2 youths wearing balaclavas on an e-bike in the Swansea Enterprise park llansamlet today spotted my bike, then followed me around, made threatening gestures & eventually kicked my bike on a roundabout. Not sure what their game is? Just being scrotes or something more sinister? Please comment if you know what this is all about.
I've reported the incident to South Wales's finest.
I must admit to being slightly shaken, as you never know what stuff like this can lead to. Google helpfully says :-
Across the UK and globally, police and communities are seeing a major rise in what is often dubbed the "balaclava boys" phenomenon. Here is a breakdown of why these groups target riders and how they operate:
1. Provocation and "The Game"
For many of these youths, targeting other road users is treated like a game or a form of entertainment. They frequently target cars, cyclists, pedestrians, and other motorcyclists specifically to elicit a reaction.
• The Escalation: Once a victim reacts—whether by shouting back, speeding up, or trying to evade them—it often intensifies their behaviour. Kicking at vehicles or wing mirrors is a common tactic they use during these high-adrenaline "cat-and-mouse" chases.
2. Social Media Clout
A significant driver behind this aggression is the pursuit of online attention. Youths frequently film their interactions to post on platforms like TikTok or Instagram. Experts note that algorithms heavily reward outrageous, lawless, or abusive content with clicks and likes, which actively reinforces and encourages this dangerous behaviour in the real world.
3. The Power and Anonymity of Modern E-Bikes
The riders use hoods and balaclavas to remain completely anonymous, confident that they cannot be easily identified by dash-cams or witnesses. Furthermore, many of the "e-bikes" used in these incidents are actually illegal, modified, or high-powered electric motorcycles (such as Sur-Ron bikes). These bikes:
• Are near-silent, allowing them to ambush or sneak up on victims.
• Have incredible acceleration and agility, allowing them to easily keep pace with motorbikes in traffic or quickly escape onto pavements, footpaths, and parks where cars and standard motorcycles cannot follow.
4. Attempted Theft or Robbery
While some encounters are purely anti-social, there is a distinct possibility they were scouting your motorbike for theft or attempting to force you off it. Swerving at riders, kicking at bikes, or surrounding victims are known tactics used by thieves to disorient a rider, cause a crash, and steal the vehicle.
The last one was worrying me.
