ChCh businessman to cyclists: I'm gonna nail ya!

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ChCh businessman to cyclists: I'm gonna nail ya!

3News NZ

Comments posted online suggest Richard Freeman has hit cyclists which his hummer - and that he would do so again

Comments posted online suggest Richard Freeman has hit cyclists which his hummer - and that he would do so again

A well-known businessman has created outrage in the Christchurch cycling community by posting anti-cyclist messages on an online forum.

The comments are not just insulting – they suggest he has actually hit cyclists which his vehicle, a hummer, and that he would do so again.

“I drive a black H2 Hummer and have put 2 into the curb over the last 6 months,” the post reads.

“Stay off the f****** road or I’m gonna nail ya!”

The comment was posted on a Yahoo message board under the alias 'MR58SHOTAGAIN'.

“He’s just venting, but he’s really being a bit of a dick about it,” says cyclist Paul Kircher.

His ‘vent’ continued in a second post:

“Do you really think a pack of homo cyclists scare me? Go shave ya legs lightweight. In fact… I challenge anyone wearing spandex and shaved legs to get to my front door unharmed. I’ll wager a light $10k they won’t!”

'MR58SHOTAGAIN' has been identified as Richard Freeman, who owns a number of businesses including the restaurant in the iconic building ‘Sign of the Takahe’.

Freeman lives off Dryers Pass Road, a popular thoroughfare for tourists.

Yahoo removed his comments for reasons of profanity and personal attack – but not before they were copied onto popular sport website ‘Vorb’ by a concerned cyclist -they have since been viewed 26,000 times.

Posting a photo of himself in his boxing gloves, Freeman is full of fighting talk. But is he serious?

He agreed to appear on Campbell Live, then pulled out on his lawyers advice.

He says that he meant what he said – but that it was tongue and cheek.

In an email to Campbell Live, Freeman says:

To seriously think that I would run a cyclist off the road is absolutely ludicrous and absurd! I would suggest that the small handful of over precious Lance Armstrong wannabes look to purchase a sense of humour, rather than the next spandex body suit, and perhaps show the general motorists a little road courtesy as well.”

But even after pulling out of his interview, Freeman was back online. This time one of those he directly targeted was cyclists Craig Scott – who also happens to be a police officer.

“From what I’ve seen with his comments he has certainly broken the law a number of times,” says Mr Scott. “But I’m not away of any complaints from anyone as such.”

Mr Scott says he does not believe Freeman’s comments were just “tongue in cheek”.

Freeman’s comments won’t stand him in good stead if there ever is an accident.

“It wouldn’t help in court. The comments I’ve seen on the internet – it’s starting to wear thin,” says Mr Scott.

Freeman says he has never hit a cyclist, and never will. But it is possible that some of his businesses will take a hit – cyclists say they’ll give his cafes a wide berth.

Campbell Live

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Comments

20/08/2012 4:52:12 p.m.

larry wrote:

i don't ride on the road,because of idiots like him. But i would just for the fun to knock him on his butt . one Good time

10/05/2012 11:28:27 a.m.

Alan wrote:

Before Kate and others complain about cyclists being two abreast your car is designed around being 2 abreast, the passenger sits next to the driver. If 2 cars pulled next to each other for a chat that would in fact be 4 abreast. And I bet half the time you have nobody in that passenger seat. You are taking up an awful lot of road for a single person.

14/04/2010 4:51:44 p.m.

Jan wrote:

This is obviously a stir up that has been blown right out of context. I can't believe the deep seated hatred and nasty comments that cyclists have left on the website that started this. Naming this mans children off, where he lives, where he takes his kids for lunch is down right sickening. If you read the ChCh Press you would have seen the appology made and that it was a banter session that has been twisted. Some of the cyclist out there that can't laugh at themselves in jest need to hang their heads in shame. No one in their right mind "nails" cyclists. A little common sense here

6/04/2010 7:14:35 p.m.

Lynda wrote:

Mr Freeman, you're a knob! I used to worry that my 11 year old daughter would accidently fall off her bike through misjudgement - now I have to fear some middle aged arsehole with a hummer thing (wow wee!)is going to hit her because he can't see over the top of the vehicles dash board. And if she turned up to your door to challenge your threats, you could punch her up with your boxing gloves.
As for 'nailing cyclists' - yeah right, we're more likley to see you nailed up by your shrinking bollocks!

16/03/2010 6:06:43 p.m.

Ezra Phillips wrote:

ps I know exactly where most of the narrow minded pro car people are coming from. I too once a small man syndrome Muppet car enthusiast like this "tough bloke" {when I was in my teens, "you're an adult now mate"}. I couldn't ever gage the distance between the bars of cyclist and my big 73 valiant charger, I would often cut to close and didn't see why they were all pulling the finger at me, I also swerved for a girl in my class for a joke who was cycling to school in my little orange ford escort. Once I sold the charger I bought a bike and now see the light and can confidently pass a cyclist while driving any big vehicle. I've since appoligiesed to the former class mate. I still love classic cars and motorcycles yet I cant afford to build my dream car and motorbike as yet, but dont feel any less of a man with my collection of bicycles and crapy A-B car. Might buy some bright pink lycra before my next visit down south and ride this location

16/03/2010 5:55:16 p.m.

Ezra Phillips wrote:

This chap seems to be extreemly homofobic and have closet like behaviour. The majority of drivers in NZ have no understanding or respect for cyclist and do not get the concept that there driving can cause death, if concrete and flesh or panel and flesh were to meet. Even simple things like corect following distance go out the window when motorists are behind a cycle, the stupid thing is that there only gona sandwich you between the next car at the next red light. I recon they should also get rid of the keep left rule, since it has claimed so many cyclists lives. Some simple minded people like this weirdo don't know what to do if law says keep left and they encounter a bike, patience is a better approach, ignoramus like him don’t stop to wonder why they maybe two abreast, the male usually sits out a bit to shield his lady or son or daughter or whoever there ridding with, well at least trying to get that 1.5m clearance from you and the bars. Most of us cyclist drive cars too, NZ seems to assume since we ride bikes we can’t afford cars. Everyone icluding myself should have to sit a far more extensive driving test that teaches people how to actualy drive{eg mirrors following distances and indicating}, if you want to be a bathurst driver just imagine that the white and yellow lines are the concrete walls and that the speed limits are the actual limtits of your big eggo trip mid life chrisis tonka toy vehicle.

5/02/2010 2:47:12 p.m.

Kate wrote:

I agree that Mr Freeman was wrong in his comments, but sometimes cyclists do put themselves into harms way by riding 3 abreast on narrow roads - sometimes accidentally crossing the centre line on blind corners. be aware that cars dont like to sit behind cyclists arrogantly riding 2 abreast in the centre of the road, you dont see cars doing that to talk to each other do you?

31/01/2010 9:42:26 a.m.

Alex wrote:

I cycle frequently in the UK and have done cycling in many European cities and I must say the courtesy towards cyclists over here is fantastic, they will always give you plenty of room when they pass - at least 1.5m. In New Zealand there is a whole different attitude, motorists seem too irate and inconsiderate to share the road with anything that doesn't have at least four wheels. I haven't been knocked off my bike yet but the closest calls I've had have all been while riding in New Zealand.

29/01/2010 9:54:34 p.m.

peloton wrote:

Tony says "Who cares what a little tiny man with royd rage has to say?" Well I do, for one. Freeman is a sociopath, a potentially dangerous one too - and its ok to say well, the bigger the car, the smaller the dick and the smaller the brain and in Freemans case, Im sure that description applies perfectly - but dont underestimate a sociopath; yes Freeman is a loser, a social spastic and people like him dont think like normal people - so be careful out there, cyclists of ChCh.

28/01/2010 10:17:10 p.m.

Tony wrote:

Who cares what a little tiny man with royd rage has to say?
Let us all just sit back and watch his life unfold before our eyes as the public of chch move toward more friendly businesses. Did I mention tiny?
Oh yes I drive, ride, eat, drink, and have a house mr Freeman.