- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Cross country mountain bikes
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
news
Layhams Road (Google Maps)"They said give us the bike or we stab you": Another cyclist targeted by motorbike-riding muggers on popular route out of London
A club rider from south London says he has lost "freedom and independence to go and ride my bike" after escaping an attempted bikejacking by motorbike-riding muggers in the latest of a series of incidents.
The victim, a road.cc reader, told us they were threatened by the offenders, who told him they would take his bike (a 2022 S-Works Tarmac SL7) or stab him, during the frightening attack on Thursday evening on Layhams Road, in West Wickham.
The road is a popular route for cyclists riding out of the capital into the Surrey and Kent countryside, and is part of the same area where riders were, in April, warned of a moped gang seemingly targeting lone female cyclists after a rider was held down and had their bike stolen during an attack.
Recalling the latest incident, the reader said: "Two men on bikes went past me. One electric motorcross style and one superbike replica 125cc bike with a loud exhaust. They pulled into a side road, let me ride past them and then came after me.
"They swerved in front of the bike to box me in and stop me. I managed to turn around and sprint off. They came after me again, rode alongside and said, you have two options, you give us the bike or we stab you, then they boxed me in again. I did not see a knife so this may have just been a threat.
"At that point a car turned up that I shouted at to get them to stop and then a group of riders also turned up and the guys on motorbikes fled."
The Penge Cycling Club member says he wishes he had taken the advice of a recent email from the club chairman advising members to only ride in groups as "the situation has got so bad".
"They were both wearing balaclavas so very difficult to ID them for the police but I knew as soon as they went past me that they were dodgy," he continued.
"The police are taking the situation seriously and are looking to try to connect any similar cases.
"The saddest thing for me apart from being very shaken is that it has now taken away my freedom and independence to go and ride my bike whenever I want as I am now in fear of a similar situation.
"They are obviously targeting this road and area surrounding it as they know it is a very popular thoroughfare for any cyclists heading out of London. My bike is a 2022 S-Works Tarmac SL7 which is worth a huge amount of money so they clearly know what kind of bikes they are looking for."
In April, a female cyclist was held down and had their bike stolen during an attack on Beddlestead Lane in nearby Warlingham by two men on a scooter.
> Female cyclist held down and bike stolen during frightening attack
Following the incident, another local club, Dulwich Paragon, warned riders to stay vigilant, ride different routes and ride with other people "until there are signs the police have got on top of the situation".
Meanwhile, in October, professional cyclist Alexandar Richardson was knocked off his bike and threatened by a gang with a machete in Richmond Park, in south west London.
At the time, the then-Alpecin Fenix rider, who finished third at last week's national championships, said the attacks were "becoming a common occurrence in parts of London", with the gang taking his team-issue Canyon Aeroad.
It was the second violent robbery in the park within a 24-hour window after the owner of a 2021 Cannondale System Six was pushed off his bike by two balaclava-clad men on an electric scooter.
Dan is the road.cc news editor and joined in 2020 having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Dan has been at road.cc for four years and mainly writes news and tech articles as well as the occasional feature. He has hopefully kept you entertained on the live blog too.
Never fast enough to take things on the bike too seriously, when he's not working you'll find him exploring the south of England by two wheels at a leisurely weekend pace, or enjoying his favourite Scottish roads when visiting family. Sometimes he'll even load up the bags and ride up the whole way, he's a bit strange like that.
Latest Comments
- mctrials23 3 sec ago
I'm sure that the huge number of people I see parking in disabled bays just have hidden disabilities. It is amazing how many of them drive...
- brooksby 11 min 56 sec ago
My building has three sheffield stands round the back, and they've just put in a covered shelter. Except the covered shelter has (I think) 6 or 7...
- David9694 20 min 44 sec ago
Came here from the is it cheaper to DIY or LBS article. With the cutting and facing of cable outers, you set out a two-step process. If I tackle a...
- ChrisA 1 hour 7 min ago
The problem with these systems, assisted breaking, traction control, etc) is they allow the incompetent ("too confident") driver to carry on...
- AidanR 2 hours 19 min ago
I'm not doubting that the bike is aero overall, but an entire article on a computer mount seems a bit over the top!
- BPhillips 2 hours 20 min ago
Thank you very much to everyone who took the time to comment on my question. ...
- john.sayce 2 hours 35 min ago
This Actve travel improvement has huge benefits for everyone. Pedestrians will no longer have to cope with the hazard of cyclists using pavements....
- stonojnr 3 hours 40 min ago
Sturmer potholes causing chaos https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/24940891.sturmer-a1017-potholes-near-haverhi......
Add new comment
47 comments
"They are obviously targeting this road and area surrounding it as they know it is a very popular thoroughfare for any cyclists heading out of London."
It wouldn't surprise me unduly if they're targeting that road because they live on it. Lots of young men on mopeds, quad bikes etc frequenting the properties at the southern end of Layhams.
Often saw burnt out cars on Skid Lane and Beddlestead Lane. New Addington and the bottom end of selsdon are a bit rough , but there are places like that all over.
This story and the recent one in Otford actually put me off going out this morning, even though I would be out and back before most get out of bed on Sunday. If I lost my bike like this I would struggle to replace it, but I still want to enjoy riding it and prefer the back lanes with little traffic, but that puts me at higher risk of attack.
I was out this morning and no sign of them. I think there are too many cyclists and muggers can't be bothered to get up early. They were apparently out on Friday evening (Jackass Lane) so at the moment weekday evenings seems to be their MO.
I suspect I was given the once-over on Pilgrim's Way (which is Kent, not London for "Great Eastern"'s benefit) a couple of Wednesdays back. Two blokes on mopeds, passing me rather more carefully and inquisitively than is usual. I don't know if they wanted an (even) softer target, or if my bike didn't meet their requirements.
I'd still put money on them being from the compounds on Layhams Road: I can't think where else you could get to round there on a knackered moped with a £10k bike over your shoulder without attracting some attention.
They were out that far? Noted! I have a pretty nondescript bike so I'm hoping I wouldn't be targeted, but you never know.
You may well be right about where they're from, but given that this has happened in Richmond Park too, I'm not sure they're bothered about attracting attention.
Subtlety of the expense and leaving everything bar the drivetrain filthy, dried mud and dust. Same as when I'm locking them up. Don't know if it works.
As with everything, just hope my very expensive insurance will pay out.
Was it also during the evening?
I've seen two reports of muggings near Star Lane, both last Thursday evening.
St Mary Cray's Star Lane (since we're talking London/Kent borders)?
Yes. One on Star Lane and one on Poverest Road.
What happened in Otford?
How hard can it be for the police to cycle these routes on bikes set up with trackers? If there is no element of risk for the thieves then they'd be stupid to give up on this profitable venture.
How hard can it be for them to deal with fully documented reports of vehicles on the road with no MOT or VED for over 2 years, when all the work is done for them? They still don't do it, so expecting any action over ultra-low priority offences against cyclists is a truly forlorn hope!
Different departments.
I do take your point. However, holding women down and stealing from them. Pulling out machetes. Threatening to stab people. I'd say that's higher priority than pulling people with no MOT.
In some ways I agree, but the party of Laura Norder has been in power since 2010 and there's not much of it. From the mean (Downing) streets of London to the traffic lights of Lancs, your average offender knows he* will get away with it because despite more laws than ever, enforcement is very low. And as anyone with a toddler or puppy will tell you, consistent application of rules is essential.
*pronoun choice is deliberate.
the traffic lights of Lancs
You're underselling the Wild West 'no tiresome over-regulation of traffic here in Lancashire' ethos of the Red Nose Police, by failing to advertise the amount of money to be saved here by evading insurance, MOT and VED for years on end
Here is my featured Evader BMW MV57 GXO down at Garstang Tennis Club this morning, during the Scarecrow Festival
Pages