Self-defence for cyclists

Cyclists have always faced hostile conditions on the road. According to an article in Pearson magazine over 100 years ago:

'the cyclist who is a skillful rider, who possesses pluck and dash, who has mastered the elementary rules of defence on a bicycle, and who is armed with a knowledge of how to use a machine to the best advantage as a weapon, may rest content that he is able to defend himself perfectly when attacked under the majority of likely conditions.'

Bicycle muggings are not unknown in 21st century Britain, but victims are swiftly reimbursed if they hold a good cycle insurance policy and thankfully cases remain incredibly rare. In the late nineteenth century, however, bicycles were expensive to buy and cyclists provided rich pickings for petty criminals.

Some of the techniques described below, such as using the bicycle as a defensive shield, seem sensible enough, but most cyclists looking for justice today spurn water pistols in favour of a specialist legal service.

Self-defence for cyclists (in 1901)

A lady, say, is riding alone on a country road, when an approaching tramp suddenly assumes a hostile attitude,standing before her with legs apart and arms out-stretched, effectively barring the way. Let the lady put on a spurt,and ride, point blank, at her assailant, then swerve at the last moment. Certainly this requires nerve, but it is reallysimple, and marvellously effective. The tramp cannot overcome the instinct of self-protection which makes him jumpto one side, when the cyclist, of course, at once swerves in the other direction
Nearly every cyclist carries a weapon on his machine which, under many circumstances, he may use with great effect:a strong, long, heavy metal pump offers as convenient a weapon as one could desire. Let the rider who is threatenedby a foot-pad flourish his pump in his assailant’s face, and he will be surprised how quickly and precipitously the assailantjumps back. A formidable blow could be delivered in a man’s face with a heavy pump, especially when riding at speed.If the pump is carried in spring clips attached to the top bar of the machine — or in the case of a lady’s machine to thehandlebars — it is ready to hand in case of emergency, and may be detached in a moment
You are riding along a country road, when suddenly, you are startled by a man who springs in front of you from the hedge,and attempts to grab your machine. Your best plan is this: Spring backwards off your machine, and by pulling at thehandlebars, cause it to rear up on its back wheel. That your antagonist will jump back from sheer surprise at the momentwhen you make your machine rear up, goes without saying. Seizing this opportunity, you take a short sharp run forward,and hurl your machine at your assailant, letting it run on its back wheel, and so directing it as it leaves your hands that thefront wheel will come heavily down on top of him
The last three or four methods of defence that I have described are hardly suitable for use by lady cyclists, unless particularly strong-minded and strong-armed! A simple means of defence that may be highly recommended for the use of fair cyclists isthe water squirt. This is an ingenious little weapon sold in cycling shops, made in the shape of a pistol, but with an Indiarubber handle which holds water, and which, when pressed, will squirt a shower of water for a distance of 20 ft. or so.The water squirt is guaranteed to stop an attack from the most vicious dog or man — and certainly the foot-pad whoattempted to approach a lady cyclist, and was met with a douche of cold water, would receive a severe shock that wouldprobably cause him to stand back long enough to allow his prey to escape

Cycle insurance with built-in legal protection

Cycle insurance from the ETA includes new-for-old replacement and accidental damage, £5m third party insurance, personal accident cover, worldwide cover and if you should be knocked off your bike our specialist legal team fight your corner.

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