Here is a page of stills from “Breaking Away” where that nasty Italian rider sticks his pump into Dave’s spokes causing Dave to crash out of the race and ending Dave’s fascination of all things Italian.
Pretty moronic: children can actually see this strip and think that this makes any sense. Try to put a stick in a wheel with your hand like that and watch it being whipped by your own weapon. Break the neck of someone who did only stole a bike and then try to live with it for the rest of your life: not easy, unless you’re some psychopath. This action is no better, no more justified than any case of driver’s rage.
Don’t worry Jean, Rick always shows that this type of action may be satisfying but always brings it’s own reward.
Remember the episode quoted by Fossil? 20091207 – Yehuda took punitive action against a driver that yelled at him to get off the road, by stopping alongside, pulling the ignition keys and throwing them away (also see 20091207). As a result, the driver later recognised him and knocked him over into a snow bank where the snowplough was in danger of killing him! This type of action may ‘fit the crime’ but violence always brings it’s own reward.
The strip is founded on the actions of moronic motorists causing the death of fragile cyclists. Fred used to run the shop before a motor killed him, Yehuda and Joe bought Fred’s shop and was blessed by Fred’s ghost in the early strips. No punitive revenge there as nobody knows who killed Fred. As a ghost he let down car tyres as a punishment!
As regards the pimply nose of the thief – I suggest it will soon be cleaned away?
“This action is no better, no more justified than any case of driver’s rage.”
I’m not going to get into some violence celebratory dance or anything, as that isn’t really in my nature, but he’s stopping a criminal who is committing larceny against a child. Nay, not larceny… it was a robbery, against a child! The larcenist/robber has the option of stopping and handing the property over, doesn’t he? Stokely does not seem the violent type to me. He wouldn’t exert one ounce of unnecessary force to stop the criminal. In that context, the robber is responsible for any injuries incurred due to his chosen profession. Perhaps he should get violent criminal injury insurance. I understand Lloyd’s of London will insure ANY business.
Don’t lose perspective to make some misguided statement about pacifism, bro.
Its a cartoon. Cartoons traditionally exaggerate to make a point. Cartoons traditionally tap into emotions, in this case, anger at bicycle thieves. If anyone were to try to steal my beloved Pashley, I too would doubtless feel anger.
Toronto’s own notorious bike theft kingpin Igor Kenk has doubtless been the subject of many violent revenge fantasies. Yet my rational part approves of his conviction in a court of law and imprisonment in HM prison system.
For another cartoon example, the fact that I enjoy Andy Capp does not mean that I approve of wife-beating and drunkeness.
If Jersey Shore has taught us anything it is that while female violence against men is hil-AR-ious, male violence against females is unacceptable.
Also, there aren’t any cars in Andy Capp’s city because whatever northern industrial dump it is doesn’t have enough oxygen left in the air to run an internal combustion engine.
…children also see the news. and see that people run around with rifles killing ‘infidels’ but that must be okay right? they see people lie on a regular basis. They also watch movies with violence in them. Hell, even spongebob is riddled with violence. Maybe all children should be kept in a protective bubble until they’re 40. Or I suppose you could ‘parent’ these children and tell them that doing mean things is wrong, and that cartoons are just there to entertain us, because that’s the glory of cartoons, you can do things that are wrong, a-moral, or not possible by human beings…and are possibly the expression of what some people may want to do, but can’t because it’s wrong…
This is a cartoon.
Lighten up. People read this as if it is a documentary in which they have control of the final outcome.
If you are seriously concerned that a 3 panel cartoon will create an epidemic of things being jammed in spokes, you have lost the plot.
I mean, you could always read Dear Abbey instead if animated, light-hearted violence upsets you.
“who only stole a bike” Hmmmff. You ever had YOUR OWN bike stolen? Thieves are thieves, whether it’s clothing, bikes, cars, money, etc. They deserve whatever punishment it brings regardless if it’s from the victim or legal system.
Yes, the bike in my avatar was stolen in May. I have a bicycle chain flogger ready for the day the police catch the thief, but I probably won’t need it. I placed a curse on the bike so that the thief will be miserable until my bike is returned. Bike doesn’t get returned, bike thief continues to live a miserable existence until he doesn’t, live that is.
Yes that’s the thing to do, Jean. Just let him take your property, wish him “good luck”, give him a big hug & a kiss (’cause he’s such a sweetheart), and watch him ride away with YOUR stuff.
After all you can go out and work hard to EARN money to replace what was stolen from you – then, with no accountability in our society, someone (maybe the same guy) can come steal your new stuff too.
That really makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it ????????
Or better yet, since there’s no repercussions for malevolent behavior in your world, you can just go steal someone else’s stuff – and they’ll give jou a big hug & kiss and wish you well.
Grateful, you are simply being dishonest. Your rant reflects badly only on yourself.
All I am saying is that one should act within the limits of the Law, for their own good.
Actually, JeanM, what you said was that stopping a thief who is in the act of commiting several crimes (assault, battery, theft) is no better than losing your temper in a fit of road rage. You also seem to be conflicted on whether or not the actual stick-in-the-spokes will work. If it doesn’t you say you get hurt by your stick, but if it does the bad guy gets a broken neck and you get a lifetime of guilt and shame. Apparently, you live in a different world than some of the rest of us. The law allows you to try and stop a fleeing criminal – if Stokely tried to jab the sharp end of the scraper through the thief’s windpipe THAT would be outside the limits of the Law. Trying to dismount him or disable the bike is well within the limit of the Law. If the thief happens to getinjured during the process, its part of his assumed risk in conducting criminal activity.
Yes, but actually, as satisfying as it might be to stick the front wheel, the rear wheel is the proper one. Headers can kill, it is just a piece of property.
Though it is also true that it will be somewhat harder to re-true that rear wheel, unless it is an IGH.
Yeah, but on the rear wheel you have to try to poke the scraper through seat stays, chain stays, 2 fender stays and the support struts for that rear rack. It’s hard as heck to get something through all that hardware. On the front all he has to worry about is the fork and a single fender stay.
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How do you call it, the “Oops” defense? I doubt that it will fily as good as the thief himself, not in all juridictions.
It is playing with fire. The simple citizen doesn’t have the advantage that a police officers get from their status, powerful union and the Justice “clan” spirit itself. Hence, the bounds not to exceed are much, much narrower.
Nice summary, but I believe your original post was much more dramatic. In fact, it was the same thing Stokley is doing. By posting that comment, you are simply riding to catch up to the author’s, and you’re holding out the scraper by threatening to pull your subscription.
I believe parental screening is important, and helping a child dissect human feelings (and even ART) and put them in the context of the human experience is part of helping them grow up to be an adult.
Amen to the responsibility of parental guidance. I wouldn’t want or expect someone else to filter something that I as the parent should have sense enough to keep my kid away from.
It is perfectly legal for a citizen observing a crime in progress to use physical support to stop it. At one time it was considered that an able-bodied citizen had a duty to do so.
Personally, I’d put the ice scraper upside the thief’s head.
I hope that Stokely has seen the Mythbusters episode – it was really hard to get anything to GO in between the spokes as they brushed a simple broom handle away like swatting a fly! That was with the handle being driven by a mechanical means too…
The look of intense concentration shows him thinking about how best to achieve the feat though.
Unfortunately, when actually riding nearly anything will go into your spokes. I have a nice chain-ring scar on my calve from a stick and have had to replace spokes and go to the car wash due to a pigeon (sooo nasty…).
We call it the Squirrel Nut Mafia. I Killed one coming down a hill in a rush to get home before dark (yeah, no light.) Because I did not want to end up like the squirrel, I hurried on, didn’t even check on the poor rodent until 2 days later I saw his squished remains. They attacked. Got into our roof/ceiling through the eaves, Multiple times patching, they got in again. Attacked us on lur bikes, single and tandem, chewed holes in our plastic garbage cans, got in the garage, etc. etc. 20 years in the house -no problems until after I killed one, and it was an ACCIDENT. 2 years later they finally let up. Maybe the peanuts worked as a peace offering. Maybe they switched to my buddy after HE hit one.
wouah… I’m always thrilled to read the new strip everyday but the comments, gee some people takes it seriously do they?
Like Kevin Love wrote, it’s a cartoon, not a class book, it is not meant to educate the planet’s citizens but to entertain them.
Do you, people react the same way when you see some major blockbuster movie that involve fighting, killing, car crashing, revenge, etc…? Come on, ENJOY IT, stop making sens to everything, it’a a CARTOON!!!!!!!
tomorrow you’ll see three panels showing a series of extreem slow-mo right just before the action, followed by a commercial break on monday and cutback scenes on tuesday….
Am I the only one with the superpower of knowing the difference between commenters who are cyclists and those who are something else? Usually the ratio is higher, but today it’s about one to one.
Nope, the Cinzano technique is pretty effective. You don’t actually aim for it in between the spokes. You jab it at the wheel just behind the fork blade and let physics take over; it gets crunched up in one side of the wheel and it’s game over for the rider.
Another quickstopper is to zip up beside someone on the left and grab a handful of their front brake.
I’d think that trying to hit the rider would be more likely to result in legal problems. Disabling the bike can be protrayed as stopping a crime in progress; if the thief gets hurt, that’s just an “unfortunate,” unavoidable consequence. But deliberately striking the rider (unless in self defense) might be considered assault. Even if no charges are filed, there’s always the possibility of a civil lawsuit.
If someone were standing still as a bicycle passed by, the best place to aim to get an object between spokes would be just above the rim at its lowest point. That’s where the spokes are moving slowest. For a moving assailant, it’s not so obvious, but it might be easier because it doesn’t matter when he makes the attack. Of course, as CliftonGK1 points out, it doesn’t have to penetrate the spokes to stop the bike.
Also clear to me is that the thief should engage the brakes. Despite his superior skills, there’s no way Stokeley could stop as quickly.
Off He goes into the wild blue yonder… Falling Hard onto his pimplely face.
Eating teeth, and his brain will ponder…
What Hell brought me down to this place?!
He lives in pain, while his blood goes down the drain…
For Nothing can stop Stokely in this Race!
Duh-Duh…. Duh-Duh…. Duh-Duh-Duh-Duh-Duh-Duh….
Stokeley’s a shark ready to attack.
lets just hope Stokely doesn’t need a bigger boat
That’s a bad hat Harry…
I’ll catch this bird for you, but it ain’t gonna be easy.
Go Stokeley! Fear is the key!
Just like in the movie Cutters!
Breaking Away?
Yes… and now all of a sudden, the music from “The Barber of Seville” is going through my head… Gee… Thanks…
Here is a page of stills from “Breaking Away” where that nasty Italian rider sticks his pump into Dave’s spokes causing Dave to crash out of the race and ending Dave’s fascination of all things Italian.
Figaro, Figaro, Figaro!
http://picasaweb.google.com/DiabloScottsBikeBlog/BreakingAwayCinzanoRoadRace#
Way to really stick it to him, Stokely!!!! Your my hero(of the day)
Yay! Violence!
!?!
no no, so far, it’s only the threat of violence, which is equally effective in many situations.
Vigilanti action always ends badly. Look at the Yehuda in the snow eposode – started with him throwing away keys.
Pretty moronic: children can actually see this strip and think that this makes any sense. Try to put a stick in a wheel with your hand like that and watch it being whipped by your own weapon. Break the neck of someone who did only stole a bike and then try to live with it for the rest of your life: not easy, unless you’re some psychopath. This action is no better, no more justified than any case of driver’s rage.
I am reconsidering my sponsering of this strip.
Don’t worry Jean, Rick always shows that this type of action may be satisfying but always brings it’s own reward.
Remember the episode quoted by Fossil? 20091207 – Yehuda took punitive action against a driver that yelled at him to get off the road, by stopping alongside, pulling the ignition keys and throwing them away (also see 20091207). As a result, the driver later recognised him and knocked him over into a snow bank where the snowplough was in danger of killing him! This type of action may ‘fit the crime’ but violence always brings it’s own reward.
The strip is founded on the actions of moronic motorists causing the death of fragile cyclists. Fred used to run the shop before a motor killed him, Yehuda and Joe bought Fred’s shop and was blessed by Fred’s ghost in the early strips. No punitive revenge there as nobody knows who killed Fred. As a ghost he let down car tyres as a punishment!
As regards the pimply nose of the thief – I suggest it will soon be cleaned away?
Violence schmiolence. Stokely is not committing a punitive act. He is preventing a property theft that resulted from an act of violence.
“This action is no better, no more justified than any case of driver’s rage.”
I’m not going to get into some violence celebratory dance or anything, as that isn’t really in my nature, but he’s stopping a criminal who is committing larceny against a child. Nay, not larceny… it was a robbery, against a child! The larcenist/robber has the option of stopping and handing the property over, doesn’t he? Stokely does not seem the violent type to me. He wouldn’t exert one ounce of unnecessary force to stop the criminal. In that context, the robber is responsible for any injuries incurred due to his chosen profession. Perhaps he should get violent criminal injury insurance. I understand Lloyd’s of London will insure ANY business.
Don’t lose perspective to make some misguided statement about pacifism, bro.
Its a cartoon. Cartoons traditionally exaggerate to make a point. Cartoons traditionally tap into emotions, in this case, anger at bicycle thieves. If anyone were to try to steal my beloved Pashley, I too would doubtless feel anger.
Toronto’s own notorious bike theft kingpin Igor Kenk has doubtless been the subject of many violent revenge fantasies. Yet my rational part approves of his conviction in a court of law and imprisonment in HM prison system.
For another cartoon example, the fact that I enjoy Andy Capp does not mean that I approve of wife-beating and drunkeness.
Andy Capp is a wife-beater? WTF? What is wrong with the English?
*ducking*
To be fair, poor Flo often gives as good as she gets in the spousal assault category. See, for example, the Andy Capp strip of June 30 at:
http://www.creators.com/comics/andy-capp/62914.html
I should mention that one of the things I like most about the Andy Capp strip is that it the city he lives in is completely car-free.
If Jersey Shore has taught us anything it is that while female violence against men is hil-AR-ious, male violence against females is unacceptable.
Also, there aren’t any cars in Andy Capp’s city because whatever northern industrial dump it is doesn’t have enough oxygen left in the air to run an internal combustion engine.
*ducking again*
…children also see the news. and see that people run around with rifles killing ‘infidels’ but that must be okay right? they see people lie on a regular basis. They also watch movies with violence in them. Hell, even spongebob is riddled with violence. Maybe all children should be kept in a protective bubble until they’re 40. Or I suppose you could ‘parent’ these children and tell them that doing mean things is wrong, and that cartoons are just there to entertain us, because that’s the glory of cartoons, you can do things that are wrong, a-moral, or not possible by human beings…and are possibly the expression of what some people may want to do, but can’t because it’s wrong…
…people are so up-tight lately…
This is a cartoon.
Lighten up. People read this as if it is a documentary in which they have control of the final outcome.
If you are seriously concerned that a 3 panel cartoon will create an epidemic of things being jammed in spokes, you have lost the plot.
I mean, you could always read Dear Abbey instead if animated, light-hearted violence upsets you.
“who only stole a bike” Hmmmff. You ever had YOUR OWN bike stolen? Thieves are thieves, whether it’s clothing, bikes, cars, money, etc. They deserve whatever punishment it brings regardless if it’s from the victim or legal system.
Yes, the bike in my avatar was stolen in May. I have a bicycle chain flogger ready for the day the police catch the thief, but I probably won’t need it. I placed a curse on the bike so that the thief will be miserable until my bike is returned. Bike doesn’t get returned, bike thief continues to live a miserable existence until he doesn’t, live that is.
Its just a comic… :-/ one that has to tend to many different kinds of cyclists non the less.
A–It’s a comic strip.
B–In the next frame, the thief is going to crash into a mailbox (maybe).
Hey, a bike needs spokes for that to work.
I was wondering when someone was going to bring that up. =)
Perhaps it will disrupt the patented Kickstand Forcefield™ that holds the hub centered in the rim.
Yes that’s the thing to do, Jean. Just let him take your property, wish him “good luck”, give him a big hug & a kiss (’cause he’s such a sweetheart), and watch him ride away with YOUR stuff.
After all you can go out and work hard to EARN money to replace what was stolen from you – then, with no accountability in our society, someone (maybe the same guy) can come steal your new stuff too.
That really makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it ????????
Or better yet, since there’s no repercussions for malevolent behavior in your world, you can just go steal someone else’s stuff – and they’ll give jou a big hug & kiss and wish you well.
Grateful, you are simply being dishonest. Your rant reflects badly only on yourself.
All I am saying is that one should act within the limits of the Law, for their own good.
Actually, JeanM, what you said was that stopping a thief who is in the act of commiting several crimes (assault, battery, theft) is no better than losing your temper in a fit of road rage. You also seem to be conflicted on whether or not the actual stick-in-the-spokes will work. If it doesn’t you say you get hurt by your stick, but if it does the bad guy gets a broken neck and you get a lifetime of guilt and shame. Apparently, you live in a different world than some of the rest of us. The law allows you to try and stop a fleeing criminal – if Stokely tried to jab the sharp end of the scraper through the thief’s windpipe THAT would be outside the limits of the Law. Trying to dismount him or disable the bike is well within the limit of the Law. If the thief happens to getinjured during the process, its part of his assumed risk in conducting criminal activity.
Yes, but actually, as satisfying as it might be to stick the front wheel, the rear wheel is the proper one. Headers can kill, it is just a piece of property.
Though it is also true that it will be somewhat harder to re-true that rear wheel, unless it is an IGH.
Yeah, but on the rear wheel you have to try to poke the scraper through seat stays, chain stays, 2 fender stays and the support struts for that rear rack. It’s hard as heck to get something through all that hardware. On the front all he has to worry about is the fork and a single fender stay.
AND the chain itself and possibly a chainguard.
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How do you call it, the “Oops” defense? I doubt that it will fily as good as the thief himself, not in all juridictions.
It is playing with fire. The simple citizen doesn’t have the advantage that a police officers get from their status, powerful union and the Justice “clan” spirit itself. Hence, the bounds not to exceed are much, much narrower.
I’m just trying to be reasonable here.
Nice summary, but I believe your original post was much more dramatic. In fact, it was the same thing Stokley is doing. By posting that comment, you are simply riding to catch up to the author’s, and you’re holding out the scraper by threatening to pull your subscription.
I believe parental screening is important, and helping a child dissect human feelings (and even ART) and put them in the context of the human experience is part of helping them grow up to be an adult.
Amen to the responsibility of parental guidance. I wouldn’t want or expect someone else to filter something that I as the parent should have sense enough to keep my kid away from.
It is perfectly legal for a citizen observing a crime in progress to use physical support to stop it. At one time it was considered that an able-bodied citizen had a duty to do so.
Personally, I’d put the ice scraper upside the thief’s head.
Oh the humanity. Think of the damage to the poor spokes and innocent ice scraper.
I say stick it to the miscreant, let him eat pavement.
Immediate negative consequence to his bad behaviour might help modify his future behaviour in a positive way. Plus it makes for good reading.
Stokely’s only mistake is in letting the thief know what he is doing. It is much better to just roll up beside him and do it.
And Jean, it is just a comic strip so lighten up Francis.
Uh oh… Nothing good will come out of this.
I hope that Stokely has seen the Mythbusters episode – it was really hard to get anything to GO in between the spokes as they brushed a simple broom handle away like swatting a fly! That was with the handle being driven by a mechanical means too…
The look of intense concentration shows him thinking about how best to achieve the feat though.
Unfortunately, when actually riding nearly anything will go into your spokes. I have a nice chain-ring scar on my calve from a stick and have had to replace spokes and go to the car wash due to a pigeon (sooo nasty…).
And don’t forget the Damn Suicide Squad Squirrels.
We call it the Squirrel Nut Mafia. I Killed one coming down a hill in a rush to get home before dark (yeah, no light.) Because I did not want to end up like the squirrel, I hurried on, didn’t even check on the poor rodent until 2 days later I saw his squished remains. They attacked. Got into our roof/ceiling through the eaves, Multiple times patching, they got in again. Attacked us on lur bikes, single and tandem, chewed holes in our plastic garbage cans, got in the garage, etc. etc. 20 years in the house -no problems until after I killed one, and it was an ACCIDENT. 2 years later they finally let up. Maybe the peanuts worked as a peace offering. Maybe they switched to my buddy after HE hit one.
That was with a motorcycle wheel, not a bicycle wheel.
He should point it handle first – the blade is gonna be hard to do anything with…
Aim for the inside of the wheel, just below the fork crown…
Ice scrapers … that brings back bad memories … frozen hands and windshields.
WHAT SPOKES?????
BTW – What’s the chance of Walz doing a series of YM custom caps?
Just like http://www.cafepress.co.uk/orderofthestick maybe – the shirt of choice would be (strip number/date here)?
wouah… I’m always thrilled to read the new strip everyday but the comments, gee some people takes it seriously do they?
Like Kevin Love wrote, it’s a cartoon, not a class book, it is not meant to educate the planet’s citizens but to entertain them.
Do you, people react the same way when you see some major blockbuster movie that involve fighting, killing, car crashing, revenge, etc…? Come on, ENJOY IT, stop making sens to everything, it’a a CARTOON!!!!!!!
There’s a difference between depicting and promoting violence.
you’re right. You’re absolutely right, there is a difference…. I suggest you learn it.
Do it!
Alan From spokane, nevermind this guy, all he wants is the final last word…. We’ll let him enjoy himself.
Have a great weekend.
Why not just push him? I’m sure Stokely has MUCH better balance on a bike than the theif.
In my day people knew the difference between cartoons and reality. I blame the liberals.
get real. Its every ones fault
Accept me of course. I am at no fault for any issue that may or may not exist
I confess. It is my fault. I have supreme power over everyone’s behaviour. Which is why all cities will soon look like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkgKYjrNLwg&feature=player_embedded
“supreme power”? So why do you need a motor on your “bike?
Drop it Mongo. You know why and it is still not funny you trying to make fun of the afflicted.
Don’t talk to me. I’m not the one with delusions of having “supreme power”.
Of course I accept you, with all your faults. Including using the correctly spelled wrong word. Except.
I can’t wait for tomorrow!
tomorrow you’ll see three panels showing a series of extreem slow-mo right just before the action, followed by a commercial break on monday and cutback scenes on tuesday….
…and on wednesday Rick will go to vacation
Am I the only one with the superpower of knowing the difference between commenters who are cyclists and those who are something else? Usually the ratio is higher, but today it’s about one to one.
Get out and ride, it changes life for the better.
Wouldn’t it be easier to just hit the rider? A rider attempting to dodge an attack might lose control just as quickly?
Nope, the Cinzano technique is pretty effective. You don’t actually aim for it in between the spokes. You jab it at the wheel just behind the fork blade and let physics take over; it gets crunched up in one side of the wheel and it’s game over for the rider.
Another quickstopper is to zip up beside someone on the left and grab a handful of their front brake.
I’d think that trying to hit the rider would be more likely to result in legal problems. Disabling the bike can be protrayed as stopping a crime in progress; if the thief gets hurt, that’s just an “unfortunate,” unavoidable consequence. But deliberately striking the rider (unless in self defense) might be considered assault. Even if no charges are filed, there’s always the possibility of a civil lawsuit.
If someone were standing still as a bicycle passed by, the best place to aim to get an object between spokes would be just above the rim at its lowest point. That’s where the spokes are moving slowest. For a moving assailant, it’s not so obvious, but it might be easier because it doesn’t matter when he makes the attack. Of course, as CliftonGK1 points out, it doesn’t have to penetrate the spokes to stop the bike.
Also clear to me is that the thief should engage the brakes. Despite his superior skills, there’s no way Stokeley could stop as quickly.