Sandy Springs fistfight: a cyclist bites back

Mike Smith, a 47-year-old dad from Dunwoody, was forced to turn bare-knuckled pugilist during a bike ride in Sandy Springs. BILL TORPY / BTORPY@AJC.COM

Credit: By Bill Torpy

Credit: By Bill Torpy

Mike Smith, a 47-year-old dad from Dunwoody, was forced to turn bare-knuckled pugilist during a bike ride in Sandy Springs. BILL TORPY / BTORPY@AJC.COM

One moment Mike Smith is cycling home after a satisfying group ride with friends. The next thing, he’s getting “buzzed” by a pickup truck and being confronted by an angry motorist.

This happened Wednesday evening in Sandy Springs, two days after an angry motorist in Atlanta had words with a cyclist, U-turned and then ran the biker over, nearly killing him.

Smith, a 47-year-old father of two with a desk job, had until now been in just one fight during his life. The man rushed toward Smith and his $10,000 bike, cursing, screaming and raising his hands in a threatening manner.

Soon, it was going to be on and Smith, health care consultant, Dunwoody dad and cycling enthusiast was set to try his hand at bare-knuckle fighting.

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