Bicycle Riders seriously injured by booby traps

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A similar thing happened locally about 2 years ago. Just east of the little town I live in is a large section of BLM land. Lots of sage mixed with a fair amount of pinyon and pinenut trees. Absolutely tons of places to ride mtn bikes, dirt bikes, quads etc. One nice day a rider was nearly beheaded by
a wire strung between two trees across a popular path. It was fairly thin high tensile wire. The type and positioning of the trap made it pretty obvious by accounts that it was designed to cause harm to a rider.

There was a lot of talk about town, it made the papers etc. The general consensus was it was some eco fruitcake type who didn't appreciate non foot traffic. The other consensus was that if he was actually discovered by
someone in the act of setting up one of his traps his odds of making it back to town whole and healthy were pretty slim. Since then when my daughter and I ride I have taken to always being in the lead. I wear a full face helmet and keep my eyes peeled. Haven't heard any stories lately and all of us who hang out in the desert hope the yahoo got the message and left town. Gotta remember no where is 100% safe.
 
Bike Trail Terrorist

Just to set the record straight on the trail terrorist, we are riding on city trails desighed for mountain biking. People of all ages and sexes ride the trails. We have a very nice place to ride and do not want one mixed up man to make it dangerous.We obey all bike and park rules. My freind that was hurt did not lay there untill found. He was hurt but not as servere as the net states. I am the one who caught him. He is being charged but the DA gave him time to prepare a defense. We kept good records and pictures. Keep on rolling.
 
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Details, please

Warlord, since you seem to have first hand knowledge of the event, we would greatly appreciate you keeping us posted on what really happened, and what the disposition of the case is.

I started this thread as an attempt to open a discussion on what happens in real life, since that is the best teacher for future events. Also to help keep the public aware of how such people are treated by the criminal justice system- so I am very interested in what your friend has to go through to make the system work, as well as what punishment the criminal ends up with.

Thanks for your imput.

Ramius
 
a father and son were killed on there own land

in rural CA a few years ago by an illegal alien who was growing weed on their land, nowadays you not only have to be careful in the city but in the country as well.
I would say if you see something suspicious that you should trust your instincts.

Crazy people might return to the scene of the crime, there was a guy molesting kids in a playground and he ran away when confronted, he came back the next day!
 
Trail Terrorist

Lastest news on the trail terrorist in Lubbock is that Mr. Knappe went before the Grand Jury Feb. 21,2007 and was indicted on two accounts of attempted aggravated assault. :)
 
I suspect his wires might of been doing more damage to the enviroment than anyone on a bike so there is more to his doing this. He does deserve going to prison.
 
As a youngster, I ran full speed into a clothsline (strange backyard at night) while evading the popo. I still have a scar on the bridge of my nose from that little manouver.

Biker
 
good idea, lets add wires for the animals to cut themselves, and glass and nails for the animals to step on. Smarrrrrt.

About as smart as the guys who burn a parking lot full of hummers without considering the polution from the fire is mroe then the Hummers will likely make combined in their service life. Or the guys who release fur animals that go o nto kill a lot of local wild life.
 
Always carry!

When I was in doctoral school 1991-1993 at MSU, I used to ride my Rockhoper for stress release and general health. One day as I was returning from a 25-mile ride, my wife following close behind, I heard a "crack-ping; crack-ping; crack-ping; crack-ping; crack-ping. I knew what I had heard! I just didn't know by whom, or from where someone was firing a .22LR at the bridge or at me. Either way, the problem was, I was under the bridge! Several other people were in the area and saw/heard it. The police were not alarmed. :banghead: Given this experience, I gladly endure the added weight of carrying a pistol, and in fact, when riding now usually carry 2 pistols. Just my opinion. Carry in-the-waist-band or on the leg under a sock. Carry anywhere, and any way you can! But carry!

Edit to add: Anyone who seriously rides mountain bike knows that these bikes can go fast, and far! They can go places where even Jeep Wranglers cannot go! If you are ever attacked, haul-butt, and get off the road. I know few humans who could even begin to keep up on foot. Keep your weapon light...i.e. a KelTec P3AT, or NAA Mini-revolver. The need is close-in protection. Keep the distance. Also, a cellular telephone is a must with 911 pre-programmed. I strongly suggest GPS capability, because at the intersection of cornfield and beanfield west, you won't have major crossroads for reference. The police then can enter those coordinates. Lastly, your family needs to know where you are going, when and the duration of time. An agreement of time passed without word from you should trigger an investigation if only by family.

Most important...you must use a lanyard on your firearms.

Doc2005
 
some people are just idiots. People like that do the same stuff to people who ride four wheelers dirt bikes and snow mobiles. Ive seen garbage like that before, probably not as bad as in the article though.
 
Like an earlier poster said, perhaps have someone walk along 'suspicious' areas, like with two trees across the trail, perfect place for stringing a wire, etc.

That and pray. It takes a real sicko to string a wire - if your walker happens to catch a 'suspicious person' with wire, they will then be face-to-face with a true psychopath...
 
I live in Lubbock, and I happen to ride these trails regularly. I've always kept my head on a swivel so to speak and tried to maintain situational awareness. It does get difficult after a couple hours on the bike though.

This guy irritates me to no end. I hope he gets locked up for a bit, but he lives in an area of town that has some nice houses. He is retired and probably has the means to hire a good attorney. *shrug*

I need to check the CCW regs in Texas and for city parks. I don't *think* there's an issue, but it needs looking into.

This guy probably wouldn't pose enough of a threat to draw on, but the trails are in an area of town with a lot of crime, and there are plenty of thugs that get high out in the sticks. I got chased by a stray pitbull last summer, and I managed to outrun him. I saw him again a few weeks later. THAT would be enough reason for me to carry. I'm just not sure I can outrun dogs every time, and mountain bikes aren't exactly geared for speed.

See how exciting mountain biking can be? :D
 
Well this is a criminal trying to kill and maim and generally cause great bodily harm. Personally they should let him ride a motorcycle through his trap collection to just realize the heinous nature of his crimes.

But please understand something. THis man is merely doing what the PETA encourages people to do to "protect sensitive ecosystems" from outdoor enthusiasts and hunters who use vehicles in the woods....
 
The problem with putting booby traps on public land is the sheer randomness . . . unless you're so nutty that you think EVERYONE on a public trail ought to be harmed. (In which case . . . what are YOU doing there?)

Traps on public trails are just as likely to injure some innocent person, maybe a child, as someone you consider to be an irresponsible biker.
 
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We'll just have to ban bicycles, there, problem solved!

Seriously though, I recall an incident when I was a kid and my friend ran smack into a barbed wire at chest level. That was back when we had to build our own BMX bikes out of old "banana" seat style bikes.
 
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