cccorlew

I was assaulted and injured on my bike commute.
I'm hurt, but it's not permanent.

Being to lazy to retype anything, here's my blog post
Curtis Corlew in Bicycle Land: If it doesn't kill you, blog about it

Being barely mobile and filled with pain killers, and TV being what it is, I wote a followup about my condition, and explaining why I did, and didn't do some things.
Curtis Corlew in Bicycle Land: Bike commute assault followup

So, hey, let's be careful out there.

KenshiBiker

Curtis,

This is shocking to read about. I hope you make a complete and speedy recovery.

KB

gaucho777 

That is terrible! I'm really sorry to hear about the assault. As bad as your injuries appear, I'm glad it was not worse. I hope justice is served and I wish you a speedy recovery.

I was jumped by two young men (ages 17 & 19 as I recall) while delivering pizzas while in college. The attackers stabbed me multiple times in the arm and chest, but I was fortunately able to get away. Both were caught and convicted of attempted murder. The wounds healed long before the emotional trauma. I no longer cross the street when I see people walking my direction, and I no longer have nightmares involving knives, but I remain aware of my surroundings more so than if it had never happened. It's normal to feel vulnerable, question your actions, question society, etc., but you you still have to go on living your life and I wouldn't make drastic life changes based solely on this random, extremely unfortunate incident.

Again, my thoughts and best wishes on your recovery.

Lanceoldstrong

We have ridden thousands of miles together, those many, many double centuries add up.
Those thousand of miles have shown me your true colors as one of the best, who deserves only the best.
More of the best is coming your way, despite this brief encounter with some of the worst.

I know it.

Get better soon.
Laughter is the best medicine.
Does a sad clown count as laughter?
Well he is a brilliant sad clown.

cccorlew

Thanks Oldstrong! That's just the kind of weirdness I needed!

In an odd coincidence, an old friend wrote to say she's had a tough professional and emotional week and was throwing herself a pity party.

I suggested we get little hats and actually have one. What fun that would be! And now we have theme music.

Lanceoldstrong

Who luvs ya baby?

cthenn

That you described them as "middle schoolers" is just shocking. I can't even...

Just a sad story and a sobering reflection of too much of society today.

ramzilla

Very glad you're OK. It could have been much worse. Growing up in a rough neighborhood myself I've experienced similar. The people who do this are mentally ill, have serious drug abuse problems and, usually wind up living life behind bars. Be good. Make peace with it and, live a long happy life.

gw_12

Horrible news Curtis, and while I'm sorry to see that you're injured, I'm glad it didn't turn out worse.
I'm afraid I have to disagree with Daniel though - having broken ribs three times in my life, I can say with some authority that laughter is definitely NOT the best medicine with busted ribs . Hang in there. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

-Glenn

JoelS

In some ways this event is a terribly sad commentary on the state of our society.

Either way, I'm really happy that you will be ok. Hope we can get together again soon.

Red Rider

Truth, JoelS, albeit a sad one.

Curtis, as I've posted on other social media, I'm so sorry this happened to you and I know in time your normally positive spirits will return, with a side of "Really?". I hope you have a speedy recovery and you're back to owning the roads soon.

nesdog

Hope you recover quickly and completely and are able to enjoy riding again soon. Don't second guess anything you did, or did not do, during the assault. Meantime, karma comes around. These guys are going to find themselves on the business end when they try to rip off someone else one day.....you'll see their story in the newspaper.

bikingshearer 

Well, poop. I'm not sure what else there is to say that hasn't already been said: very sorry it happened; very very glad it wasn't worse; and the rest.

I will take issue with one thing in your blog, though. You say "if it doesn't kill you, blog about it." I prefer the Demotivator version: "That which does not kill me only postpones the inevitable."

Heal well, my friend. And when you are ready to start riding again, and are afraid you'll be too slow and too embarrassed to ride with anyone else, I'm your guy to go with. After all, I'm slower and more embarrassing than pretty much anyone you know . . . .

ZippyThePinhead

Very sorry to read about this. A few years back there were a couple of similar stories shared on the SoCal forum (thread 1, thread 2), and there was a happy ending: the Santa Ana PD staked out the area and caught the perps.

Hope your local police can catch these kids.

cccorlew

That would be so cool. Here's hoping. And BTW, great name and avatar.

bikingshearer I look forward to getting to ride with you again!

General update: Still moving slowly, still leaking blood, still looking for a non-painful sleeping position.

bikingshearer 

Obviously, all indications point to the Giro d'Vino. You should be reasonably ambulatory by then, but still slow enough for me to keep up with you. Plus, the best thing for dealing with slow-seepage blood loss is wine, regularly administered over a flat, reasonably-distanced course.

cccorlew

I sure hope I'm ready for this. I love this ride.

ZippyThePinhead

Very kind of you to say. I was a faithful reader of National Lampoon, once upon a time.

I should be direct; I teach at a competitor institution a good day's drive south of your location, and some time in the near future, I expect to be wearing your 50+ jersey design on occasion, so I felt compelled to respond to this thread. I hope something positive comes from your unfortunate experience. Your response is encouraging; it reminds me of a famous encouragement.

gpelpel

Not the post I was looking for after a Tahoe weekend. Hiked the Flume Trail you rode and posted about years ago, still awesome.

I am glad you came out of this relatively ok physically and with unscathed sense of humor. Sending you the best for a speedy recovery. I have no doubt your bike won't have the time to collect much dust.

SpeedyStein

Just read your thread and blog post... I hope you are well on your way to recovery! I live in Concord, and have ridden that path a number of times in exploration. Scary to think about this happening so close to home, and to someone relatively familiar - I don't comment often on the forum, but I read it often.

I can't believe what some people will do to other people, and for what? An iPhone that will likely be unusable? I ride through Oakland pretty much everyday on my commute to work, and have often wondered what I would do in a similar circumstance. The truth is, I have no idea what I would do; it would likely depend on the circumstances of the event. Do you have a Road ID? I recently ordered one to assist in the event of a crash, but I think it could have value in a situation like this as well.

Thank you for sharing your account, and again, I hope you have a quick recovery.

cccorlew

Yes I do, on a chain around my neck, I always wear it. When I start riding again I plan to carry a super loud whistle and maybe some mace,pepper spray, though neither would have mattered in this case.

Thanks for the well wishes.

Red Rider

When is this ride? We've talked about participating and every year we let life-crap get in the way.

I need a new goal (and thus does Chris, by default) and this might be a fun ride on the tandem.

Lanceoldstrong

Sunday, November 8, 2015. Woodbridge Winery Acampo, CA.
Giro D? Vino - MICHAEL DAVID WINERY

bikingshearer 

Uh oh. I smell a reassembly of the "usual suspects" in the offing. Bikes, wine, the Old Guard . . . what could possibly go wrong?

cccorlew

Please consider reading and signing the petition to make this very trail safer! I posted a thread at:
https://www.bikeforums.net/northern-c...ail-safer.html