General Cycling Discussion - Speaking of fools...

...reading the post below about the idiot truck driver made me think of some of the close calls I've had on my bike. I've had people throw ice, beer, sodas, cans, bottles, a screwdriver! I've had cars blow horms right on my tail, cut me off with inches to spare. Yell every obscenity imaginable. In fact, the last year that I rode, if I was going down to certain parts of the county, I'd carry my little .25 auto in my let side pocket.

Does anyone else arm themselves in like manner?

I have been known to carry a Kel-Tec 32 in my pocket on rides here in New Orleans. Especially when I was working graveyards in the Quarter or delivering food by bike at night.

Mr. Pointyhead...
Back in my mountain biking days, usually on solo back-country treks, I used to pack my tiny little Barretta in my fanny pack, but not for reasons you mentioned.

Hey, a snake is a snake is a snake....

Originally posted by pointyhead
Hey, a snake is a snake is a snake....
Yeah.....I know, but I have this tremendous fear of snakes....

Its getting really sad when cyclists have to arm themselves. I'm glad I live in Oz sometimes.

What I can’t figure out is the hatred of cyclists. I ride on relatively uncrowded roads through farmland. At first the people around here couldn’t figure out why this guy wearing tight clothes was riding around in public like that 4 times a week. The regulars are used to me now, and even wave once in a while. On Tuesday, this white car coming towards me moved over into my lane to play chicken. I slow and move as close to the edge of pavement as possible. Then to impress his girl, the guy calls me a *** as he drives by

I find that waving seems to confuse them so they just wave back. I do sometimes have a Charter Arms Bulldog.

Joe

I tend to call people ******s(rhymes with bankers) as they don't seem to understand what it means.

Helps vent my frustration and not get involved in any further rage LOL :)

The extra adrenaline is always good for getting to your destination

Originally posted by pointyhead
Does anyone else arm themselves in like manner?

I did this on a few rides last year. However, I quit packing due to the fact that I felt the need to use it on about every ride. I was setting myself up for an anger-related shooting subsequent, and jail term.

This morning a white van overtook me (I was in the bus/cycle lane - he was in the nearside lane) and as he did he tooted his horn and he and his (male passenger) ended themselves laughing.

Well, revenge is a dish best served cold because a wee bit up the road he was sitting in traffic and as I approached i could see the passenger side window was down.


He obviously has no use for mirrors either because as I slid up the inside of the van he did not see me coming so when, at the top of my voice, I leaned in the passenger window and went "PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP", his passenger and he jumped about a foot in the air.

It was worth the weird looks from nearby pedestrians. And of course, as he was stuck in traffic I made a quick getaway.

I think i know why people do stupid stuff like this, they have no respect. I mean really, put anyone that did that kind of stuff to you on a bike, do the same to them and i bet my life that they would NEVER ever do it again. I dont even think that they would think about it. I know how scary some of this stuff is, and most people think of it as a joke, well its no joke when you endanger my life pal! luckly i dont have to deal with idiot drivers all the time.

This past sunday while riding two teenagers threw a lit pack of firecrackers at me as they drove by. I was more pi$$ed off than anything, they wouldnt stop like I gestured for them too.I think they knew better.

Originally posted by pointyhead
...reading the post below about the idiot truck driver made me think of some of the close calls I've had on my bike. I've had people throw ice, beer, sodas, cans, bottles, a screwdriver! I've had cars blow horms right on my tail, cut me off with inches to spare. Yell every obscenity imaginable. In fact, the last year that I rode, if I was going down to certain parts of the county, I'd carry my little .25 auto in my let side pocket.

Does anyone else arm themselves in like manner?

So, HOW would you use your gun? You would shoot someone for throwing stuff at you and honking their horns????

Very stupid... , in my opinion.
You make somebody mad, and they will use the gun, and if u have one, by the same logic - they can have one, but it's only going to be the one who uses it first...

Very stupid...:rolleyes:

Originally posted by chewa
This morning a white van overtook me (I was in the bus/cycle lane - he was in the nearside lane) and as he did he tooted his horn and he and his (male passenger) ended themselves laughing.

Well, revenge is a dish best served cold because a wee bit up the road he was sitting in traffic and as I approached i could see the passenger side window was down.


He obviously has no use for mirrors either because as I slid up the inside of the van he did not see me coming so when, at the top of my voice, I leaned in the passenger window and went "PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP", his passenger and he jumped about a foot in the air.

It was worth the weird looks from nearby pedestrians. And of course, as he was stuck in traffic I made a quick getaway.

Dude, even thought this may sound insipring for others or rewarding for yourself, I don't think it's a good idea to play like this.
Why let some people you don' respect put you in a crazy mood and stress you?
Why would you let them control yourself?

Besides, they can be crazy, uncarying, just out of jail people, that could simply hit you a mile later and drive away...
Does all this risk worth protecting your ego, from some animal like people?

We are not getting offended by dogs parking at us, so why do it with people who not much smarter than those dogs? :)


Originally posted by spazegun2213
I think i know why people do stupid stuff like this, they
They do stuff like this because they don't consider it stupid. They are just stupid themselves...

After being assaulted by a crazy homeless guy in Los Angeles, I began packing a small can of pepper spray on my commute. Never did use it though.

on, its the fact that sometime someone my do something that could jepordize his life, and the gun is there for that kind of protection.

So, HOW would you use your gun? You would shoot someone for throwing stuff at and you honking their horns????



No, silly, I wouldn't shoot someone for throwing stuff or honking a horn at me. I could think of dozens of possibilities, though, that would meet the criteria for having to discharge a weapon. One would be if I was hung on a mirror, dragging my bike, and the jerk speeds up to incredible speeds that would guarantee a kill if I get shaken off. That would be a good time to empty the clip into his noggin. Or the individual that thinks you are an easy mark for robbing, or something otherwise distasteful. I'd rather be armed and not need it than to be unarmed and need it.

And I gather from your post, Inoplanetyanin, that I am some stupid redneck, hellbent on "killin somthin". I assure you that I am not, albeit, I am from the "Jeff Foxworthy state". I am a licensed for concealed carry, am a 21-year retired military veteran, whose actually been in a combat situation, and have used weapons in my job. Should the need arise, I am positive that it would be justified.

You, however, sound like one of those wimpy, tree-hugging leftists that eshew weapons with a "Rodney King-why can't we all just get along?" attitude. Let's just give peace a chance. Yeah, right.

Originally posted by pointyhead
No, silly, I wouldn't shoot someone for throwing stuff or honking a horn at me. I could think of dozens of possibilities, though, that would meet the criteria for having to discharge a weapon. One would be if I was hung on a mirror, dragging my bike, and the jerk speeds up to incredible speeds that would guarantee a kill if I get shaken off. That would be a good time to empty the clip into his noggin. Or the individual that thinks you are an easy mark for robbing, or something otherwise distasteful. I'd rather be armed and not need it than to be unarmed and need it.

And I gather from your post, Inoplanetyanin, that I am some stupid redneck, hellbent on "killin somthin". I assure you that I am not, albeit, I am from the "Jeff Foxworthy state". I am a licensed for concealed carry, am a 21-year retired military veteran, whose actually been in a combat situation, and have used weapons in my job. Should the need arise, I am positive that it would be justified.

You, however, sound like one of those wimpy, tree-hugging leftists that eshew weapons with a "Rodney King-why can't we all just get along?" attitude. Let's just give peace a chance. Yeah, right.

What's your address, BTW?

The thing is, all armed people are imagining this horrible stories and possibilities of depending a life on your gun, while people in other countries live their lives a generation after generation and never ever have even a thought that they could need a deadly weapon, and this is especially considering that crime rates in many other countries, are higher that in most US States. Just because people can get the weapon here, they start finding reasons to have it, which is merely imagining and creating illusive emotional reasons rather than logical ones.

Calm down folks...

Originally posted by Inoplanetyanin
The thing is, all armed people are imagining this horrible stories and possibilities of depending a life on your gun, while people in other countries live their lives a generation after generation and never ever have even a thought that they could need a deadly weapon,


That’s one big generalization.

Personally, I think just tossing a stun grenade in the drivers lap while passing is very effective. Minimal chance of the driver retaliating too. [ironic tone]:crash:

Originally posted by Waxbytes
Personally, I think just tossing a stun grenade in the drivers lap while passing is very effective. Minimal chance of the driver retaliating too. [ironic tone]:crash:

Uh no! Do you realise how hard it was for me to get 25 I have now. They are not that easy for us "civilians" to get our hands on.
I think I will use mine for something more important than a stupid driver. Tear gas is cheaper and easer to get.

:roflmao:

semi new here, but on the bike trial a punk rocker kid with a mohawk (probably 15) had this long stick and as i rode by he motioned like he was going to shove it in my spikes, he didnt but he made some noise like BLAH!! as he did it, then kind of looked at me, he's lucky i didnt have my gun or i would have motioned at him and went BAM with my voice and scare that crap out of his disrespectful trashy ass.. I swear some people are just stupid.. dont they know i could be a raging lunatic on a bike with a gun who could blow their heads off?

Originally posted by Inoplanetyanin
The thing is, all armed people are imagining this horrible stories and possibilities of depending a life on your gun, while people in other countries live their lives a generation after generation and never ever have even a thought that they could need a deadly weapon, and this is especially considering that crime rates in many other countries, are higher that in most US States. Just because people can get the weapon here, they start finding reasons to have it, which is merely imagining and creating illusive emotional reasons rather than logical ones.


Tell it to the people onboard the flights of 9-11....

To quote Arlo Guthrie: "I wanna Ke-e-e-l! I wanna Ke-e-e-l!

Oh, give me a break. I think you all ought to calm down, as Koffee suggested.

You can argue about whether or not it is right or it is wrong to carry a weapon till you are all blue in the face....what good does arguing about it do except to piss each other off? You are already calling names.

No matter what another forum member says, if you feel the need to carry a gun when you ride, you are going to do so. And if you do NOT feel the need, you are lucky to live in a place where you can ride safely without being assaulted by perverts and weirdos. There is just no use in arguing about it!

Originally posted by Inoplanetyanin
Dude, even thought this may sound insipring for others or rewarding for yourself, I don't think it's a good idea to play like this.
Why let some people you don' respect put you in a crazy mood and stress you?
Why would you let them control yourself?

I wasn't stressed at all Ino, the honk didn't scare or startle me, and I just took my opportunity to let them see how stupid it was. believe me, when approaching the van I had factored in the likelihood that they would try to catch me, but they were in the wrong lane to do that.

After my PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPP, I felt extremely happy and unstressed, the only difficulty being I couldn't see straight for laughing.


Besides, they can be crazy, uncarying, just out of jail people, that could simply hit you a mile later and drive away...
Does all this risk worth protecting your ego, from some animal like people??

I take your point, but I live in Scotland and really we don't do that sort of thing. The most likely thing would have been a bit of shouting.

Originally posted by joeprim
I find that waving seems to confuse them so they just wave back. I do sometimes have a Charter Arms Bulldog.

Joe


I like this.


:D

Some of the talk like people are making here is support for the people who want to take guns away. Come on guys! They aren't toys and they PMS pills. If you are going to carry a gun, you better have a very clear idea in your head in what circumstances you could possibly use it and that had darn better be as a last resort self defense. Have many of you even had firearms safety training? From your dad if not from an instructor? NEVER point a gun at anything you don't intend to shoot and never shoot anything you aren't willing to take the responsibility for killing. Somebody with bad driving habits, even dangerous driving habits is not a problem that can be solved with a gun, even jokingly.

*closes rant session

I agree with 7 of your 8 points. The one that it appears, at least in my case, to be misinterpreted is this:


Somebody with bad driving habits, even dangerous driving habits is not a problem that can be solved with a gun, even jokingly.

I never said that I'd have to discharge my weapon for such actions. But such actions can be a clue as to the personality type of individuals, an my be a precursor to more violent actions. What I am trying to get across is this: There may come a time in my cycling that I may encounter the person or persons that try to run me off the road, or toss something at me, and seeing that that failed in their quest to either scare the heck out of me, or to stop me completely, may just decide to meet me around the next bend to escalate the conflict. My intention is just to be prepared. And to be prepared, one MUST have done the other steps you refered to. No one should go off half-cocked. (pun intended!)

Just as one is prepared to protect his life and property in his home, one should do the same, no matter where one is.

Originally posted by bac
I did this on a few rides last year. However, I quit packing due to the fact that I felt the need to use it on about every ride. I was setting myself up for an anger-related shooting subsequent, and jail term.

bac

good plan. A gun is for last resort to keep you from extreme pain or protect some one from a rabid animal.

Joe

this just reminds me of the a-hole who threatened to kill me two weeks ago after he pulled out in front of me and i hit his hood with my hands telling him to watch out. little did i realize then that they were pulling out of margaritaville and they definitely weren't jimmy buffet fans. i personally condone the use of bike mounted wire guided missiles. it would be like bad boys II on a bike.

Originally posted by Inoplanetyanin
So, HOW would you use your gun? You would shoot someone for throwing stuff at you and honking their horns????

Very stupid... , in my opinion.
You make somebody mad, and they will use the gun, and if u have one, by the same logic -they can have one , but it's only going to be the one who uses it first...

Very stupid...:rolleyes:

Making assumptions like yours is stupid, IMO.

For the uninformed, there are laws that cover the manner in which those of us who decide to exercise our right to self defense must follow. These laws must be followed, otherwise we would not get you license to carry. On the issue of "anger, or "mad" as you put it) I'm sorry you feel that adults can't control themselves. I'm not sure how you lost trust in your fellow man but you must believe me when I say myself and many others like me CCW every single day, year after year, and have never shot anyone.

Kalifornia, unlike the rest of the U.S. have very tough laws which don't seem to work as people die there all the time from gunshots. I can understand how you might think this is stupid/abnormal living in a state that does not recognize your rights.

Training and qualifications beats the bad guy 99% of the time. Those of us who do carry, as a community, have a better chance of walking away from a gun fight than the bad guy.

And by your logic, the original poster is better off not pulling a gun at all and just falling over dead.

Anyway, I carry when I ride.

ehenz

Edited to add: Follow your local and state laws when dealing with firearms. 44 States have provisions for getting a carry permit and each state is different, but they do recognize your rights. I do not advocate carrying in an illegal manner. I would assume that everyone who responds that they are CCW while cycling is doing so with the needed permit which requires mandatory training. For futher information on your rights contact the NRA or visit: www.thehighroad.org

Originally posted by Lady Jane
And if you do NOT feel the need, you are lucky to live in a place where you can ride safely without being assaulted by perverts and weirdos. There is just no use in arguing about it!

No luck involved. I live where I do by choice. If that was no longer the case I'd simply move elsewhere. However, I digress. I'd just like someone (anyone) to explain to me how pointing a gun at someone in a car is going to stop them doing whatever it is they decide to do. Let's face it, a car is much bigger and much harder to stop than a bullet. I know for a fact that if I started waving a gun at the drivers around here I'd get run down within five minutes. I find it easier to deal with them using stealth.

It still amazes me how many of them think they can throw things at a cyclist, and that the cyclist won't ride off to the nearest police station and issue a report. You won't believe how surprised some of them are to receive that phone call from the cops. I just let them think they've won and make my move with stealth. That way nobody gets hurt.

Originally posted by Electricview
semi new here, but on the bike trial a punk rocker kid with a mohawk (probably 15) had this long stick and as i rode by he motioned like he was going to shove it in my spikes, he didnt but he made some noise like BLAH!! as he did it, then kind of looked at me, he's lucky i didnt have my gun or i would have motioned at him and went BAM with my voice and scare that crap out of his disrespectful trashy ass.. I swear some people are just stupid.. dont they know i could be a raging lunatic on a bike with a gun who could blow their heads off?

Dude, for this kind of joke, person with a gun can go straight to jail. Remember the rules? Even if it's a plastic gun, obviously kids toy, pink color, if person points it at another person - automatically jail time. There is no joking with guns!

Good thing i live in Toronto.