Attempted bike jacking - Helshoogte, Stellenbosch

[openmind]

I was riding up Helshoogte pass from Stellenbosch at about 11am this morning when I saw two guys walking down in the yellow lane just after the top of the first drag of the pass out of town. They looked a bit dodge, so I dropped a few gears and stood up on the pedals just in case. Sure enough, as I passed them and kept them in my peripheral view, one of them started to sprint after me. He had two goes at trying to catch me but I managed to sprint away each time. I moved into the middle of the road and flagged down a car. At this point the guy sauntered back to his mate and they just carried on walking down the road. I decided to keep riding. F that. 

 

Just thought I'd post this as a heads-up. If I was less aware I think he may have got me. Don't trust anyone walking in the road. Give them a super-wide berth, get ready to sprint and use the whole road if you have to. 

 

Yes, I know I should not ride alone, but that's not always practical. Maybe I should get some mace. 

 

I still had a lekker ride with some free sprint intervals thrown in. 

[Grease_Monkey]

Talk about making lemonade when life gives you lemons! Glad you are okay.

 

That is quite a common spot for jackings, I think they rely on the fact that you will be tired at that point.

Edited October 20, 2019 by Grease_Monkey

[Pr0Du×]

Thanx for the alert

[Kenty]

Well done....jip..I also give anything walking towards me a wide berth...

[cadenceblur]

thanks for posting, I recall someone collecting stats a while ago of incidents in the Stellenbosch area.

[dannygirl]

Apologies for the semi- hijack, but also got 'approached' on Saturday in Stellenbosch - on MTB, coming down the contour path just above the hangbrug. 

 

We were cycling and had the dog with us, I turned around at the dam to get a few extra kms in.  Were commenting on how busy it was...around 10:30am. 

 

Next thing I know, a guy (looked like he was on tik or something) was standing next to the big pine trees at the T, with rocks in both hands, already holding another MTB'er ransom. 

 

My only option was to try and fly past, as even someone walking at a leisurely pace would probably catch me going uphill.  He launched a rock at me (luckily this gave the other guy a chance to make a run for it).  Luckily he only hit my rear wheel, severing a spoke or two.

 

This serves as a wake-up call for me, as I regularly ride this route, either alone, with the hound, or with friends.  Had there been more of them, it may have been a different story. 

 

But I think what p*sses me off most, is that I'm expected to be grateful to have gotten off without any injury or worse...how can we ever make spaces safe to ride in again???

[Wheelie87]

Apologies for the semi- hijack, but also got 'approached' on Saturday in Stellenbosch - on MTB, coming down the contour path just above the hangbrug. 

 

We were cycling and had the dog with us, I turned around at the dam to get a few extra kms in.  Were commenting on how busy it was...around 10:30am. 

 

Next thing I know, a guy (looked like he was on tik or something) was standing next to the big pine trees at the T, with rocks in both hands, already holding another MTB'er ransom. 

 

My only option was to try and fly past, as even someone walking at a leisurely pace would probably catch me going uphill.  He launched a rock at me (luckily this gave the other guy a chance to make a run for it).  Luckily he only hit my rear wheel, severing a spoke or two.

 

This serves as a wake-up call for me, as I regularly ride this route, either alone, with the hound, or with friends.  Had there been more of them, it may have been a different story. 

 

But I think what p*sses me off most, is that I'm expected to be grateful to have gotten off without any injury or worse...how can we ever make spaces safe to ride in again???

 

Hectic..tikkoppe

 

Glad you're OK

 

Janee don't know what to do anymore..I often cycle past there

 

Always on high alert when cycling anywhere really outside Jonkershoek in Stellenbosch

It's not normal to feel like this

I sometimes think I'm just paranoid as I see a lot of people walking/jogging by themselves, quite a lot of them elderly/female and then I read something like this again and I'm like...

[SeaBee]

Another slight deviation from the main thread.

 

Are there any safe options coming into Stellenbosch nowadays? I was contemplating getting some commutes in over Dec, but both roads I'd most likely use makes me contemplate the wisdom of attempting it. 

 

Coming from Paarl, the entry points would be either Helz or R44, with long way round Kayamandi entrance being a "Are you nuts?"-zone for many a year. This will be with MTB, so viable offroad options are doable.

[Karman de Lange]

Another slight deviation from the main thread.

 

Are there any safe options coming into Stellenbosch nowadays? I was contemplating getting some commutes in over Dec, but both roads I'd most likely use makes me contemplate the wisdom of attempting it. 

 

Coming from Paarl, the entry points would be either Helz or R44, with long way round Kayamandi entrance being a "Are you nuts?"-zone for many a year. This will be with MTB, so viable offroad options are doable.

 

Just go ride

 

if its your time, its your time.. your more likely to get hit by a mom in her SUV texting her skelmpie  than mugged

 

its argus season .. hundreds of cyclist on the road around here at moment every day.

[Christie]

Devon valley rd: from Paarl on the R44, right in Bottelary rd, left before the Devonvale golf course, left on Devon Valley rd. Follow to Adam Tas rd.

['Dale]

Concur

Devvies rocks if you’re approaching from Northern Burbs

 

Scenic

Great 3-5 minute effort from the North

[Jbr]

glad you escaped, the consequences of them puting you off balance and falling while sprinting to escape them would probably have been bad.... damn this pisses me off...

 

Reading all these incident reports every second day makes me consider riding with one of those instead of a pepper spray, to at least hurt the mofos in case they try me one day   

Except I can barely stand on my feet with my road cycling shoes on so I guess I'll brake their jaws in my imagination while sprinting away

Edited November 28, 2019 by Jbr

[Max Headroom]

Another slight deviation from the main thread.

 

Are there any safe options coming into Stellenbosch nowadays? I was contemplating getting some commutes in over Dec, but both roads I'd most likely use makes me contemplate the wisdom of attempting it. 

 

Coming from Paarl, the entry points would be either Helz or R44, with long way round Kayamandi entrance being a "Are you nuts?"-zone for many a year. This will be with MTB, so viable offroad options are doable.

 

Although there have been many incidents on Paarl side R44 and SSW side R44 and Kayamandi and Kromme Rhee and Bottelary and Helsh.,  I still regularly cycle there during the week and weekends - as do many other cyclists.  I was even targeted in an attempted attack once but escaped due to my awareness of the situation before it could escalate.

 

My point being, that not all (everybody) cyclists on these routes are attacked - there are hundreds of riders (specially on weekends) using these routes. Yes, one attack is too many - but so is one car crash, pedestrian knock down, etc. i.e. what is the ratio of attacks to total riders using that route. (yes, it could happen to me or you - but so could a heart attack)

 

We can not let these scum of the earth robbers and thugs make us give-up cycling, or all stay at home.

 

Obviously the prime objective must be to avoid an attack - like other routes you are enquiring about, mtb trails, riding in groups etc. but this is mostly not a option every time you want to ride.

 

Just be vigilant - much has been discussed on the hub about self defence weapons -  I just carry pepper spray in my pocket (but know I will not even reach for it if a serious weapon threatens me - and I can't think of any other weapon I could safely and effectively carry or use)

 

Further, I always look ahead at pedestrians on my side of the road - sitting or walking; what are they carrying; are they showing an interest in me; and I look behind me to see if anyone else (riders) are near, but most importantly, I check if the road is clear for my emergency swerve or sprint out of the way of attackers into the road. 

 

The most common attacks seem to be being knocked or dragged off the bike by one or two attackers or grabbing your handlebar - I always keep one arm 'on the risk side' free to knock away a potential arm stretched out at me - but as mentioned above, by observing their behaviour as I approach, I decide if I am going to turn around, cross the road or swerve and sprint, rather than getting close to a suspicious character or two.

 

Of course multiple attackers could jump out of hiding (bushes etc) or will block your path and guys with knives, pangas and guns will probably leave you with no option but to drop your bike and run.

 

However, if we all keep riding and keep the roads open to riding we have a better chance of surviving this madness we are faced with.

 

So, I can just say that for myself, observation, alertness and awareness , will give you the best chance of avoiding an attack and only the worst most dangerous areas are to be avoided (an example for me is the old helshoogte road)

 

Oh, re your question - as mentioned by others, you can cross over from R44 to R304 via Klapmuts, Elsenburg, or Kromme Rhee (careful of guys at the railway station)  - then onto Bottelary and up and over Devonvalley.

But I would just stick to the R44 all the way.

Edited November 28, 2019 by Max Headroom

[SeaBee]

Thanks for the feedback. And ja, my comments was quite similar just yesterday to some made here after an attack in Paarl. If it's meant to be and you're not riding the mountain, a soccer mom texting will likely hit you. But always better to know what the alternate options are... 

 

For that reason I'm avoiding the R44 like the plaque - we ride it (by car) every day and the things we see there makes me not want to be on that stretch of road with a bike during commute times. Ironically my biggest concern is my afternoon ride in the daylight - cars and more pedestrians. When I come in, most will be asleep.

[Darryllk]

Need practice your jousting skills with this 

 

glad you escaped, the consequences of them puting you off balance and falling while sprinting to escape them would probably have been bad.... damn this pisses me off...

 

Reading all these incident reports every second day makes me consider riding with one of those instead of a pepper spray, to at least hurt the mofos in case they try me one day   

Except I can barely stand on my feet with my road cycling shoes on so I guess I'll brake their jaws in my imagination while sprinting away

[hubbernero]

For that reason I'm avoiding the R44 like the plaque - we ride it (by car) every day and the things we see there makes me not want to be on that stretch of road with a bike during commute times. Ironically my biggest concern is my afternoon ride in the daylight - cars and more pedestrians. When I come in, most will be asleep.

What Christie said.

 

You can skip the R44. Take R101, left onto Elsenburg Road. Over railway crossing, right to the train station. Take the service road along side the railway line until you get to Kromme Rhee road. Take a right there and at traffic light cross over onto Bottelary Road, left at the traffic circle. Up and over Devon Valley onto Adam Tas into Stellenbosch.

 

There is currently road works on Devon Valley road with stop and goes. I commute there daily, just use the closed off side to ride. Adam Tas can be very busy but the traffic is generally slow moving. The traffic should be much better in December.

Edited November 28, 2019 by hubbernero