A bicyclist who suggested to a pair of fellow riders they should use lights when bicycling at night was rewarded for his concern with a beating, according to Madison police reports.

The 51-year-old victim, Colin O'Brien, who owns Cronometro, a Williamson Street business that builds custom bicycles, was cycling home last Wednesday at about 6:30 p.m. along South Shore Drive when someone behind him alerted him he would be passing on the left. A man and a woman bicycled past, and as they did, O'Brien said "Get a light." The male bicyclist turned and asked what was just said, and O'Brien repeated, "Get a light."

The couple yelled at O'Brien to "mind his own business," and the male bicyclist tried to run O'Brien off the road, police reported.

The two followed him to the driveway of his East Side home, where the discussion continued and where the female rider commented that the "victim seemed to have plenty of lights and asked for one."

O'Brien obliged, giving her a light, according to police, but the woman's companion, "still upset about the original comment, proceeded to clamp his hands around the victim's head, police said.

"He twisted the victim to the ground, and kneed him in the ribs."

The two bicyclists were last seen pedaling down South Shore Drive.

O'Brien provided a detailed description of the bicyclists and their bikes: The man was white, about 6 feet tall, wearing a dark colored jacket and riding a Trek Time Trial bike with front-style handlebars.

The woman was described as white, about 5 feet 4 inches tall, riding an Orbea Road bike with orange on the front.

Attempts to reach O'Brien were unsuccessful Tuesday night, but Scott Wente, who works at Cronometro, confirmed the police report about his boss, and said that O'Brien has sore ribs but is otherwise OK. He said it would not be out of character for him to suggest to a bicycle rider at night to get a light.

"Well, it was dark and the dude was in black clothing, come on," said Wente.

An area bicycle news network was abuzz with the story and related commentary on its internet connection service Tuesday.

Among the contributors was Robbie Weber, a Madison alderman and avid bicyclist, who wrote to the group: "Although we would all like to think that bicyclists wouldn't stoop to road rage and violence, there are stupid, aggressive, and unstable people in all groups. Some people just lose it when faced with the smallest criticism. Their choice of transportation vehicle doesn't change that."