Touring - getting robbed

While I know the possibility of being robbed on a bike anywhere in the US is slim, I have decided to carry a fake wallet on my upcoming cross-country tour that will have an old ID, old credit card, 20 or so in cash just in case, which I will keep in my handlebar bag. I am having trouble deciding where to keep my actual wallet/important documents/cash that will be both accessible to grab quickly when getting off the bike, but also unlikely to be found if encountering a baddy. Anyone have ideas?

I just take some cash, a credit card, and my ID and put a rubber band around them and put them in a small plastic bag. I wear mountain biking type shorts with lots of pockets and I put the bag in one of the less obvious pockets. A decoy wallet seems like a good idea if you go into really dicey or urban areas.

When touring of any sort, including bicycle, I use a leather bag that is big enough to carry the essential money & identification materials. It has a zipper on top. I make them myself. The current version has one inch wide belt loops and allows the zipper pull to be pushed out of reach (without a paper clip or something to hook onto it). For the duration, I never for a minute become separated from the bag. It has the added advantage of partially blocking the wallet pocket. This piece of essential equipment has allowed me to travel without loss in places famous for their highly skilled thieves. Colombia, Tunisia, and Morocco come to mind. One time, for example, I was completely enveloped by a mob of fast talking gypsy women in a train station in Paris. In the process, I was professionally patted down and fairly helpless to resist. But, I believe, my set up was sufficiently unusual that they were not prepared to dis-burden me of my wallet or the contents of my bag. As to being held up at gun point, it is the job of my brain to make sure I am not in such a situation.

Armed robbery is unlikely, so how will a sneak thief know the difference between a fake wallet and a real one?

Just carry your valuables in your removable handlebar bag. Take the bag with you when you leave the bike. Keep a photocopy of credit cards etc somewhere else, like with your clothes. Program credit card phone numbers on your phone.

Enjoy your trip. You'll be fine unless you look for trouble.

Another vote for just keeping stuff in your handlebar bag, and taking the bag with you; it's pretty easy. In fact, it's no different than if you were driving instead of cycling, IMO.

I also take along some traveler's checks, just in case. If it gets stolen cash can't be replaced, traveler's checks can.

I'm guessing the OP is worried about a robber (confrontation) and not a thief (theft by stealth). A wallet with an old credit card, driver's license and credit card could act as a decoy. Most robbers don't want to attract attention through violence, so if you throw a wallet at them, they are usually happy to take it and be on their way.

I was asked to do some routing for someone through Pittsburgh and the direct route I was considering was going up a hill in a rougher part of the city. I gave real thought to the fact that they could be an easy target moving slowly up a steep hill.

I use a camelback and mine has a tiny zipping pocket on the back. It is just big enough to put in a small wallet holding my cash, ID and cards. I am always wearing the bag when I am riding and the wallet is in my pants pocket (zipped up) when I am off the bike. I'm not worried about being robbed when I tour (nor when I walk around San Francisco, where I live).

Frankly, I think you are setting yourself up for one more thing to worry about. Are you going to check the "fake" wallet every time you get back to the bike? If not, then why carry it at all?

Ray

Travel stores sell passport sized pouches with long cords to allow you keep the important stuff in your armpit, on top of your undershirt. In more relaxed situations the whole thing can go into a cargo pocket, but in places like train stations it's nice to have the stuff tucked firmly away.

What I do is carry a wallet with a small amount of cash for minor expenses but which I can afford to lose. I'd never thought of it as a decoy wallet, but could pad it out to serve that purpose.

It's not where you put your wallet, it is where you put your eyes. Don't look like a victim, keep your eyes on what is going on around you so that people looking back will realize you are vigilant. Listen to your voice inside. Very difficult to do, but if you feel bad about something serious, listen to your concerns. Most bad accidents in my experience set off some bad vibe, most often overriden by the rational side.

I find a Bit of "Scruffiness" a VERY handy tool. After three weeks on a bike, I find most people are scared of me!! And I sure don't look like I have Any Money! In other words If you look like a "Vic", Chances are you may become one! Leave the mud on the Bike and bags,Shaving?Bah!! Hairbrush? only to keep the dreads away...Most muggers look for folk who look like they have money...if you look broker than the mugger himself,he will go find a "Better" target....."Homeless" Camo works everytime! As an example...Riding thru East St Louis Ill at 2am on a sat nite...Throw bob trailer into Shopping Cart...Cover with real garbage (Remember the bag is watertight clean at carwash later) tie Shopping cart to bike with cheap rope....pull shopping cart behind bike while mumbling and drooling...Viola' instant "Nutcase on a Bike" No One Will Bother You!!! Even the crooks are afraid of the Crazies!!

I find a Bit of "Scruffiness" a VERY handy tool. After three weeks on a bike, I find most people are scared of me!! And I sure don't look like I have Any Money! In other words If you look like a "Vic", Chances are you may become one! Leave the mud on the Bike and bags,Shaving?Bah!! Hairbrush? only to keep the dreads away...Most muggers look for folk who look like they have money...if you look broker than the mugger himself,he will go find a "Better" target....."Homeless" Camo works everytime! As an example...Riding thru East St Louis Ill at 2am on a sat nite...Throw bob trailer into Shopping Cart...Cover with real garbage (Remember the bag is watertight clean at carwash later) tie Shopping cart to bike with cheap rope....pull shopping cart behind bike while mumbling and drooling...Viola' instant "Nutcase on a Bike" No One Will Bother You!!! Even the crooks are afraid of the Crazies!!

Well, as much as I think this post was written mostly to raise a smile, I believe that there is some gravity there. It never hurts to look like you might NOT be rolling in cash. If a hoodlum is looking for a target, he will look for expensive/new looking gear, and someone who looks out of place. If you are wearing the latest in high-tech cycling clothing, with bright colors and lots of logos and shiny fabrics, IE: the billboard look, then you will stand out as someone who probably has money. If your bike and gear is shiny and brand new looking, again, it will attract attention. It never hurts to have a shadow of a beard, maybe a little dirt under the fingernails, and non-descript (although functional) clothing and gear. I've seen people on tour who look like they are walking/riding advertisements for every high dollar cycling company imaginable. You might not stand out in your home town looking like that, but you are bound to attract attention in lots of other places. Of course, it doesn't take long on tour to start looking a little ratty anyways..........

Where the heck do you plan to tour that you feel this necessary? Do you carry a fake wallet at home?

My money, ID, and credit cards are in a ziplock in my jersey pocket at all times. Other valuables are in the handlebar bag which stays with me. Being robbed is somewhere between being struck by lightning and being hit by a meteorite on my list of worries. It just isn't even worth considering. In the extremely remote event that it did happen it would not be the end of the world; they would get a small amount of cash, a credit card, and a check card that I would immediately cancel.

Where the heck do you plan to tour that you feel this necessary? Do you carry a fake wallet at home?

My money, ID, and credit cards are in a ziplock in my jersey pocket at all times. Other valuables are in the handlebar bag which stays with me. Being robbed is somewhere between being struck by lightning and being hit by a meteorite on my list of worries. It just isn't even worth considering. In the extremely remote event that it did happen it would not be the end of the world; they would get a small amount of cash, a credit card, and a check card that I would immediately cancel.

No offense, but that's incredibly naive. I'm wondering where you live, that you can afford to think like that. In reality, there are a lot of crackheads or worse out there, anywhere you go. I'm not even remotely paranoid, but I haven't always been an angel, myself. And I know that you don't have to look very hard to find someone that can ruin your day, pretty much anywhere you go, from small towns to major urban areas. And if you stand out, you're just looking to be taken advantage of.

No offense, but that's incredibly naive. I'm wondering where you live, that you can afford to think like that. In reality, there are a lot of crackheads or worse out there, anywhere you go. I'm not even remotely paranoid, but I haven't always been an angel, myself. And I know that you don't have to look very hard to find someone that can ruin your day, pretty much anywhere you go, from small towns to major urban areas. And if you stand out, you're just looking to be taken advantage of.
I live in Baltimore Maryland (see crime stats below), and the odds are we probably have more crack heads here than you do where ever you are. We definitely have a higher murder rate than your home city unless you are in Detroit. I spent a lot of years working in the worst neighborhoods that Baltimore has to offer. I now live outside the city limits, but still inside the Beltway. I still probably pass a crack head every time I go for a ride thanks to section 8 housing. After living in Baltimore for 56 years and working for 15 years in a job that put me on the street in the worst neighborhoods, I don't think I qualify as being naive.

Worrying about a decoy wallet is a waste of time. Not looking like or acting like a victim is something worth considering, but I don't know how to tell someone how to do that.

I still maintain that on the TA I would worry more about lightning strikes than being robbed. I say this because I did actually worry about lightning strikes when we we on top of a mesa many miles from anything during a thunderstorm and being robbed never crossed my mind at any point during the trip.


CNN/Morgan Quitno "Most Dangerous City" Rankings (2007) ranks Baltimore as the 12th most dangerous American city. Baltimore is second only to Detroit among cities with a population over 500,000.

According to crime statistics there were 269 homicides in Baltimore in 2005, giving it the highest homicide rate per 100,000 of all U.S. cities of 250,000 or more population. Though this is significantly lower than the record-high 353 homicides in 1993, the homicide rate in Baltimore is nearly seven times the national rate, six times the rate of New York City, and three times the rate of Los Angeles. In addition, other categories of crime in Baltimore have also been declining, although overall crime rates are still high compared to the national average. The rate of forcible rapes has fallen below the national average in recent years; however, Baltimore still has much higher-than-average rates of aggravated assault, burglary, robbery, and theft.

Though the crime situation in Baltimore is considered one of the worst in the nation, city officials have pointed out that most violent crimes, particularly homicides, are committed by people who know their victims and who are often associated with the illegal drug trade.

While I agree to an extent (though I just can't believe that looking confident if you are on your own and weigh 100 pounds sopping wet will help you much in a very bad area -personally I think that's more of a case of kidding yourself with a false sense of security and making yourself feel better with some illusion of control), I think a better way to approach this issue is to avoid situations where possible, and listen to your gut and use your brain. Cycle that extra 5 or 10 miles to avoid that bad area, don't cycle late at night through bad areas, cycle with another person if possible, look out for people ahead, avoid inner cities, etc.

Of course, we could be getting a little paranoid and distracted here; there are probably going to be more concerns on tour with an inattentive driver rather than potential mugger? I have to be honest, I don't worry about getting robbed on tour (perhaps being a victim of theft, yes, but probably not a victim of a violent robbery). It might well be a function of where I like to tour though.


It's not where you put your wallet, it is where you put your eyes. Don't look like a victim, keep your eyes on what is going on around you so that people looking back will realize you are vigilant. Listen to your voice inside. Very difficult to do, but if you feel bad about something serious, listen to your concerns. Most bad accidents in my experience set off some bad vibe, most often overriden by the rational side.

I live in Baltimore Maryland (see crime stats below), and the odds are we probably have more crack heads here than you do where ever you are. We definitely have a higher murder rate than your home city unless you are in Detroit. I spent a lot of years working in the worst neighborhoods that Baltimore has to offer. I now live outside the city limits, but still inside the Beltway. I still probably pass a crack head every time I go for a ride thanks to section 8 housing. After living in Baltimore for 56 years and working for 15 years in a job that put me on the street in the worst neighborhoods, I don't think I qualify as being naive.

Worrying about a decoy wallet is a waste of time. Not looking like or acting like a victim is something worth considering, but I don't know how to tell someone how to do that.

I still maintain that on the TA I would worry more about lightning strikes than being robbed. I say this because I did actually worry about lightning strikes when we we on top of a mesa many miles from anything during a thunderstorm and being robbed never crossed my mind at any point during the trip.


CNN/Morgan Quitno "Most Dangerous City" Rankings (2007) ranks Baltimore as the 12th most dangerous American city. Baltimore is second only to Detroit among cities with a population over 500,000.

According to crime statistics there were 269 homicides in Baltimore in 2005, giving it the highest homicide rate per 100,000 of all U.S. cities of 250,000 or more population. Though this is significantly lower than the record-high 353 homicides in 1993, the homicide rate in Baltimore is nearly seven times the national rate, six times the rate of New York City, and three times the rate of Los Angeles. In addition, other categories of crime in Baltimore have also been declining, although overall crime rates are still high compared to the national average. The rate of forcible rapes has fallen below the national average in recent years; however, Baltimore still has much higher-than-average rates of aggravated assault, burglary, robbery, and theft.

Though the crime situation in Baltimore is considered one of the worst in the nation, city officials have pointed out that most violent crimes, particularly homicides, are committed by people who know their victims and who are often associated with the illegal drug trade.

You are, in fact, sort of proving my point, indirectly. See, here's the thing: you have the advantage of having lived in an area that has taught you to be highly aware. You can probably pick out the bad element without thinking about it. You are conditioned and experienced. You probably can go almost anywhere and never have a problem because you unconsciosly know how to avoid it. I believe that I also have that advantage, but it wasn't always that way. The point that I'm trying to make is that: there is always going to be at least one a**hole anywhere you go. From the smallest rural hamlet, to the biggest urban sprawls. And when you are not from that area, and are passing through, and don't where to stay away from, or who the local pricks are, it's best to not attract a lot of attention. Expect the best from people, but prepare for the worst.

Where the heck do you plan to tour that you feel this necessary? Do you carry a fake wallet at home?

My money, ID, and credit cards are in a ziplock in my jersey pocket at all times. Other valuables are in the handlebar bag which stays with me. Being robbed is somewhere between being struck by lightning and being hit by a meteorite on my list of worries. It just isn't even worth considering. In the extremely remote event that it did happen it would not be the end of the world; they would get a small amount of cash, a credit card, and a check card that I would immediately cancel.

And I agree, that carrying a fake wallet is not a good deterrent, or neccessary.

No offense, but that's incredibly naive. I'm wondering where you live, that you can afford to think like that....
You, uh, DO know that crime rates in the US are the lowest they've been since the 1960s, right? :D

While I do advocate using "common sense" and basic precautions, I don't think something like the TA route is going to take you past a meth lab every 10 miles.

You are, in fact, sort of proving my point, indirectly. See, here's the thing: you have the advantage of having lived in an area that has taught you to be highly aware. You can probably pick out the bad element without thinking about it. You are conditioned and experienced. You probably can go almost anywhere and never have a problem because you unconsciosly know how to avoid it. I believe that I also have that advantage, but it wasn't always that way. The point that I'm trying to make is that: there is always going to be at least one a**hole anywhere you go. From the smallest rural hamlet, to the biggest urban sprawls. And when you are not from that area, and are passing through, and don't where to stay away from, or who the local pricks are, it's best to not attract a lot of attention. Expect the best from people, but prepare for the worst.
I don't deny that you might be able to find trouble anywhere. I also believe that our awareness, behavior, and general vibe can make us more or less prone to have problems. Further I think that some people make themselves into victims by their behavior.

That said a large percentage of the towns we were in on the TA, were small enough and remote enough that everyone in town knew everyone else and certain behaviors were just not tolerated. If they did occur everyone (including the local sheriff if the town was even big enough to have one) would know who to look up.

Much of the trip was like being in a 1950's TV show. Most of the time I felt like we were as safe as we possibly could be anywhere we could go.

I considered traffic to be the biggest danger by a huge margin and felt that even that was pretty safe.

...I have decided to carry a fake wallet on my upcoming cross-country tour that will have an old ID, old credit card, 20 or so in cash just in case, which I will keep in my handlebar bag. I am having trouble deciding where to keep my actual wallet/important documents/cash that will be both accessible to grab quickly when getting off the bike,...

I use a variant of this technique during travel. I put the items I will use for the day in a separate wallet and the rest--credit cards, bulk of my cash, passport if I won't need--in a pouch either under my arm beneath my shirt or down my pant leg. Then I just use the day wallet normally.

The day wallet was lifted by pickpockets on the Madrid subway once but it was no great loss.

I don't deny that you might be able to find trouble anywhere. I also believe that our awareness, behavior, and general vibe can make us more or less prone to have problems. Further I think that some people make themselves into victims by their behavior.

That said a large percentage of the towns we were in on the TA, were small enough and remote enough that everyone in town knew everyone else and certain behaviors were just not tolerated. If they did occur everyone (including the local sheriff if the town was even big enough to have one) would know who to look up.

Much of the trip was like being in a 1950's TV show. Most of the time I felt like we were as safe as we possibly could be anywhere we could go.

I considered traffic to be the biggest danger by a huge margin and felt that even that was pretty safe.



You, uh, DO know that crime rates in the US are the lowest they've been since the 1960s, right? :D

While I do advocate using "common sense" and basic precautions, I don't think something like the TA route is going to take you past a meth lab every 10 miles.

OK, I'll take another stab at this.

I can understand that, if you're from a place like Baltimore, that almost anywhere you travel by bicycle in rural USA is going to seem like Mary Poppinsville. And in fact, in most small towns you are pretty much safe from being robbed/assaulted, or even offended....but not completely.

I've lived in 7 different places in this country and overseas in my adult life. I've lived in urban areas that were amazingly drug/gang/crime infested. But right now I live in a small town where no one(including me) locks their doors, at night or otherwise. People leave their cars running at the local mini-mart with their purses on the seat, open, with money showing, and go in to pick up a gallon of milk. It's amazing. But I'm here to tell you, there are a few people in this town that you would not want to run across after they've had a few beers. Rednecks can be just as dangerous as any crackhead. I could probably find any drug I wanted to around here. And small towns have plenty of dirty little secrets.

Now, I'm not scared. I've travelled extensively and I've had very few problems or confrontations. I've never been robbed or accosted while on tour. I guess that the comment that raised my eyebrows was, quote: "Where the heck do you plan to tour that you feel this necessary?" I took that to mean: "Don't worry about crime while crossing the good old USA by bicycle, everybody is your friend". I'm sorry, but I don't believe that for a second. I'm just saying that it isn't a bad idea to be freindly, but wary, and not flaunt the fact that you probably have cash on you, while travelling. I don't think it's a paranoid idea to have a small hiding place for cash and cards, whether in south central LA, or Avoca Iowa.

OK, I'll take another stab at this.

I can understand that, if you're from a place like Baltimore, that almost anywhere you travel by bicycle in rural USA is going to seem like Mary Poppinsville. And in fact, in most small towns you are pretty much safe from being robbed/assaulted, or even offended....but not completely.

I've lived in 7 different places in this country and overseas in my adult life. I've lived in urban areas that were amazingly drug/gang/crime infested. But right now I live in a small town where no one(including me) locks their doors, at night or otherwise. People leave their cars running at the local mini-mart with their purses on the seat, open, with money showing, and go in to pick up a gallon of milk. It's amazing. But I'm here to tell you, there are a few people in this town that you would not want to run across after they've had a few beers. Rednecks can be just as dangerous as any crackhead. I could probably find any drug I wanted to around here. And small towns have plenty of dirty little secrets.

Now, I'm not scared. I've traveled extensively and I've had very few problems or confrontations. I've never been robbed or accosted while on tour. I guess that the comment that raised my eyebrows was, quote: "Where the heck do you plan to tour that you feel this necessary?" I took that to mean: "Don't worry about crime while crossing the good old USA by bicycle, everybody is your friend". I'm sorry, but I don't believe that for a second. I'm just saying that it isn't a bad idea to be friendly, but wary, and not flaunt the fact that you probably have cash on you, while travelling. I don't think it's a paranoid idea to have a small hiding place for cash and cards, whether in south central LA, or Avoca Iowa.

My take on this is that yes there is some risk anywhere you go and life comes with no guarantees, but I don't see why you would do any thing much different than you would anywhere including at home. I would be likely to have less cash on me than most of the people around me. In any but tiny towns I use a check card. At any given time I have a few days worth of cash (i.e. not much). I am not much of a target. If on the very long shot, someone robs me and gets $50-100 it isn't the end of my trip.

Have you ever heard of a single case of a TA, NT, or ST rider being robbed? I haven't, although I have heard of a couple cases of stolen bikes and gear in the larger cities. I would be willing to bet on even the most naive and trusting person making it across the country without a problem as long as they were a little careful the three days or so that they were in big towns.

thanks for the replies, I am not saying that I am worrying too much about this issue...It's not like I am expecting to be robbed. However I do plan on spending some time in large cities..(New Orleans, Washington DC, NY). And having been mugged with a firearm in two cities I have lived in previously, though one was in South America, I don't think a decoy wallet is overkill in terms of prevention. I may take the advice of using a pouch and keeping it under clothing or think of something else.

I can understand that, if you're from a place like Baltimore, that almost anywhere you travel by bicycle in rural USA is going to seem like Mary Poppinsville. And in fact, in most small towns you are pretty much safe from being robbed/assaulted, or even offended....but not completely....
That's all nice and stuff. :D But I for one am one is saying "there's no crime whatsoever in rural America." I merely place stock in statistical evidence, even though it is not perfect, over anecdotes.

E.g., crime rates in rural areas are lower than urban areas. (http://allcountries.org/uscensus/330_crimes_and_crime_rates_by_type.html) Combined with the sparseness of the population and the lower rates of rural crimes committed on strangers, I'd say that in general I am safer on tour in the US than in my own neighborhood. I don't walk around with a fake wallet at home, so I'm not sure why I need one when on the road....

and Bacciagalupe, I understand what you are saying about not carrying a decoy wallet when at home, but a very large part of my reasoning is that in case I do get robbed, It is much more of a hassle to cancel credit/check cards, get new ones etc. when you are 3,000 miles away from home. Again, I recognize the unlikelihood of this kind of incident, but aside from the very minor weight addition, I don't see any negatives to bringing one.

thanks for the replies, I am not saying that I am worrying too much about this issue...It's not like I am expecting to be robbed. However I do plan on spending some time in large cities..(New Orleans, Washington DC, NY). And having been mugged with a firearm in two cities I have lived in previously, though one was in South America, I don't think a decoy wallet is overkill in terms of prevention. I may take the advice of using a pouch and keeping it under clothing or think of something else.
Tell us more about your route and tour plans. I would be interested.

BTW... Watch out for bike theft in the big cities. It isn't much of a problem in small town America, but it sure is is Washington DC and New York city. That is just one of the reasons why I prefer to mostly avoid the big cities when touring. I did enjoy Eugene OR, Missoula MT, and Pueblo CO, but they aren't as urban as DC and NY which I personally would tend to avoid when touring

Hey Staehp. Yeah, I will be staying with friends in most of the larger cities I plan on visiting. Im actually taking off next tuesday for a perimeter tour of the continental US, starting and ending in Houston, TX. Using adventure cycling Southern, Northern, Atlantic and Pacific maps. You can check out my blog at www.bike-360.com. It will be coming together in the next week and updated frequently when I'm on the road, since i'm taking along the laptop.

Hey Staehp. Yeah, I will be staying with friends in most of the larger cities I plan on visiting. Im actually taking off next tuesday for a perimeter tour of the continental US, starting and ending in Houston, TX. Using adventure cycling Southern, Northern, Atlantic and Pacific maps. You can check out my blog at www.bike-360.com. It will be coming together in the next week and updated frequently when I'm on the road, since i'm taking along the laptop.

I have daydreamed about the same trip only starting in Baltimore MD. I will not be able to do it until retirement though. If you need a place to stay in Baltimore or any other assistance let me know. I am just inside the beltway and on the north side of town. If you are here when my daughter is at grad school (most of the time) I can offer a room and a meal or two. The rest of the time I can offer the yard or a spot on the floor and a meal or two.

I will check out your blog.

Best of luck on the trip.

I can understand that, if you're from a place like Baltimore, that almost anywhere you travel by bicycle in rural USA is going to seem like Mary Poppinsville.
:D