Bicycle Defense

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vonhunze

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O.K. I've been reading THR for a couple of years. I've never posted before because I've always found what I needed by just searching the site. You folks are pretty darn smart! Here's the issue. I had my hips (yep, both at once) replaced a year ago. December 17th, 2007. I just turned 40 in July by the way. PM me if you have any questions about hip replacement. My issue is this, I am basically required to work out all of the time, at least every other day. Riding my bike is no impact exercise, I live in Santa Rosa California. Plenty of ghetto, long on trails, great gardening. I get chased by dogs, sometimes gangs (usually 2 at a time) and need an accessible defense measure. Think about biking in California before you answer. I live in Sonoma County Ca, which means no ccw. Unless of course you are rich and or know the Sheriff. I can't move yet but I'm working on that. I'm a fairly accomplished shooter both competition and hunting with rifle, shotgun and pistol/revolver ( I need a safe for all the guns). So think about riding a bike and being able to protect yourself. If I were to make myself a criminal by protecting myself, how would you do it from a bike? I would also be interested in non lethal options too. Thanks all!
p.s. I can do 35 miles on my mountain bike now, lost 35 lbs, not a bad bug out yeah?
 
I'd carry pepper spray and a knife. In fact, that's my daily version of CCW. I'm sure that with Ca's laws, that's illegal (rolls eyes) but, they're likely to go much easier on you than if you get caught with a pistol.
 
I considered pepper spray. I always carry a knife. I tried to deploy from riding position. Unless it's a fogger it's very impractical from "horseback" as it were. Which of course means that I'm gonna get hit too. Very interesting tree related impact would likely occur.
 
As far as the dogs chasing you you can use your waterbottle, just spray the dog in the face with it. Most dogs will leave you alone after this. Thats a trick I learned while delivering packages. There was one place I delivered to several times that had a golden retriever. All I had to do was show him the bottle and he'd run away. As far as gang members, not sure how they would react to getting sprayed with water.
 
carrying on my bike

and this is my FIRST post to a thread. I ride a bike and use two methods to carry. I live in Tennessee and sometimes ride in the national park where it's illegal to carry but i do it anyway. i carry a small colt 25 semi either in a wallet holster in my jersey pocket or a frame bag. SEE LINK!

http://www.amazon.com/Nashbar-Frame-Pump-Bag/dp/B0009SAMZQ

I'd rather be alive and in trouble with the law than dead and law abiding when riding in the park.
 
Man, not a bad idea. It works on my own animals. Thanks. Can't believe I didn't think of that. As far as Nortenos goes, it may still work for freak out factor and crank like mad factor!
 
Bicycle nDefense

Thanks musicalguy,
It depends, I usually do too. Especially while fishing of the bike. Not in town though. Thanks dude! So, how do you draw from that thing on the fly? Not a [ ] question, just curious.
 
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You get chased by gangs on a regular basis? I lived and rode in Long Beach, Carson, city of L.A.... never got chased by a gangster. And yet it's happened to you repeatedly, in wine country?

Huh.
 
vonhunze, look into a product called Halt. It's pepper spray for dogs, marketed to cyclists, and I know several guys that carry it. I would assume it works well on people too. Dogs also respond well to water bottle shots to the face, and cleats to the face.
 
Before I began carrying, I was chased down on a lovely Kentucky country road by a large angry dog who was attempting to bite my right leg causing me to jump off my bike and use the bike as a barrier between me and the dog. I eventually backed up off the road where i found a stick (tobacco stake) to defend myself. If I'd had the Colt 25 with me then, i could have solved the problem a lot quicker. With all the stuff us cyclists carry in our Jersey pockets, a small 25 in a wallet holster will not cause much notice. When I use the bag i keep the zipper partially opened where i can simply reach in and have my hand on the weapon. It's as easy as grabbing one of my water bottles on the down tube.
 
if you can go 25 mph, that might be good enough. I clocked some dogs chasing me once. the fastest dog went about 20 mph initially, for about a distance of two blocks. Then slowed down to about 15 mph continued for about half a mile before it turned around and went back. It looked like a black lab. There where a couple smaller dogs but they were alot slower and gave up way before the big one did.

Might also run slower on pavement, as I could see the lab prefered running on the dirt off the side of the road instead of right behind me on pavement. So maybe if its all pavement that might not be as conducive to them.

And i was being chased by a bum that I had givin money to before, He was keeping up with me initially at 14 mph Id assume. I had to gain up to about 16 to pull away from him.

Ive never tried spraying a dog with the bottle while riding. Ive always done it while walking towards the dog. On a bike youd have to spray around behind you. I should practice this to see how quickly and accuratly i can spray at something behind me while riding. Plus dogs dont come at you as quick when your walking towards them. They get about 10 times more confident when your moving away from them.
 
I carry a Sig P239 openly on my right hip while bicycle riding here in Washington, but I guess that's not an option for you. After almost needing to shoot someone's dog (that bit me while I was riding by) I decided to supplement the handgun with a can of pepper spray. You can mount it to the bike with a special holster. Example here and here.
 
Maybe bear spray, or some spray that will create a fog.
But if it's that dangerous, maybe you should just get a indoor exercise bike.
 
MrCleanOK said:
vonhunze, look into a product called Halt. It's pepper spray for dogs, marketed to cyclists, and I know several guys that carry it. I would assume it works well on people too. Dogs also respond well to water bottle shots to the face, and cleats to the face.
Click to expand...
They used to give that to our letter carriers. It seems to shoot rather far, also.

I've had a few dogs chase me, and one real idiot that actually said quietly to his dog, "Get im" and his sitting dog got up from the grass and started out. I yelled "BIG ****ING MISTAKE!" and he quickly called him back. I told the cops about this, but since I didn't have an ID on the guy and I wasn't even sure about the address, there wasn't much they could do. I generally stay away from the places I have this kind of trouble, especially since I bike at night, when the temperatures are cooler. But I always carry a Glock 26 in a kydex OWB. Smooth draw even from a bike. Barring that, I would certainly be at least wearing hard shoes.
 
My parents ride a lot and carry a Spitfire on a neck lanyard. You can pull it off the lanyard easily without breaking or taking it off.

I would second a safely carried (trigger covered) compact semi-auto.

Shouting "NOOOOO" (just like that) is also a good strategy. Had a NASTY overgrown Rottweiler chase me through a curve (think about it - I had to stay on the road, he didn't) and despite sprinting to about 28mph, he would have gotten me if I hadn't verbally surprised him.
 
Phalanx or bust.


I get chased by dogs, sometimes gangs (usually 2 at a time)
Click to expand...

I think you're better off risking heart problems and diabetes, and scrapping the exercise program. :eek:

But if you must, taser, OC spray, or a handgun are the ranged weapons you want.
 
Dogs chasing you

Do like the military, instead of dropping flares, drop cookies. they will never know what hit them.
 
A SMALL amount of ammonia in the water bottle makes it a more potent dog repeller (so I have heard). Too much could permanently blind or harm the dog. I suspect it would work on 2 legged dogs as well.

An ASP type baton might also work. A shout of NO! and a swing of the baton to bonk the head would probably break off the attack.

The dog treats/cookie idea might work. It works for the meter reader.
 
A shout of NO! and a swing of the baton to bonk the head...
Click to expand...

Uh, have you ever tried this on a bicycle? Have you ever tried this on a bicycle while your feet were clipped in?
 
You could get the original revolver specifically designed for bicycle defense...
velodog0744.jpg


Its the Velo-Dog revolver, in the extremely powerful 5.75mm velo-dog revolver caliber. It shoots a 45 grain projectile a whopping 750 feet per second, making it just slightly weaker than the powerhouse .22 long rifle.
 
+1 on this .SMALL amount of ammonia in the water bottle makes it a more potent dog repeller

it works well just make sure you dont drink from the wrong bottle.
 
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