GoPro captures gunpoint mountain bike robbery in Somerset West

Well I think that f... needed a beating . dont you guys think that this has to stop !!! we keep getting mugd an knock . we look at a week before agust when fallow brother on the bike took action . what if that guy had been shot . stand up an lets stop this guys we spend alot of money for another person to just

take it off us .

 

 

I have had the privilege of training with the Seals and working alongside them in Africa. I will leave it at that.

Would like to know whether there's a self defense option other than handing over the items and the actions you said you would've taken in this instance? Or would those be the only options?

Well done for staying so calm.

Does anyone know what time this happened? Was it at the first railway crossing on the way up or coming back down and into the forest?

Robbers did not look very agressive?

I would say pulling a gun on somebody is about as aggressive as one can get.

hectic stuff man

It's on pinbike now

And I see the YouTube comments are full of international racism

...................

Would like to know whether there's a self defense option other than handing over the items and the actions you said you would've taken in this instance? Or would those be the only options?

Not self defence, but just my 2c:

Avoiding the trap and getting out of the trap would be the best option. It appears to me as if there were 4 attackers involved. No.1 with the gun, no.2 to take the bike away, no.3 came up from the right back (to block rider from doing a 180 and hotfooting it), no4 I think is visible in the distance after the rider start to walk off to the left (perhaps to block escape in that direction?

Acute awareness of your surroundings and a deep trust in your instinct / 6th sense / guardian angel is all you have to serve as an early warning. If you feel "uncomfortable" never ignore it, act decisively, without self doubt and hesitation.

Unfortunately it is terribly hard to ride single track and be aware of what is going on in your peripheral vision. We focus so hard on the track coming up at speed, that everything else take a second place up in the old brain. Difficult one. Perhaps riding in a herd is the only better way? Sad.

 

 

Not self defence, but just my 2c:

 

Avoiding the trap and getting out of the trap would be the best option. It appears to me as if there were 4 attackers involved. No.1 with the gun, no.2 to take the bike away, no.3 came up from the right back (to block rider from doing a 180 and hotfooting it), no4 I think is visible in the distance after the rider start to walk off to the left (perhaps to block escape in that direction?

 

Acute awareness of your surroundings and a deep trust in your instinct / 6th sense / guardian angel is all you have to serve as an early warning. If you feel "uncomfortable" never ignore it, act decisively, without self doubt and hesitation.

 

Unfortunately it is terribly hard to ride single track and be aware of what is going on in your peripheral vision. We focus so hard on the track coming up at speed, that everything else take a second place up in the old brain. Difficult one. Perhaps riding in a herd is the only better way? Sad.

Just wanting to know from an expert whether there would've been room for a less violent means of protection without losing your valuable items such as your bike and cellphone.

What irks me is that I rode that route with my family less than 4 months ago.

Also remind me not to read the comments, ever, if I post something on Youtube. The world has some sick people.

By now the guy has probably been approached by TV networks like Fox etc. and offered money to show it on their news.

It's on pinbike now

 

And I see the YouTube comments are full of international racism

Like what Stretch ?

Against the attackers ?

What irks me is that I rode that route with my family less than 4 months ago.

 

Also remind me not to read the comments, ever, if I post something on Youtube. The world has some sick people.

 

By now the guy has probably been approached by TV networks like Fox etc. and offered money to show it on their news.

I agree some of the comments on YouTube are disgusting and probably coming straight form the Internet Troll's home planet.

As for the news networks. My understanding is that if you post something without first protecting it then it's free game for the world to use and you don't see a cent.

Anyone know Malcolm Fox personally?

Can you PM me his contact details pls.

You can send him a message via youtube: www.youtube.com/inbox?to_user_ext_ids=cZ9PZ4liStfOfWYefAuBPw&action_compose=1

About two months ago I took delivery of my Specialized Roubaix.

Sunday morning 5H30 I left home, rode along Bottellary and turned right to Stellenbosch with Franschoek being my destination.

Across from Beyerskloof Wines, 4 black guys approached me with intent. Fortunately, I realise something is up and with savvy and awareness, I got out of it by out manoeuvered them.

I reported it to the cops and they said that the stretch from Stellenbosch to Krommeria to Klapmuts and back to Stellenbosch is a cycle hi-jack hot spot.

I sold my Roubaix and are sticking to enclose trails.

Thought this only happened in Jozi!!!

That tells me everything I need to know about you and the work you do. Much respect for it.

 

Would like to know whether there's a self defense option other than handing over the items and the actions you said you would've taken in this instance? Or would those be the only options?

There is always a self defence option but boy you better be well trained, have a mean streak a mile wide and practice a hell of a lot when the odds are against you like that. If it goes wrong you just dont get to try again ever.

True, as I said earlier 1,2 or 10 courses won't do the job.

4 to 5 session of whatever form of martial arts might cut it.

There is always a self defence option but boy you better be well trained, have a mean streak a mile wide and practice a hell of a lot when the odds are against you like that. If it goes wrong you just dont get to try again ever.

Must say that I think Malcolm exercised the safest possible option for himself and his loved ones.

True, as I said earlier 1,2 or 10 courses won't do the job.

4 to 5 session of whatever form of martial arts might cut it.

Yeah, we need to get all krav maga on their asses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzkEvEyNbN4

See the vid made it onto pinkbike...

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/mountain-bike-stolen-at-gunpoint-2014.html

I see there's quite a heated discussion going on about could've / should've / would've.

Submitting

From my point of view - Malcolm's encounter is a textbook case of what to do if you're untrained / unequipped for multiple attackers with or without weapons. For the untrained, playing the odds that they are robbers without violent intent is the best hope you've got.

Fleeing

Another option would be to effect an escape. The odds you're playing with are effective and accurate firing (or just dumb luck) from at least one armed aggressor as well as possible blocker elements (human or otherwise) on likely escape routes. With hindsight, we can see the main aggressor has poor firearm handling skills but this can't be known on initial contact. For me, this would have been a poor choice but I also recognise that the "flight" urge might prove overwhelming for individuals where mental preparedness is not part of a daily regime.

Fighting

Lastly, one has the option to provide resistance. Resistance only ever becomes an option when training is part of a daily (or at the very, very least bi-weekly) schedule. By training, I do NOT mean the following:

• Aerobics
  
• Iron Man
  
• Judo Chops
  
• IPSC / ITA (and to lesser extent IDPA) club shoots.
  
• Mixed Martial Arts
  

Thinking that any of the abovementioned will serve you well in a violent, aggresive, armed conflict will only result in Rambo ego's being nurtured. Don't get me wrong, I think they're awesome as a sport, but not as a method of surviving fights with armed aggressors.

Legal Aspects

Roneblack46 is spot on when it comes to using legal force. The pointing of the firearm by the main aggressor justifies lethal force (even if that firearm was a replica). Drawing and firing your firearm with lethal intent in Malcom's situation falls inside the remit of justifiable, common-man self defense as prescribed by law.

Lethal force, however, is on a case-by-case basis - Shooting someone in the back as they're running away is a criminal offence under South African law (seeing as the attack would be seen as over).

The legal use of lethal force is covered in one's competency certificate prior to a firearm license application and every firearm owner should be well-versed in it (yes, even Oscar).

Personally Speaking

The use of lethal force, or the other alternatives (Submitting / Fleeing), are best determined before a situation even presents itself.

Will you give up your belongings? Great, then prepare yourself to do just that.

Will you provide resistance / use lethal force? Great, then prepare yourself to do just that.

Far be it from me to prescribe what you should have done in Malcom's situation - as only you determine your skills level, mental preparedness and downright level of comfort.

I can only speak for myself when I say that I would have fought tooth and nail, but only because:

• I train every day (in Somerset West of all places!) for violent encounters where knives, pangas, handguns and rifles are used;
  
• I'm confident in my abilities to take on multiple aggressors;
  
• I'm well trained in the use of various firearms under arduous, stress-induced conditions;
  
• I'm aware (as much as possible) of my environment; and finally
  
• Because I've made the decision to engage long before the situation presents itself
  

@bicyclesafetysa: The power of social media YouTube video of #bikejacking had 1,310,283 views since yesterday!

Cape Town - Malcolm Fox waited for the shot.

“I know it’s a cliché,” the 36-year-old father of two told the Cape Times on Wednesday, “but in that moment I wondered if I was about to become another statistic; if my two boys would grow up without a father.”

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/bike-jackers-caught-on-helmet-camera-1.1698870#.U5AEOKJN_Zs

 

Cape Town - Malcolm Fox waited for the shot.

“I know it’s a cliché,” the 36-year-old father of two told the Cape Times on Wednesday, “but in that moment I wondered if I was about to become another statistic; if my two boys would grow up without a father.”

http://www.iol.co.za...70#.U5AEOKJN_Zs

Yip when the chips are down....the game changes. That sums it up for me.

I see there's quite a heated discussion going on about could've / should've / would've.

 

Submitting

From my point of view - Malcolm's encounter is a textbook case of what to do if you're untrained / unequipped for multiple attackers with or without weapons. For the untrained, playing the odds that they are robbers without violent intent is the best hope you've got.

 

Fleeing

Another option would be to effect an escape. The odds you're playing with are effective and accurate firing (or just dumb luck) from at least one armed aggressor as well as possible blocker elements (human or otherwise) on likely escape routes. With hindsight, we can see the main aggressor has poor firearm handling skills but this can't be known on initial contact. For me, this would have been a poor choice but I also recognise that the "flight" urge might prove overwhelming for individuals where mental preparedness is not part of a daily regime.

 

Fighting

Lastly, one has the option to provide resistance. Resistance only ever becomes an option when training is part of a daily (or at the very, very least bi-weekly) schedule. By training, I do NOT mean the following:

• Aerobics
  
• Iron Man
  
• Judo Chops
  
• IPSC / ITA (and to lesser extent IDPA) club shoots.
  
• Mixed Martial Arts
  

Thinking that any of the abovementioned will serve you well in a violent, aggresive, armed conflict will only result in Rambo ego's being nurtured. Don't get me wrong, I think they're awesome as a sport, but not as a method of surviving fights with armed aggressors.

 

Legal Aspects

Roneblack46 is spot on when it comes to using legal force. The pointing of the firearm by the main aggressor justifies lethal force (even if that firearm was a replica). Drawing and firing your firearm with lethal intent in Malcom's situation falls inside the remit of justifiable, common-man self defense as prescribed by law.

 

Lethal force, however, is on a case-by-case basis - Shooting someone in the back as they're running away is a criminal offence under South African law (seeing as the attack would be seen as over).

 

The legal use of lethal force is covered in one's competency certificate prior to a firearm license application and every firearm owner should be well-versed in it (yes, even Oscar).

 

Personally Speaking

The use of lethal force, or the other alternatives (Submitting / Fleeing), are best determined before a situation even presents itself.

 

Will you give up your belongings? Great, then prepare yourself to do just that.

Will you provide resistance / use lethal force? Great, then prepare yourself to do just that.

 

Far be it from me to prescribe what you should have done in Malcom's situation - as only you determine your skills level, mental preparedness and downright level of comfort.

 

I can only speak for myself when I say that I would have fought tooth and nail, but only because:

• I train every day (in Somerset West of all places!) for violent encounters where knives, pangas, handguns and rifles are used;
  
• I'm confident in my abilities to take on multiple aggressors;
  
• I'm well trained in the use of various firearms under arduous, stress-induced conditions;
  
• I'm aware (as much as possible) of my environment; and finally
  
• Because I've made the decision to engage long before the situation presents itself
  

@colourblindcrayon....Can you ride with me?? I need a new MTB partner!! My old one is a wuss!!

@ Colourblindcrayon - That is a great post above