Carry on a Bicycle

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david58

david58

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I am a new convert to the craziness of riding my bike to work, for fitness, and fun.

Does anyone here have any suggestions as to how in the world I carry my handgun on the bike.

Hard to conceal much under spandex.....

But seriously, I would appreciate any of you who are cyclists sharing how you carry so that your weapon is accessible and secure.
 
Safepacker, from www.thewilderness.com .

I wear either bike patrol shorts or pants, or Rapha Fixed Shorts, which have belt loops, and wear the Safepacker on a belt. On the very rare occasions I wear skimpier clothing, with no belt loops, I use a waist pouch made for a point-and-shoot camera.

BTW, cyclists do not generally use the term "spandex" to refer to our Lycra clothing. ;)
"Spandex" is a derogatory term used by folks who disapprove of road cyclists.
 
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A G17 sits IWB when I ride with a light cover shirt. Why should your carry method vary when riding a bike?
 
Appendix carry.
Your chances of going down in a crash are much greater than your chances of geting in a gun fight. You don't want a two pound chunk of metal any around your spine or siatic nerve in a crash.
 
Welcome to the fun of bike commuting.

First off, what type of bike are you using?
That'll make a difference for what accessories are available and what your mounting options are.
If it's a touring/rando style bike, you may have room for some type of small front rack that could hold a small bag with a gun.
Panniers would obviously be the most convenient place to carry a gun, but one of the least quickly accessible.

If you ride a race bike, obviously you're going to be a LOT more limited.

What are you wearing while riding to/from work? If regular shorts, then just pocket carry, or even IWB carry. Of course, as you bend forward on a bike the back of your shirt lifts up, so be careful.
If wearing lycra, you're obviously much more limited.

I'd love to help with this, as both a bike geek and gun geek.
 
I usually just carry a 2oz Fox OC and an Izula. The few times I've carried a handgun I've just open carried on my hip, maybe with a jacket semi-covering. I don't usually take a gun because I like to yell at bad drivers and I keep my mouth shut when carrying a gun.
 
I'm actually leaving for work via bike in about 5 hours.

I've found that bike kind of helps with your Situational Awareness because you are always looking out for cars. When I carry on the bike, I wear cargo shorts (not spandex) and toss a S&W J frame into a pocket holster. Haven't tried riding with the LCP in the pocket holster yet (I'm too afraid it will fall out.) I've also tried riding with the gun (Either the Jfram or LCP) in a pocket holster or soft case in a pocket of my backpack.

Usually, I'm packing when mountain biking, but not during the commute (No carry on school district policy).

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson
 
I carry in a Uncle Mike's fanny pack when riding. It is not sexy but it keeps my handgun secure and you can carry other stuff in there too. When you are decked out in spandex and a helmet, a fanny pack is not nearly as odd as when in normal attire.
 
And when you land on that fanny pack?

I met a guy who did some time in a wheelchair after bouncing off an ATV and landing on his Ruger and damaged his siatic nerve.
The gun bag needs to be in front of your body away from your spine and hips.
 
And when you land on that fanny pack?

I met a guy who did some time in a wheelchair after bouncing off an ATV and landing on his Ruger and damaged his siatic nerve.
The gun bag needs to be in front of your body away from your spine and hips.
Click to expand...

Right. Keep; the bag in front of your stomach. It provides some padding. I have gone over the down several times wearing a loaded fanny pack. I have bruised my arms and legs and hurt my shoulders, but noting else.
 
I carry a Glock 26 in an Uncle Mike's Kydex OWB @ 3:30 or so. Covered by safety vest only. Retentive properties for possible falls, but easy access and easy one-handed fire if needed.
 
Looking further today, I find some triangular bags designed to hang on the top tube and the head tube. Not huge, but that just means I need to get the right pistol for the job, maybe the LCR. I think maybe the purchase of the pack is the first step, then find the gun that will fit in it. I certainly won't be toting my 1911, though.

It does bring up the other issue of security - if I go into a store at a rest stop, or am on a group ride where we park our bikes en masse, I will have to tote the pack with me, so it will need to attach/detach easily.

But in lycra/spandex britches, and a cycling jersey, there just isn't anyplace to conceal on my person. Fanny pack might be choice number two. But I think the revolver in the front frame bag may be the trick.
 
FWIW, I've taken falls off my horse and once off a motorcycle directly on a Glock 27 behind my hip. It hurts. I got bruised. I still carry that way.
 
I bought a belly band for the wife to wear while running but I have since stolen it back for riding my bike. I was concerned about being able to draw quickly but with practice it works quite well. A few weeks ago, a mastiff mix jumped his comically short fence and knocked me off my bike, I held the bike on top of me with one hand and drew with the other. The owner came running out of her house and pulled him off before I had to dose the dog. She actually told me she could not believe I was going to shoot her "Pookie", after all, he was just playing. I really hope she fixes something before some kid eating a Slim Jim rides by.
 
I strongly advise against any kind of off-body carry, because if you are still on the bike and you have the ability (physically speaking you are not overwhelmed yet) escape is probably a better option. I just can't see a scenario where you are on a bike and it becomes a good idea to draw w/o dismounting, and if you were dismounting, it seems like it would be preferable to draw afterward, and retain mobility/grappling ability. Drawing straddling a bike THEN dismounting is asking for an accident.

That said, why even bother with spandex? Get some padded undies, or wear the bike shorts under normal pants or shorts, or learn to ride without shorts. I use a Brooks leather saddle (Team Professional) and since adjusting it properly for height, and just as importantly, fore-to-aft, I really don't even need bike shorts for a mid-length (1 hour or so) ride.

Oh, and I strongly agree with Owen Sparks about carrying appendix style. You could do AIWB/untucked, or AOWB with a cover garment. This also has the advantage of allowing you to draw from the ground if you are pushed off the bike.
 
That said, why even bother with spandex? Get some padded undies, or wear the bike shorts under normal pants or shorts, or learn to ride without shorts. I use a Brooks leather saddle (Team Professional) and since adjusting it properly for height, and just as importantly, fore-to-aft, I really don't even need bike shorts for a mid-length (1 hour or so) ride.
Click to expand...

Why wear lycra? On a commute to work, not a big deal. My C-Dale touring bike with loaded panniers isn't gonna win an aerodynamics contest anyway. But if I'm out doing a century ride on my Giant TCR... don't really wanna do that with cargo shorts over my lycra. Different attire for different jobs.

And I agree 100% on the Brooks saddle. My Cdale wears a B17 that I adore. my townie/mtn bike wears another B17.
I wouldn't trade either of them for the world.
 
I've been exclusively on the bike for a few years now. For my CCW I use a Maxpedition fatboy bag. It's far faster access than a fanny pack and holds a bunch of other stuff as well. I also have a backpack over it, which helps to anchor the maxpedition.

B17 all the way! It's like a glove.

For long guns I use a scabbard mounted to the BOB trailer.
 
I don't commute on a bike. I ride on rural roads for pleasure and exercise so the circumstances are a little different. I don't carry on my body but I keep a P3AT in a Fuel Belt bento box. The gun sits upside down, muzzle forward. My Spyderco C07 is clipped on my person at all times. Seems adequate for my needs, but I'm not dealing with crazy people commuting to work and back. :D

LARGEFUELBOX!FUEL-7141_d.jpg
 
I carry a S&W 442 in one of those little "wallet holsters" in the back pocket of my jersey. It looks like a cell phone or a wallet. I have noticed I must oil the gun very often, as sweat is one of the worst things for a firearm.

It is very rare I find people who ride bikes and are into guns. Awsome, be careful.
 
Check out 'pistol wear' holsters for runners and bicyclists. Holds your gun snug against your abdomen. Beware of keeping your gun anywhere near your spine or ribs.
 
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