Anyone carry pepper spray while riding?

In article , George
wrote:

"J999w" wrote in message
...
Not so much for dogs ... I'll either spray some Gatorade on them or wack
them
with my pump ... but more for when encountering rowdy kids just starting
their
summer vacation, have had a few too many cans of beer, and getting just a
little too abusive while half hanging out of the window of their friend's
car.

Had such an encounter tonight while out riding about 10:30pm (sometimes
'ya
gotta ride whenever you can). Now, I'm a big guy (6'5" and 200+ lbs) and
normally don't get harrassed, but every once and a while I come across
some
buzzed social bottom feeder feeling brave and is ready to take on the
'faggy
bicyclist'. My normal reaction is to flip them the finger, or give them a
stream of expletives and some suggestions of physical impossible feats,
but I
fear that some hot night, when I'm out riding, I'll come across someone
looking
for a fight and I'm thinking that the full water bottle I bounce off their
car
will just entice them more and I'm going to need an edge (something
legal).

Anyone carry pepper spray? Ever use it? What kind?

Thanks.

jw
Milwaukee

Colt .380 Mustang Pocketlite w/ 102 gr Golden Sabre ammo. Started carrying
it all of the time (legally with gun permit) after 2 drunken hoofties tried
to run me off of the road with their pickup truck.

What, you going to shoot them as they drive away next time? (Not that
they don't deserve it but I can't see the gun being of much value in
this context.)



--
James P. Spencer
Rochester, MN

"Badges?? We don't need no stinkin badges!"

James Spencer wrote:
What, you going to shoot them as they drive away next time? (Not that
they don't deserve it but I can't see the gun being of much value in
this context.)

About all you can do is have it ready in case they come around again.
If somebody nearly strikes you with a 2 ton blunt object, and then
turns around and aims it at you again, I'd consider that a good reason
to respond with force.
Mitch.

Gooserider wrote:
I carry Halt to deal with dogs, but my Air Zound horn works just as
well. I suppose the Halt would work pretty well against two legged
predators, but my tiny little North American Arms 22 revolver will
work better.

What kind of ammo do you carry in that thing for dogs? Snake shot?

zperrys wrote:
You're not one of those guys who rides in the road, even though
there' a bike lane, are you? Many people get freaked out because of

In my state, there is no provision that states you *must* use the bike lane
if there is one. Bicycles are just as much vehicles as cars, (pardon me, no
one drives 'cars' anymore...) SUV's are.

people on bicycles. Many are just idiots. But most don't want to hurt
us. Those
that do don't deserve a bullet (as many on this thread have basically

What f*cking planet are you living on? Anyone who has choosen to use their
vehicle to attack me, deserves a bullet. Preferably two.

siggested, and which, honestly at times, I might have condoned
myself, I
am after all a cyclist), but should be ignored.

That's right, just ignore the people that suggested that the use of force in
response to an attack by a two-ton moron-piloted vehicle is justified. Just
lie down and let them run you over next time. God forbid you actually
defend yourself. Grow some balls, dude!

Now, if some big ass dude comes up to you and wants to kick your ass
simply because your riding a bicycle, then call the cops (you do take
your cell phone with you when you ride, right?)

Riiiight, and Mr. Big Ass Dude will very patiently wait for you to fumble
out your phone, call 911 and wait while you describe him, the situation, and
your location. I'm sure his fear of the police will freeze him in his
tracks. Fight or flight, those are your only two choices in that situation.
I prefer to have to have both options.

Where do you live? I would much rather be there than here in the real
world.

Regards,
H.

J999w wrote:
Not so much for dogs ... I'll either spray some Gatorade on them or
wack them with my pump ... but more for when encountering rowdy kids
just starting their summer vacation, have had a few too many cans of
beer, and getting just a little too abusive while half hanging out of
the window of their friend's car.

Had such an encounter tonight while out riding about 10:30pm
(sometimes 'ya gotta ride whenever you can). Now, I'm a big guy (6'5"
and 200+ lbs) and normally don't get harrassed, but every once and a
while I come across some buzzed social bottom feeder feeling brave
and is ready to take on the 'faggy bicyclist'. My normal reaction is
to flip them the finger, or give them a stream of expletives and some
suggestions of physical impossible feats, but I fear that some hot
night, when I'm out riding, I'll come across someone looking for a
fight and I'm thinking that the full water bottle I bounce off their
car will just entice them more and I'm going to need an edge
(something legal).

Anyone carry pepper spray? Ever use it? What kind?

Thanks.

jw
Milwaukee

If I were to carry something non-lethal other than a gun, I think I would
probably prefer a air-powered cartridge loaded taser (the kind that looks
like a gun and shoots 15 feet,*NOT* the cheap contact kind) over a can of
pepper spray. I believe that they're legal to carry concealed in most
states without a license. They require some training and practice to use
effectively, but the training is easy to get.

People who are enraged (or just pumped on adrenaline) and/or on drugs can
still function and continue attacking you even after being sprayed
(especially with consumer-grade sprays), whereas 50,000 volts will stop
anything short of a bull elephant dead in his tracks.

I have been trained to use both, and when facing a single attacker, I would
feel much more confident of stopping an attacker with a taser in my hand
than a can of pepper spray, but that's just me. If you are facing multiple
attackers, then I might give the nod to the spray, assuming you are properly
trained and practice it's use.

Regards,
H.

"Gooserider" wrote in message
om...

I carry Halt to deal with dogs, but my Air Zound horn works just as well.
I
suppose the Halt would work pretty well against two legged predators, but
my
tiny little North American Arms 22 revolver will work better.

With all due respect, your NAA mini revolver is a cute, fun little toy, but
I would hope you would never consider one to be a serious defense weapon.

Dave

Raoul Duke wrote:
"Gooserider" wrote in message
om...

I carry Halt to deal with dogs, but my Air Zound horn works just as
well. I suppose the Halt would work pretty well against two legged
predators, but my tiny little North American Arms 22 revolver will
work better.

With all due respect, your NAA mini revolver is a cute, fun little
toy, but I would hope you would never consider one to be a serious
defense weapon.

Dave

Well, in context, if I had to choose only one between a can of Halt!, an air
horn, or a NAA .22 revolver, I'd take the (tiny) revolver over the other two
choices, although I think that there are much better choices for a carry gun
available.

Dogs are usually pretty easy to scare off, so I'd probably prefer to have
two choices, one for two-legged perpetrators, and one for the four-legged
kind. Oddly enough, the thought of shooting a dog disturbs me a great deal
more than a person. I'd much prefer to use a non-lethal form of persuasion
on our four-legged friends.

Regards,
H.

"J999w" wrote in message
...
Not so much for dogs ... I'll either spray some Gatorade on them or wack
them
with my pump ... but more for when encountering rowdy kids just starting
their
summer vacation, have had a few too many cans of beer, and getting just a
little too abusive while half hanging out of the window of their friend's
car.

Had such an encounter tonight while out riding about 10:30pm (sometimes
'ya
gotta ride whenever you can). Now, I'm a big guy (6'5" and 200+ lbs) and
normally don't get harrassed, but every once and a while I come across
some
buzzed social bottom feeder feeling brave and is ready to take on the
'faggy
bicyclist'. My normal reaction is to flip them the finger, or give them a
stream of expletives and some suggestions of physical impossible feats,
but I
fear that some hot night, when I'm out riding, I'll come across someone
looking
for a fight and I'm thinking that the full water bottle I bounce off their
car
will just entice them more and I'm going to need an edge (something
legal).

Anyone carry pepper spray? Ever use it? What kind?

Thanks.

jw
Milwaukee

Yes...I carry "10% Pepper Spray". Halt might be OK for dogs, but it is very
weak pepper spray, and would not be a good choice against two-legged
varmints.

A small pepper spray fits neatly in the jersey pocket and can be deployed
quickly. I've used it several times on dogs, and the effect is impressive.
They seem to immediately lose all interest in chasing me, and sometimes go
to the side of the road to rub their muzzles in the grass. They don't
whimper or cry, so I'm assuming it doesn't hurt them too much.

I've never used it on a person, but I've seen it used by a cop on a
belligerent drunk and feel comforted by how "persuasive" the pepper can be.

~_-*
....G/ \G
http://www.CycliStats.com
CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

Now, if some big ass dude comes up to you and wants to kick your ass
simply because your riding a bicycle, then call the cops (you do take
your cell phone with you when you ride, right?)

And what good will that do, aside from getting medical attention
more quickly? Do you think the cops are capable of protecting you
if you call them when you're already under attack?
Seems the only two choices are being prepared to defend yourself
or fleeing from danger.
Mitch.

I agree. The phone is good if you've got time to call in a license number, but
if someone's jamming you into the curb, you've got no time for dialing.

Do I ride the bike lane? Sure if it's not full of gravel, or mud from the last
rain. Otherwise I have no problem taking a full lane until it's safe to move
right again.

I'll let 'yall know what kind of spray I end up buying.

jw (j999w)
Milwaukee

"Raoul Duke" wrote in message
...

"Gooserider" wrote in message
om...

I carry Halt to deal with dogs, but my Air Zound horn works just as
well.
I
suppose the Halt would work pretty well against two legged predators,
but
my
tiny little North American Arms 22 revolver will work better.

With all due respect, your NAA mini revolver is a cute, fun little toy,
but
I would hope you would never consider one to be a serious defense weapon.

Dave

I wouldn't want to get shot with one. It's a last ditch option which fits
nicely in a jersey pocket. Is it the equal of my Kahr P9? No. But a single
22 shot is likely to be enough to deter anybody. Or at least give me time to
get away.

Mike