Any cyclists? (CCW)

[MillCreek]

I actually have rack trunks on my two mountain and one folder bicycles. I don't have them on my two road bikes.

For things that I want to access quickly and easily (wallet, house/car key, BlackBerry and carry weapon), I put those in a handlebar bag. I bought five Cannondale toot handlebar bags at a Nashbar sale and they are on all my bikes. The only downside is that they are not waterproof for prolonged rain, which we get up here in the Seattle area. I carry some quart-size Ziploc bags in the handlebar bags, and seal things up if I am out in the rain.

 

[Cosmoline]

Millcreek--are those bags easy to remove? I was thinking about putting the revolver in one, but it looked like once you get them on they're not coming off easily. I saw one with a sort of clicking system to attach it on and off, but it looked cheaply made and not up to carrying the weight of the firearm over long distances.

 

[MillCreek]

Cosmoline, they attach with two velcro straps that loop over the handlebars. It is probably about twenty seconds to get them on and off. I leave them on at all times. My bags seem fairly sturdy, and they have held up to carrying the wallet, keys, BlackBerry, 2.25" SP-101 with five rounds of extra ammo and a Topeak multi-tool. From time to time, I may carry another handgun. If I had to estimate, I am probably carrying 4-5 pounds in the handlebar bag. The seams have held, the straps have held, even over single-track, and the bags have not spontaneously detached from the bike.

What I also like about those bags is they have a separate small padded pocket in the front. I think it is for a cell phone. I keep a pad of Post-its and a small gel-ink pen in a snack-size ziploc bag there, in case I have to write anything down. I also keep in there a laminated business card that has a sticker on the back with my home address and phone, in case they need to contact someone to come and identify my body after I get hit by a bus. I have the same laminated business cards attached to all my bike frames with one of those plastic luggage tag loops. I worked as a paramedic in college, and it really sucks to be admitted to the local hospital as a John Doe when no one can identify you. I also wear a dog tag with my name, city and state, my work phone, my home phone and NKA/NKDA/A pos. The last line means I have no known allergies/no known drug allergies/blood type is A positive. So ideally, the ER can identify me, and they have some immediate info to start treating me. God willing, I will never have to use any of this emergency notification stuff.

 

[Cosmoline]

What I'm getting at is, if you leave the pack on what do you do when you leave your bike? I'd like to keep the handgun easy to get to, but unless it's in a sock or something won't you be flashing it when you take it out of the bag to go into a store?

 

[MillCreek]

Ah, I see what you are getting at. I unstrap the bag and take it in with me.

 

[JamisJockey]

the probability of needing a firearm while on the bike and your ability to effectively use it while on the bike. Unless you practice shooting while riding, you're going to have hard time hitting what you aim at...

Instead, the probability of needing a firearm and being separated from your bike is high....like getting knocked off it by an attacking canine or road-rager.....

 

[KelVarnson]

the probability of needing a firearm and being separated from your bike is high....like getting knocked off it by an attacking canine or road-rager.....

I agree with that. I would also add, as a long-time mountain biker, that you might want to consider that falling on a gun could injure you, particularly if it is near your spine or on your hip. This would cause me to favor a waist pack or something else up front. Probably a faster draw, too.

Alternatively, carrying in a Camelback would probably be less injurious than if it were in one of your rear jersey pockets.

The way I used to ride, I'd crash a lot. Not so much anymore. Older, slower, wiser...

 

[Cosmoline]

Instead, the probability of needing a firearm and being separated from your bike is high....like getting knocked off it by an attacking canine or road-rager.....

That's why I keep one on me and one on the bike.

 

[rwc]

Instead, the probability of needing a firearm and being separated from your bike is high....like getting knocked off it by an attacking canine or road-rager.....

Truly? To quantify, how frequently are you involuntarily separated from your bike? Of those instances, how frequently did you need a firearm?

I've been commuting by bike off and on for over 30 years and have only been involuntarily separated from my bike a handful of times. Normally this involved gravity and was proceeded by "Oh Shiiii...." Only one of those involved the actions of another person; which was negligence, not malice.

Jamis, I'm not denigrating the choices you have made, simply approaching the issue from a statistical or quantitative perspective, which leads me to wear one of these more often than I wear a pistol while on a bicycle.

Stay safe.

 

[Cosmoline]

I've recently been trying out a Galco pocket holster for my Colt DS. It works surprisingly well, at least if you're wearing shorts or something with deep front pockets. For going around in-town or commuting on hot days when a cover shirt is annoying, it seems to be an option. The holster is big by design and fills out the pocket. It prints, but the print doesn't look like a revolver. It looks like a big wallet or something. To draw you just press the side of the holster with your trigger finger while pulling the stock. It slides out remarkably easy and does not snag.

And yes, I am trying to show off my new Brooks ;-) I finally found a gun to go with my bike saddle. Now I just need to find a classier bike than my Marin to go with the Brooks and Colt.