Carry on a Bicycle

[Owen Sparks]

I never have understood the spandex thing outside of an actual race. Sure it makes your body a little more aerodynamic and cuts down on wind drag a little and will take a few seconds off your time. But this slight benifit will be more than canceled out by carrying an extra two pounds of steel besides, you are not in a race and are not being timed. Why wear a leotard if you don't have to?

 

[4thPointOfContact]

Back when I biked semi-seriously, I wore a belly-band and a yellow shirt. Aridzona at the time didn't have 'concealed carry', only open.
I met some of the most considerate drivers that way; usually they'd barely give me 3' of room to pass, but when I wore the yellow shirt they'd almost always give me the Entire Lane when passing.
I'm pretty sure being left handed and having the exposed pistol on my hip contrasting against the yellow shirt didn't influence them. Then again, I did ride out to a few arroyos with a shotgun or carbine strapped to the front bars or across my back.

 

[mortablunt]

I recommend a good shoulder holster. Of course, that's not exactly concealed. But then again, I don't have a CC license so I've had to OC.

 

[CmpsdNoMore]

Sure it makes your body a little more aerodynamic and cuts down on wind drag a little and will take a few seconds off your time.

I wear it because it's more comfortable on certain areas. I do, however, wear "mountain biking" shorts with spandex under normal looking shorts.

I don't know what I'm going to do next spring/summer when I have my CCW license. I usually wear a shirt with pockets on the back. It wouldn't be ideal.

 

[roo_ster]

If you want to pack something large, the old-school tanker holster has been toting GM-sized 1911s for decades. You'll have to wear a cover garment, though. I have worn mine on long rides with great comfort and concealability.

For something smaller, the S&W J-frame and similar small revolvers shine. They'll fit in fanny packs, front pockets, etc. A Crimson Trace laser sight is also nice, giving them a bit more precision. I suppose the same goes for decent single-stack sub-compact semi-autos.

 

[Mainsail]

You'll have to wear a cover garment...

No, actually he doesn't.

 

[Johannes_Paulsen]

I started out with a 5.11 tactical holster shirt for my Kahr MK9. It worked, although because the Kahr is a bit heavy, it was a little uncomfortable. (It probably would've been just fine with a polymer-frame PM or CM, or a .380 mousegun.)

I later decided that carrying in a OWB holster in cargo shorts next to the hip was more comfortable with a t-shirt for concealment. I still use the 5.11 holster shirt, though, because it's great for carrying wallet, house keys, cell phone, even a spare water bottle sometimes.

 

[barnetmill]

The biggest aggressive threat to bicyclists after bad drivers are dogs. I guess shooting dogs is not completely socially acceptable. I use to carry a chain when I lived in New Orleans, La for swinging at dogs. The only time I faced any human threat was some young black boys (13-14) that approached me. Immediately a foot an half of chain became exposed and I rode off with no opposition. I said nothing just let the bunched doubled up locking chain for the bike that I carried in my right hand unroll itself and left. They wanted my bicycle and money and probably did had not assessed my physical size since they approached at night at a distance.

 

[Lawdawg45]

I cycle about 100 miles per week as physical therapy for my arthritis, and the best recommendation I can give is to lose the cycle shorts. They are a necessity for Lance Armstrong and his competitors, but for a commuter aerodynamics isn't a factor. I wear cargo shorts and usually carry a Ruger LCP in a pocket holster or a J-Frame in a Fobus paddle. Past that I would use a fanny pack made for weapons (Velcro and not zippered).

LD45

 

[Johannes_Paulsen]

I cycle about 100 miles per week as physical therapy for my arthritis, and the best recommendation I can give is to lose the cycle shorts. They are a necessity for Lance Armstrong and his competitors, but for a commuter aerodynamics isn't a factor.

Actually, I endorse padded cycling shorts for long distance cycling; it does make sitting on the bicycle seat for an extended period of time more comfortable. I wear them under my cargo shorts when I'm on a long fitness ride, that way I can still wear my belt+OWB holster.

I wear cargo shorts and usually carry a Ruger LCP in a pocket holster or a J-Frame in a Fobus paddle. Past that I would use a fanny pack made for weapons (Velcro and not zippered).

Are you carrying that LCP in your front pocket? Wow - I know it's small and light, but I hate to have anything in a pants/shorts pocket when I'm cycling. Paranoid about it falling out, and the extra weight (however minimal) feels very annoying to me - especially if it's in the front pocket.

 

[Johannes_Paulsen]

The biggest aggressive threat to bicyclists after bad drivers are dogs. I guess shooting dogs is not completely socially acceptable. I use to carry a chain when I lived in New Orleans, La for swinging at dogs. The only time I faced any human threat was some young black boys (13-14) that approached me. Immediately a foot an half of chain became exposed and I rode off with no opposition. I said nothing just let the bunched doubled up locking chain for the bike that I carried in my right hand unroll itself and left. They wanted my bicycle and money and probably did had not assessed my physical size since they approached at night at a distance.

Glad you came out of your 'incident' with the two-legged animals unharmed. There have apparently been a few incidents in St. Louis lately where cyclists haven't been as lucky:

Attack on cyclists in St. Louis may have been 'knockout game'


ST. LOUIS • Trailnet, an organization that promotes walking and biking in St. Louis, is warning cyclists to be aware after the boyfriend of one of its staff members was assaulted while riding home Thursday night near the Missouri Botanical Garden.
The organization's executive director, Ann Mack, said the staff member, who was riding with her boyfriend, reported that he was punched in the face by a group of six to 10 young men on Tower Grove Avenue near Flad Avenue. Nothing was stolen from him, she said.

....

The game, apparently popular among teens and involving random attacks on unsuspecting people, gained attention earlier this year when Hoang D. Nguyen, 72, was fatally attacked while walking home from a market with his wife earlier this year in the Dutchtown West neighborhood.

There have been a handful of other reports of the "game" being played in St. Louis and the surrounding areas. It also been seen across the country in different variations. Police say, however, that it is hard to say with certainty whether an attack is motivated by the game without the suspect's acknowledging it as such....

 

[thebaldguy]

In my city there have been some thugs who have assulted cyclists and walkers both during the day and night. My wife and I use fanny packs for bike rides and power walks. I think they work well, and they have some extra space for ammo, ID, wallet, pepper spray, cell phone, etc. I tried other carry methods for cycling and walking, but we found that a fanny pack works best for us.

 

[roo_ster]

You'll have to wear a cover garment...

No, actually he doesn't.

For the particular suggestion I made and his requirements as described in his OP, yes he does.

If you want to pack something large, the old-school tanker holster has been toting GM-sized 1911s for decades. You'll have to wear a cover garment, though. I have worn mine on long rides with great comfort and concealability.

For something smaller, the S&W J-frame and similar small revolvers shine. They'll fit in fanny packs, front pockets, etc. A Crimson Trace laser sight is also nice, giving them a bit more precision. I suppose the same goes for decent single-stack sub-compact semi-autos.

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.

 

[Skribs]

Cargo shorts and a Ruger LCP with a pocket holster, that's what I do.

 

[emb]

I went around with this issue as well. I bike mainly for fitness and use an Uncle Mike's fanny pack. I live in Florida so it's hot and sweaty. Gym shorts and T shirts rule. So no pockets or belts. As stated before it's not sexy, but it works. If you fall and land on your pistol, it's going to hurt. Heck, it's going to hurt any way it happens. The packs, however, do have some padding and a holster does not.

 

[roo_ster]

Other than Cosmoline, has anyone had any luck with satchel-type carry?

 

[david58]

I never have understood the spandex thing outside of an actual race. Sure it makes your body a little more aerodynamic and cuts down on wind drag a little and will take a few seconds off your time. But this slight benifit will be more than canceled out by carrying an extra two pounds of steel besides, you are not in a race and are not being timed. Why wear a leotard if you don't have to?

Aero has nothing to do with the lycra for most of us - it has to do with comfort on the bike. It is actually very utilitarian for the purpose, and helps us to avoid that nasty chafing.

I cannot carry on my commute, as I am not allowed to have a firearm on the premises. Not ideal, but in order to keep my job...

I want to carry on my longer rides, where I am many miles from anywhere. My weekend rides are usually between 50-75+ miles, in rather remote country, and I am often solo. That's where I think the frame back might work well, and with the velcro straps would be easy to keep in hand when off the bike. We'll see...

 

[doorman]

I use a fanny pack for the regular size semi-autos (G17, 1911a1). Lately I have been putting my S&W Bodyguard .380 in my blackhawk pocket holster and then all of that in a plasitc sandwich bag which goes into a jersey pocket. If I wear mountain bike shorts then it just rides in my front pocket.

I went through the same considerations when I started to carry on my bike and decided that my pistol being attached to me was a better option that it being attached to the bike.

 

[jwgml]

check out the kit bag or runners kit bag at http://www.hillpeoplegear.com/

 

[19-3Ben]

looking at those frame bags, I can't help but think that they would a) fit a frame with a horizontal tube much better than the sloping top-tubes that so many road bikes use these days, and b) would interfere with the cable to the rear brake that runs under the top tube on a road bike (not as much of an issue on a mountain bike with cables that run on top of the tube).

 

[CmpsdNoMore]

That runners kit bag looks pretty cool.
Does anyone know of other companies that make similar products for handguns?

 

[2WheelsGood]

Good cycling jerseys have back pockets. An LCP in a pocket holster fits perfectly, and it's much faster to get to than in a fanny pack.

 

[19-3Ben]

yes, but I've found that even with the lightweight LCP, the material of the jersey is light enough that the gun drags down the back of the jersey and strangles me.
I've tried it. those pockets aren't for anything other than a few packs of Gu/Cliff Block/etc...

 

[conw]

It would have to be tested, but I've had great success using a Galco "Under Wraps" Belly Band. (For purposes of fit, I'm using the M I believe...the S was way too small. My waist is fairly narrow, wear 32 pants and they are loose.) I can jog in it just fine.

 

[toivo]

I use one of these when I ride a mountain bike:

http://www.gungear.com/ez-catalog/X300536/3

I have two different holster inserts for it: Glock 26 and Kel-Tec P32.