2010-03-15 - Attempted bikejacking/mugging, Peckham Rye/Nunhead

All sounds a bit like a lynchin' party in here.

If you feel intimidated by someone the best thing to do is often to suddenly aim your bike at them with a wild and mad cackle. Gibbering helps too, and affecting a nervous twitch.

I often sing while I'm riding, cos it helps my breathing (I have damaged lungs and it helps stop me panting). Someone singing loudly whilst glaring at you with the mad "I'm HIGH on these endorphins, baby - don't fuck with me!" eyes, it seems to freak them right out. NUTTER WARNING!!

My old man was as hard as nails. In fact, my entire family was. Current generation are wimpy by comparison. But I learned at a young age that if you tell people with your attitude/body language, "We may come to blows. I may lose. You WILL get hurt in the process. Like, BADLY." then it does wonders for taking the wind out of their sails.

The best case of that I had was was the guy going "Yeah..? YEAH..?" at me from inside his car, following a difference of opinion. I told him he was clearly having to get himself worked up for this... But I'd been ready for it from five miles ago. So if he wanted to get out of his car, then he should feel free. But the second his foot touched tarmac, I'd be on him. He didn't get out in the end - because he knew I meant what I'd said.