Rifle carry on bicycle

[kungfuhippie]

I'm day dreaming, it evolved into a question.

Story first, deep breath...

First off I don't really like horses. But my dream is to move outta the PRK and buy some nice wooded/farm land 50-100 acres. I plan on having a cow or 10 (pets not food) and farm part as well for personal use. I will need to patrol my land on occation for hunting, fence mending, etc. I've had bad expirences with horses so I don't want one. I love mountain biking so would probably either ride my bike or walk. I don't want an ATV or dirt bike for daily use. My fat butt could use the exercise anyway.

How should one carry a rifle on his bike? I would probably use a lever action or semiauto. Maybe a deer rifle too. Over the sholder could be bad with offroad riding, maybe a holder like CHP uses on their motorbikes?

Any ideas greatly appreciated.

[bartsimpson123844]

How about a really snug sling? Would that be sufficient enough?
If I were you, though, I would just get an ATV...

[jesse485]

I recently went to a Honda shop that had an gun rack for basically anything with handlebars. It was made for an ATV, but said it would work on a bike as well. I wish I could remember the company that made the product, but I doubt it would be too awful rare.

[de]

My knees are getting worse, and at age 56 I ain't what I was. When I can't ride my four-wheeler, I ride my mountain bike while coyote, deer, ect., hunting. I let the sling out and put the sling over my head like an old fashioned arrow quiver. Works just fine.

[Cosmoline]

Carrying a rifle on a bike? That's crazy talk! But as luck would have it, I've done it many times. If you're on your own land and can open carry, then you can simply sling the rifle over your shoulder. That's probably the easiest. If you need more cover from elements or whatnot, there are other solutions. For longer rifles, such as Mosins, I put them in a lined heavy canvas gun sock I got from DGW and waterproofed with wax. I've rigged up a simple sling system that grips the rifle and is redily adjustable:



You can also affix the rifle to the back rack, but with smaller racks you might consider a board secured down to give it sufficient surface area:



For shorter carbines, you can use a backpack scabbard rigged to the basket:



Or you can simply secure the scabbard to the backpack, and carry it on your back:



If you have a straight framed utility bike, you could rig something up like this (I think that's Jamie Hyneman's great grandfater)

[dm1333]

I used to have an ATV rifle mount attached to my mountain bike handle bars because I hunted grouse on my bike. Any motorcycle shop that has ATV accessories should have a set and they should bolt right up to your handle bars. Here in CA I have been using an Uncle Mikes neoprenene sling on my Mossberg while quail hunting. I sling the shotgun across my back and ride with an empty chamber. I use the sling here because the coveys of quail on the coast are small and pretty far apart so what I end up doing is riding till I know I am coming up on a spot where I have seen quail, I stop and lock the bike to a tree, hunt a little, then ride to the next spot.

[soul_rapier]

check wartmart they got them here have gun racks for atv like $20 .you would have to do a little work to make it fix a bike's handle bars good luck and dont wreak the bike with a gun on it .

[Boats]

I think bicycle troops are what you should emulate as they actually did what you are proposing. Some used panniers with a sort of rifle scabbard. Others used rifles cross-slung across the body as opposed to over the shoulder.

It should be noted that some rifles, particularly milsurps, come with side mounted slings, not the usual bottom located swivels. These slings are harder to use as support, but more comfortable to carry cross-slung, as the rifle lays flat across the back, not digging into it with the butt, trigger guard, magazine, etc.

[Ian]

Here's another twist on the idea, from the Boer War:



However, on 50-100 acres, I really don't think you would need a bicycle at all. Eighty acres in a rectangle has a perimeter of about 1.5 miles - not exactly death march.

[GRIZ22]

I would think wharever you decide it should be attached to the bicycle and not you. A long gun strapped across your back would provide a fulcrum to injure your spine if you should take a spill. The holders I've seen the military use on dirt bikes attach to the handlebars or front fork.

[velojym]

The military does use bicycles now, as they've tested 'em and (finally, after over a hundred years of other countries usin' em... the Viet Cong used 'em to chase off the French, after all)
This photo is an older military bike, with some features you may find interesting.
http://www.pedalinghistory.com/PHmuseum.html


http://www.militarybikes.com

I picked one of these up, and I've been modifying it (new bottom bracket/cranks, seatpost, among other things) to be my bug-home bike, as I'm away all the time and my first priority will be to make it home to my family. I keep my 336 in a smaller case with the buttstock removed, but will want it to be more ready in a
bug-home scenario. I was going to rig a leather scabbard along the maintube, with the butt end protruding a bit past the head tube. This way it won't interfere with the bike handling, and will be (I'll have to test it) fairly accessible.
Of course, a .45 will be kept handy in case I don't have time to draw the rifle.

A bicycle requires no fuel, beyond the food you eat, though I'd suggest you get fit to ride it *now* rather than when you really need it.
I'm not going to put down motorized transport, and I'll drive back as far as possible before I have to break out the bicycle. I can't carry a motorcycle
in the minivan on a daily basis, and as I said, the bike is an 'escape pod' for the car.
I'm still working out saddles and bags. I've been leaning toward a Brooks saddle and something like the big Baggins-type bags. Currently I have a Topeak QR rack/trunk combo, and a smallish front rack/bag I haven't installed yet.

[jd46561]

Here is a Swiss example...

[crunker]

Just sling it across your back.

[PAC 762]

I've tossed underfolder AK's into a backpack and riden my motorcycle to the range.

If you need immediate access to a firearm when riding a bike, a suitable sidearm and a lot of practice may be a better choice.

[GooseGestapo]

The best way is either a handle bar rack such as the ATV clips horizontal and left-right orientation- easy to set up but likely to be "grabbed by brush", or modify these where the but is on the seat tube and the forward one is on the handle bar tube. (runs horizontal with the top horizontal frame tube) longitudinal to the bikes axis. Less likely to be "grabbed" by a passing limb. My preferred method. Muzzle of weapon is already in the likely direction of use (foward).

A friend of mine regularily hunts from his mountain bike. He is VERY successful with it.

Recommened: Replace the knobby tires with a smooth tread. It will make substantially less noise and allow closer approach without alerting any game.

I used a bike very successfully while on the job to quietly and quickly infiltrate violators very intent on poaching fish. Didn't expect me to so quickly and quietly "emerge" upon them !!!! Another of the many incidents I could and should write a book about.

[cmb3366]

When riding an ATV, I just sling it across my back, not over the shoulder. Very secure, and allows you to remain in control of the rifle and manuver it around obstacles and brush which would otherwise scrape and ding it.

[kd7nqb]

I agree with the handle bar or the sling idea. But a better idea might be a little carbine. What about the Su-16 or something with a nice folding stock then its much easier.

[kungfuhippie]

Wow that's more response than I guessed. I know it's a short distance, but on an occasion where I may just want to get lost on BLM land for an afternoon it would come in handy too. I think the front mounted scabard is the best choice. I've been mountain biking for more than a decade (though I don't look it) and I've crashed enough to know I don't want a wood/metal bar diagonal across my back. I thing the handlebar mounted belt fed MG would be nice too. I'd use it to hunt today's super animals; the electric eel and the flying squirel

I think I'll be busting out the leather working tools and making a scabard over Christmas break. Try it on some jackrabbits, there's an area I like in the desert where some hot spots are about 4 miles apart and once you disturb one you may as well go to the other... anyone have another odd rifle carry situation?

[TimboKhan]

Kungfu,

If Cosmoline wouldn't have posted, I was actually going to refer you to a thread he started a few months back. I actually plan on buying a bike exactly like his at some point! If your interested, it's an Electra Rat-Rod, and it is a really cool bike.

[kungfuhippie]

as cool as the electras are...

I'm more of a biking techie dork. I'm that way with computers too.

Guns, cars, other, I like the older stuff...

I love my Specialized FSR as much as my GT Force (road bike, yes it's a little old)

And I've been trying to convince myself to get a nice single speed. (disc brakes and front suspension) I've been a knobby rider all my life and a cruiser isn't my style. I've even had cyclocross tires on the road bike at times.

My gun hobbie has made me cut back on my bike budget, I'd just sell my car but then how would I get to the range, or get a deer home?

Should I blue the bike to match the gun?

[Cosmoline]

I find modern bikes too light and sporty. I like old-school steel bikes. The Rat is pretty good for around town, though it's hard going in choppy terrain. My dream bike is the new Swedish Army bike, with an integral front rack rated to take a 50 lb. ammo box!

[Sunray]

Slung on your back where it belongs.

[gila_dog]

Here's how I do it. All it takes is a padded rifle case and 2 bungees. I don't like having stuff hanging on my handle bars. Makes it hard to control the bike on rough terrain. I don't like stuff hanging on my back or shoulders either. That raises your center of gravity and makes it easier to wreck. On a bike it's best to keep any extra weight down low.

This way it's safer for you and the rifle, and it's out of the way. Of course you have to stop, get off, un-bungee, and un-case the rifle in order to shoot it.

[MCgunner]

I'll keep my little dual purpose 200cc dirt bike, thanks. I'm old and don't WANT the exercise. I just sling my rifle over my head/shoulder when I'm out on the bike, not a problem. I also hunt a lot with a contender I carry in an uncle mike's shoulder holster which makes things simpler yet.

Heck, just get a little lever carbine and sling it over your head/shoulder. No need to get too fancy and you'll have it with you when you see that coyote or feral dog pack after a calf.

My place is pretty muddy when it is wet. Wouldn't wanna pedal there. The dirt bike is work enough. It also allows me to haul 100 lbs of feed corn to my feeders and haul out the harvest. However, I got an 8 pt this year and had to drag it out on my "deer sleigher" with the bike because I couldn't pick it up on the bike and didn't have any help. But, I'd been on foot with a bicycle, for sure.

And, when you're fencing, you're going to need staples, hammer, fencing pliars, stretcher, wire, posts, etc, etc. You might wanna rethink that ATV thing.

[benEzra]

This photo is an older military bike, with some features you may find interesting.

Yeah, that handlebar mounted machinegun is interesting.

Wouldn't have to worry so much about cars cutting you off, that way...