Watch out for douchebags trying to clothes line you

(*that should read 'clothes-line' - sorry, not paying attention at work)

yo all -
two nights ago, a friend of mine was mercilessly beaten up by a 'gang of youths' while cycling back from old street.
they were hiding between two cars, jumped him on his bike, took him into an alleyway, beat him to a pulp - and of course took his wallet, phone, and brand new build (the most heartbreaking piece of info, of course)
normally, i would never think about anything like this. i feel completely safe and confident on a bike, much more than say when i'm a pedestrian. but it got me thinking that you can't be too confident in any situation...
and surprise surprise, last night on my route home from work (after Rodney Place off New Kent Road, in the Brandon Street/Portland Street stretch that runs parallel to Walworth Road...) the exact same thing happened to me - but I saw it coming and managed to avoid getting the shit kicked out of me.
A group of kids were waiting on the corner of a sidestreet. I could see them in the distance, and thought nothing of it, but when I noticed another kid on a shitty red mountain bike closer to me who saw me and then whistled to the group. I knew what was about to happen so I was ready - kid ran out, and basically took a huge swing at me, while another came from the other side and tried to grab me by the neck.
i weaved right through em, but it was stupidly close. i got the fuck out of there at top speed, and flagged down a cop when I was in peckham about 3 minutes later. I gave them the exact address and for once they actually seemed to take me seriously.
hopefully, this won't happen again, but I really just wanted to warn everybody on here as that's quite a popular route for us South-East Londoners to get home - but also a pretty desolate and empty place after 8PM. if that kid had hit me while I was going full speed as I was, with SPD's on, I dread to think what could have happened. and giving that this happened to my buddy, and almost now-to-me, it's worth wondering whether this is becoming a popular trend...
keep your eyes peeled!

Abolsutely horrific. I live just around the corner in Pilton Place (East Street) seems like an Okish area didnt think this would happen here. Don't think I'll be using the Crown and Anchor shortcut again!