is there anyone else who works with you that can ride with you or drive behind you unti you are in a more populated area? Also perhaps we should start a cycling "buddy" group for certain areas? If there's someone else who rides in the same area regularly and works similar hours maybe the two of you can ride together. I agree that waiting at a desolate bus stop may not be any more safe. You can also use a combination of bus and bike, so wait in your office (use bus tracker) until just before the bus approaches, then ride the bus with your bike on the front, and then ride your bike the rest of the way home (avoiding a wait in deserted downtown for the 2nd bus).
Michelle Gregorek said:I am a new rider...and fairly new to the city. I have been getting a lot of flack from family about riding home after working the United Center (heading to River North area). Reading this is making me think they are right, that I should just take the bus (buses really). The times I have taken the bus, I have not enjoyed the wait to catch the 22 on Dearborn since no one is around at that time. Oh, what to do, what to do.
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Permalink Reply by Joe on
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Niall,
Did one of your attckers look like this? I think I saw him outside a store taking a break after cowardly running away.
See you soon.
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Permalink Reply by T.C. O'Rourke on
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Niall, again really sorry this happened. At the risk of encouraging others to fight off 6 attackers, you f*cking rock. The fact that you gave them nothing will be of great comfort during the healing process.
Now then, pepper spray.
I swear by the Guard Alaska brand, currently on sale at my preferred internet reta....
I have gone through 5 cans in my 7 years in East Garfield. I have sprayed it from 20' away, from my bike and from prone on the ground. With 9 ounces and 30' range, it is enough to deter 6 people, IMHO. It does not render them helpless.
You don't need to have it at the ready at all times, but when riding down Adams at Damen would be a good idea. I keep mine clipped to my basket or messenger bag, pretty much at all times.
The important thing is to recognize when these attacks are going to go down ie. don't trust that someone walking into your path is just jaywalking/being rude/intimidating you.
Pump it in short bursts to conserve the chemical-- it rapidly depletes. Hold on to the canister with both hands to better control where the spray is going.
Yes there is often some blow back and hand-to-eye contamination. But it isn't like standing in the stream of the spray and far better than taking a beating. I have experienced both. Anti-contamination wipes are available as well.
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Permalink Reply by Jason W on
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Gabe said:We need conceal and carry. 6 dead pieces of shit.
This is the first thing I thought of. You think people would try this in Texas? I think not...
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WOW ! Well written...I have a suggestion to most folks....don't use a front flasher.. just be safer considering cars in front of you...The front flasher just alerts thugs that you are coming..and as your article speaks clearly........"they" are out there.... Thanks for posting...
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Permalink Reply by Davo on
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Wow talk about the uncanny valley
Joe said:Niall,
Did one of your attckers look like this? I think I saw him outside a store taking a break after cowardly running away.
See you soon.
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Permalink Reply by knowbody on
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...or conversely (when traveling while it's dark out) something as bright as a camera strobe or a weapons grade led flashlight would be blinding. of course, you'll wind up taking out anybody who is looking in your direction so better be careful not to get run over by the ensuing melee of swerving vehicles.
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Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on
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Now I really want to build one of these... It really is better to turn around and run when seeing thugs hanging out, but it would be nice to just mow them all down.
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Permalink Reply by Niall Munnelly on
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Hey, I should note in closing my appreciation for the kind words and good advice in this thread. My primary message was that the intersection Damen and Adams seems to host practiced goons and that it's worth avoiding, but I got lost in the warm fuzzies.
Thanks again. Onward and upward...
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Permalink Reply by Michele on
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One thought I had in reading this thread is that it might be worth having a dummy wallet with a couple of bucks in it to throw at harassers.
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Permalink Reply by Gort 12-mile Pinklegneep on
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I'm out in Oak Park, during daylight I pretty much have no trouble just going up Lake street but when it gets dark early I go Milwaukee -> Armitage -> South on Austin. It's a pretty nice route, never seen even a suggestion of trouble at any hour.
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Nice!
Michele Beaulieux said:One thought I had in reading this thread is that it might be worth having a dummy wallet with a couple of bucks in it to throw at harassers.
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