Advantages of a Bicycle (Part II) – Chasing Young Oiks

Way back in 2008, I started a series on the advantages of bicycles . Like many good intentions, such as training on a turbo, doing ‘core  strength exercises’, stretching e.t.c. this series of bicycle benefits fell by the wayside. But, better late than never – after a gap of four years, I’ve decided to publish, the long over-due and eagerly awaited second part of this series.

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Advantages of bicycles (part II) – Chasing Young Oiks and being able to scamper if things turn out bad.

All, I can say is if you’ve been waiting on tenterhooks all these years, you may end up a little disappointed at my rather half-hearted attempt to be a ‘have a go hero’. Nevertheless, I think the bicycle comes out well in all this, which is the important thing.

I was cycling to work this morning, when out of the corner of my eye I saw a few schoolboys messing around. Part of you wants to ignore any issue like this; the other part of you is indignant and feel they could be doing it to your house.

Society seems reluctant to challenge law breakers – or at least this is what this video of bike stealing in New York suggests.

 

Anyway, back to Oxford.

The young oiks were throwing something at a house / garden. I wasn’t sure what, I may have heard a greenhouse pain smash, I’m not sure. Even though I was cycling in the wrong direction, and it would have been easy to ignore it, the ‘bicycle repair man / superhero’ in me shouted out to tell them to stop, I did a U-turn and started chasing them on my bike. To my great astonishment this feeble shout had the desired affect and they scampered off into a park. Emboldened by my action I cycled after them (at a suitably menacingly fast speed i.e. 10mph) and, after finding them hiding in the bushes, I told them not to do it again as I cycled off at an impressive speed.

If I’d been a really good citizen I would have taken out my camera and taken photos of the young oiks and inspected the greenhouse for damage. I then could have taken evidence to their school or police. But, alas I only though of this noble idea as I’m writing from the relative safety of a coffee shop 3 miles away.

The thing is if I’d been on foot, would I have challenged the gang of young oiks? If things look bad, you can easily cycle away and not lose face. But, when you’re on foot and surrounded by young hoodlums, your options are much less appealing. I think on foot I may have been temporarily hard of hearing and walked on with a suitable sense of guilt and feebleness. But, a bike is a great law enforcement device and importantly offers a quick get away….

That’s why it’s good to see bobbys on the beat on bikes.

So I did half a good dead for the day. I shall see whether in the next five years, I can think of another advantage of a bicycle. But, in the meantime, if you have any suggestions, send them on a postcard, best answer wins a Blue Peter badge.

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4 Responses to Advantages of a Bicycle (Part II) – Chasing Young Oiks

  1. Rob M October 13, 2012 at 8:11 am #

    maybe not Wiggle but I found a rear blue bike light on e-bay…

    http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u6/pogostickio/blue_bike_light.jpg

    I had another cyclist ask me about the blue bike light. while I was stumped for an answer he said it made me look like a copper.

  2. Jenson October 6, 2012 at 4:59 pm #

    The war on crime has many fronts! Good on you mate

  3. Hurumph October 3, 2012 at 11:34 pm #

    Heehee, very good! And the chances are these youngsters won’t be so daft again, so you have prevented more damage even if they don’t get in further trouble this time. It’s just not worth the hassle for them, I would guess.

    Do Wiggle sell blue flashing lights and sirens? I suspect it would be illegal to use them if they did

  4. Samuel October 3, 2012 at 10:42 am #

    Good on you mate. very citizen.

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