Best weapon for bike riding.

Status
Not open for further replies.
V

V4Vendetta

member
Joined
Nov 30, 2005
Messages
1,055
Location
NC, USA
I was riding my bike recently to the local hotdog place for supper. On my way back to my store, I saw a large dog chained up that started barking at me as I rode by. It made me wonder.

What's the best weapon for dealing with attacking dogs? I always carry a pocket knife with me but is there a better solution? I was thinking about the pepper spray that they use for bears. Is it any good? If yes, where would I get it?
 
You will get hurt fighting a dog with a knife.
99% of dogs turn and leave if you bend down to pick up a stone, even if no stone is there.
 
Take a look over at Strategy and Tactics where they've had endless dog discussions.

A knife is not he ideal weapon. Spray is good. Stick is better. If you've got a bike then you've got the ability to carry a pump for it in a frame clip. Nothing says you can't get a very sturdy pump that is 2+ ft. long and clip it in so that you can use it to bash some SOB's (2 or 4 leg) brains out.
 
"A knife is not he ideal weapon. Spray is good. Stick is better."

Yeah, I thought the knife was a bad idea unless it's a machete. I have one but I don't know how people would respond to me walking around with a 18' long blade on my waist.:uhoh:

I always carry a back pack with me when I bike. I think I'll be putting a club like instrument into it. I have a piece of steel that's 16 & 1/2 inches long including the handle. At the end of it the steel is in a square shape. You think that would be good?
 
Realname, I originally just posted it here. Then someone said that it belonged in the S&T forum. So, as I don't need to aggravate the mods anymore than I have already, I posted it in the S&T section will let the modders close this one if they like.
 
Not really. I sold a few belts recently to people who come in the shop. I had one guy who told me he wanted a custom wallet made for him. I said alright & write his phone number down so I can call him when it's ready. I spend days patterning it, dyeing it, & lacing it. Then when it's finished, I call the number. It's not his number:mad: :fire: . The guy who ordered it has never called to see if it's finished or anything & it's been a month so I'm going to assume that I'm out $35 unless someone else comes in here & wants it. It doesn't have any initials on it fortunately. It just has a picture of a hunter shooting at a deer.

Somedays you just hate dealing with people.:(
 
Post a picture of the wallet.
Resurrect your thread offering wares.
People are ok, in moderation.
Charles Bukowski had it nailed when he said, "Hell is other people".
 
I can't post pics right now because my PC doesn't have any USB sockets except for the ones that the mouse & keyboard's are hooked up to. I have a old camera that will take 35mm pictures & when I get that film developed, I'll get one of those disks that has pics on it so I can post them then.

EDIT: Before this thread gets too hijacked, lets get back on the course of SD while biking.
 
You don't need anything elaborate. Measure the length that you could put on the frame of your bike. Longer (up to a certain point) is better, but anything over ~28 inches gets to be unweildy. Then just get a piece of metal pipe or a hardwood dowel that will fit velcroed to the frame and use it should any SOB charge the bike.

The important thing that bike riders have learned is to get off the bike with it between them and the dog. Bike acts like a fence and the rider can use the "bad dog voice" to subdue the dog. Failing that it allows the rider to then whack or spray the dog as needed while using the bike as a shield.

People that suggest expandable batons (which I love) are giving you advice similar to "carry a gun" in that they are not addressing the legal implications. In some states, look it up for NC, you may not carry an expandable baton without certification and in many not at all. I keep my ASP certificate in my wallet. In additon, you don't need a collapsable baton in this case since you can just velcro a hardwood dowel to the frame of your bike. No concealability issues, no need to make it compact. It rides the bike regardless of whether you do or not.

As for sprays, look up the best pepper spray threads here. Fox labs gets lots of recommendations and you can order it.
 
Take a long frame pump. Fill it with lead. Cut the shaft of the plunger, and epoxy or otherwise secure it back on, then mount it to your bike with one of those battery and or pump brackets that goes on the water bottle cage mounts. If you don't already have one, they are available cheap at your nearest shop. Sure it will add a couple pounds, but it will work well and be undetectable as a weapon. Or, if legal, the highly obvious solution is to carry a gun.
 
"Or, if legal, the highly obvious solution is to carry a gun."

The only gun I have is a SAR1. It's basicly an AK variant. Impossible to conceal because I'd have to bike with it on my shoulders. Now where I bike, it's mostly just a row of houses beside a highway. How do you think Aunt Bea will react if she sees a 18 year old with a EBR biking down the road:scrutiny: ? She calls the LEO's. The LEO's gun me down while I'm trying to go get a hotdog special. I have no problem with dying, we are all going to sooner or later anyway. I just want to stay alive because I'm needed for my family & friends.
 
Let me say that over, wait until your 21, then get a hangun and a CPL. Until then, a lead filled pump would be your best bet.
 
A 5 or 6 cell mag lite has been good enough as a dork knocker for years and wouldn't be viewed as a purpose built weapon.
 
I will give you two that work real well.
SIG P230 / PPK both in 380 and easy to conceal
 
"I will give you two that work real well. SIG P230 / PPK both in 380 and easy to conceal."


Fine. I'll take them. The NC law says I have to be 21 to buy them. It says nothing about them being given to me.
 
I live right at the Edge of the Phoenix Metro area. When I go walking at night after dinner I hear both coyotes howling along with domestic dog barking. I am more worried about domestic dogs & 2 legged creatures. So I carry a pocket pistol (S&W 442 or Keltec P-32), a Surefire flashlight and an ASP collaspable baton. It all fits in the pockets of my basketball shorts. It keeps my girl and me feeling fairly save.
 
Strap a stun baton to the frame of the bike and it will look like a tire pump.:D
Actually, I think spray is your best bet.
 
For dogs, stop the bike and face them down. Almost all will turn and run off. They aren't really chasing you, but the flashing/moving parts of your bike. It's pure prey drive, just like chasing a car. It's a very rare dog that will continue to press the attack after you've turned and faced it. I would only shoot a dog if it were seriously biting me and I couldn't remedy the situation any other way. But then I like dogs. My bigger concern are punks and nogoodnicks, coupled with angry moose. Carrying can be a PINA. IWB or classic shoulder holsters tend to get exposed quickly in the wind or get in the way. I'm working on a basket carry, but so far the baskets are on back order. In the mean time I'm carrying the SP101 in the pocket of my jacket or in a vertical shoulder rig.
 
Weapon for bikers against dogs

V4Vendetta--As an experienced cyclist myself, and having worked in a bike store for 5 yrs, I can tell you authoritatively and from experience that the BEST thing for any and all dogs is a product called "Halt!" It is used by the USPS--you may know that dogs hate mailmen even more than they hate bicycles. Some utility companies issue it to their field people, also.

Halt! is a pepper spray in a handy small container with a pocket clip. It will stop a Doberman pinscher galloping at you in full-attack mode, or fend off 5 Labrador retrievers at once. Trust me on this.

You can buy it in almost any serious bicycle shop. It is also available from bike-stuff mail-order houses.

Now, having said all that, I will add that using Halt! on a dog isn't usually necessary. Pedalling faster, or giving the dog a shot from your water bottle, is often sufficient. I would rather not hurt a dog if I don't have to--it's the darn owner that let the dog out in the road.

But I decided to carry Halt! the day I had to kick a German Shepherd in the chin to get rid of him--he bit his tongue rather badly, and that is a much worse injury than a day of burning mouth and sore eyes.
 
i do a lot of bike riding and ive been chased many times and bitten once....by a collie of all dogs :rolleyes:. for the short legged dogs i just outpedal them, for the bigger i do what hso said....get off the bike, use it as a shield and try to get the dog to submit. most the time soon as i stop they turn around and leave, the rest leave after i use an angry voice :p

ive had to use a stick to thump a few dogs while out on a walk, works well...they all ran with one thump.

the one time i got bit by that collie i didnt stop and use the bike as a shield. the ironic part is i was about 12 and was applying for a job at the farmers house, his dog tore my leg up and i didnt get the job or even an apology. so it might be a good idea to carry a stick to thump the occasional farmer with too.
 
Get an aluminum baseball bat (maybe t-ball if b-ball is too long,) drill a hole and fill it with the material of your choice. Sand, BB's, lead shot. If anyone asks, you're on the way to (or from) the park to get in some pop-fly practice. The added weight is a "training aid";)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

V
  • Locked
Best weapon for bike riding.
2
Replies
48
Views
2K
c_yeager
C
F
  • Locked
Non lethal ways of defending against dogs
2 3
Replies
57
Views
5K
BLB68
B
G
  • Locked
Whatever you do
Replies
1
Views
430
CT Yankee
C
T
  • Locked
Had to pepper spray 3 dogs today
2
Replies
43
Views
2K
dance varmint
D
J
  • Locked
Riding a bike in Oregon
Replies
18
Views
1K
Kind of Blued
K
Back
Top