Advocacy & Safety - Have you ever taking something along to protect yourself from harassers?

I don't know how many of you have actually had someone harass you while where riding, but I have had it happen, and it dis consorting to say the least. In my case 3 guys in a pick-up truck (read rednecks here) yelled at me as they passed by. That would have not bothered me if it had stopped at that. They then tuned around and this time they slowed way down and started getting quite vocal as they got next to me. Then they pulled away only to stop in the middle of the road. I thought that they were going to pull around again, but for some reason, they drove off before I got to them. While this incident happened some years ago, I still think about it when I am riding now. I did at the time consider getting a firearm to carry with me, but I thought better of it. I was wondering if any of you carried anything with you in case of an incident like this. I have thought about carrying pepper spray, but I was wondering what your thoughts were.

The Zefal pump sitting here did me quite well against dogs, and I dare say it would be just as good to save your neck from human attackers:
http://www.jaysmarine.com/61paramount_bright.jpg

Unfortunately, it also flew out of the frame at one time to be flattened by a following vehicle (it is squashed in the photo above, if I am not mistaken), so I presently use this Zefal fpX2, which does the job, but isn't the sturdy metal-cased pump that the earlier Zefal was. No sense in carrying it around unless it can serve both functions:
http://www.jaysmarine.com/paramount61_tt.jpg

-Kurt

P.S.: And, of course, the cellphone. The pumps are for use only for defense in the case of direct attack.

Someone yelled at you, and you want to shoot them. And not only that, but these people yelled at you years ago, and you're still dwelling on it. You're well named!! Have you ever given some thought to signing up for an anger management class.

Get over it!! Sometimes people yell. Big deal.

I carry my cell phone and keep it handy. Anytime I feel threatened, I whip it out as if to dial 911 and the person who is scaring me leaves me alone. It's all the "weapon" I have ever needed.

U-locks work well.

I would get a concealed-carry just for the fact that philly isn't the most friendly city... only a few more years left to go..

I am with donnamb on this one. I carry a cell phone. If a truck full of rednecks yelled at me and then turned around to come at me again, I would use the agility of the bicycle to evade the truck.

These days I do seem to get a number of young men driving up close to me and shouting in order to scare me. School is out and these guys have not yet properly turned into men, so they don't know what to do with themselves.

For whatever reason, my body doesn't respond, so they don't get their jollies. I just look at them like "did you go off your medication today?" and the non-verbal communication is that they look silly and are embarrassed. Think about it - a young man hanging out of a car window yelling silly things in order to frighten a bicyclist. Really. This is what they have to do with themselves?

Carrying a gun or any other weapon for this kind of incident is absolutely the wrong thing to do. A bicycle can out-manuver nearly anything except MAYBE a motocycle gang. I have never heard of a motorcycle gang harrass a bicyclist except maybe in some 1970's Kung Fu movie from Hong Kong.

I think you will be OK with a cell phone, your bicycle, and common sense.

Common sense.

and several guns of various sizes.

A cell phone is handy for a lot of situations, but I do carry mace. The main reason is for dogs, not that I've had a big problem with that in the past, but I ride through some shadier neighborhoods sometimes and pit bulls seem to be the pet of choice. I don't have much problem with people around here, mostly just the passive-aggressive close pass. But you never know...

Az

I generally carry a cell phone. Commuting I sometimes carry a Sig Sauer .380 with hydroshocks (avoids having the bullet carry on through and hit something else). I don't attract harassment. I think some people do, although I'm not sure how. I think a sense of humor is probably the key thing to take cycling. That and the ability to obey hunches and get off the road.

And what exactly would you have done with the firearm? Waved it around in the air, screaming like a five year old? Or popped a couple of rounds into a parked car to "show em you mean business"?

A couple people yelled at you. Big deal, get on with life.

And what exactly would you have done with the firearm? Waved it around in the air, screaming like a five year old? Or popped a couple of rounds into a parked car to "show em you mean business"?

A couple people yelled at you. Big deal, get on with life.
You didn't read the OP did you? 3 guys in a pickup yelled, turned around to come back for a 2nd go, then stopped in the middle of the road. I call that threatening behavior. If the only thing you can think of concerning a firearm is to wave it around in the air screaming like a five year old or shoot randomly into parked cars, PLEASE do not get a firearm. I legally carry a concealed firearm and and have the training to know how and when to use it. In the OP situation, when they stopped, I too would have stopped and waited to see what they were going to do while dialing 911. When they drove away, I too would have continued my ride but kept a watchful eye out for that truck.
I'm sorry for those who have unreasonable fears of guns.

Certified NRA Instructor
Concealed Firearm Instructor

I am a vet, ex-cop and ex-NRA firearms instructor. The best weapons to protect yourself while riding a bike are your wits, awareness and common sense. If those are inadequate to deal with 99.9% of the situations you come across while on your bike, a firearm isn't going to help much.

I'm sorry for those who have unreasonable fears of guns.

Certified NRA Instructor
Concealed Firearm Instructor

Is it unreasonable fear of guns, or fear of unreasonable use of guns.

Bringing a gun into a situation instantly raises the situation to the potential of deadly.

You didn't read the OP did you? 3 guys in a pickup yelled, turned around to come back for a 2nd go, then stopped in the middle of the road. I call that threatening behavior. If the only thing you can think of concerning a firearm is to wave it around in the air screaming like a five year old or shoot randomly into parked cars, PLEASE do not get a firearm. I legally carry a concealed firearm and and have the training to know how and when to use it. In the OP situation, when they stopped, I too would have stopped and waited to see what they were going to do while dialing 911. When they drove away, I too would have continued my ride but kept a watchful eye out for that truck.
I'm sorry for those who have unreasonable fears of guns.

Certified NRA Instructor
Concealed Firearm Instructor

Three guys supposedly yelled at him, turned aroung and then departed?

Well that's entirely different. I'd have probably evacuated my bowels then immediately curled into the fetal position.

At what point did we turn into a nation of ******* and whiners.

Certified Red Cross Life Guard
Invisible Underwear Inspector

At what point did we turn into a nation of ******* and whiners.


About the same time the ******* and whiners gave up their liberty (by accepting defacto registration) to gain the false security of being able to legally carry a concealed firearm to compensate for their insecurities and fear.

I am pro gun but i dont think i would carry a firearm on a bike. the potentail for the rare situation where this may e required is outwiehghe by the damge a firearm can do to the cyclist in a fall.

Additinally the weight... do they make a carbon fiber gun?

A cell-phone is a lot lighter -- and it seems to scare more people!

Barking dogs don't bite.

If the rednecks had really wanted to f@ck with you, you never would have seen it coming. They would have run you over or hit you with something. A gun would never protect you in that situation.

Bringing out a gun only would have escalated things, either getting you killed if you hesitated when they brought out a gun or getting you arrested for brandishing a weapon.

Barking dogs don't bite.

If the rednecks had really wanted to f@ck with you, you never would have seen it coming. They would have run you over or hit you with something. A gun would never protect you in that situation.

Bringing out a gun only would have escalated things, either getting you killed if you hesitated when they brought out a gun or getting you arrested for brandishing a weapon.

Probably true on all points. +100

After hearing many of the enraged cyclists stories on this forum, the concept of cyclists carrying guns for self defense fills me with a feeling of dread. How many vets post in this forum who have actually had occasion to shoot a man? What say you?

I am a vet 1st gulf wr and several other conflict's. It would take ALOT for me to carry a friearm on my bike.

Oh dear oh dear.

Oh dear oh dear.

Yes, sweetie?

I am a vet, ex-cop and ex-NRA firearms instructor. The best weapons to protect yourself while riding a bike are your wits, awareness and common sense. If those are inadequate to deal with 99.9% of the situations you come across while on your bike, a firearm isn't going to help much.

Well said. Thank you, sir.

:love:
Yes, sweetie?

Where would you even put a handgun on a bicycle? In my lycras, I can't say any sort of holster is likely to be terribly comfortable, and you can forget about concealing it. :lol:

Cell phone and digital camera (video mode) with a few spare SD cards.

Cops took my 4GB SD card to get the video evidence of a hit and run I caught on video. I got the card back... formatted!

PHVK !!!!!!

Where would you even put a handgun on a bicycle? In my lycras, I can't say any sort of holster is likely to be terribly comfortable, and you can forget about concealing it. :lol:

Mrs H already complains that nothing is properly concealed in these shorts :eek:


Just threaten to drop the lycra, they'll turn and run I guarantee...

Originally Posted by kjmillig

You didn't read the OP did you? 3 guys in a pickup yelled, turned around to come back for a 2nd go, then stopped in the middle of the road. I call that threatening behavior. If the only thing you can think of concerning a firearm is to wave it around in the air screaming like a five year old or shoot randomly into parked cars, PLEASE do not get a firearm. I legally carry a concealed firearm and and have the training to know how and when to use it. In the OP situation, when they stopped, I too would have stopped and waited to see what they were going to do while dialing 911. When they drove away, I too would have continued my ride but kept a watchful eye out for that truck.
I'm sorry for those who have unreasonable fears of guns.

...


Three guys supposedly yelled at him, turned aroungd and then departed?

Well that's entirely different. I'd have probably evacuated my bowels then immediately curled into the fetal position.

What the "rednecks" did was criminal menacing. It is a degree of an assault. He should surely be concerned about people who were threatening him.

Consider how you would feel if you were being mugged, for that matter


At what point did we turn into a nation of ******* and whiners.


You're not just trolling to start a fight on the internet, are you dobber???

You didn't read the OP did you? 3 guys in a pickup yelled, turned around to come back for a 2nd go, then stopped in the middle of the road. I call that threatening behavior.

And I ignore it and move on .... and move on with my life too.

They didn't actually do anything to him ... and this happened years ago.

And I ignore it and move on .... and move on with my life too.

They didn't actually do anything to him ... and this happened years ago.

Agreed. Much the best approach is to ignore this behaviour. They soon get bored... unless you give them a reason not to.

Agreed. Much the best approach is to ignore this behaviour. They soon get bored... unless you give them a reason not to.


And I figure he's quite fortunate. He was yelled at once in "years". That's great! He must live in a wonderful place.

I live in a pretty good place for cycling, and I still get yelled at a couple times a year. <<shrug shoulders>>

And I figure he's quite fortunate. He was yelled at once in "years". That's great! He must live in a wonderful place.

I live in a pretty good place for cycling, and I still get yelled at a couple times a year. <<shrug shoulders>>

About the same here vis-a-vis comments towards me as a cyclist, and similar in the UK. There's no accounting for some people. Then again I was ridiculed from the occupants of a jeep for driving a small classic car and having long hair the other day.... in California?

Then again I was ridiculed from the occupants of a jeep for driving a small classic car and having long hair the other day.... in California?

Could you relate the account of that story, by any chance?

-Kurt

P.S.: An ideal comeback conceived for all idiots:

"Hey, buddy, you know what this is?" (Hold up seven fingers)
"No."
"A week's worth of this." (Flip the bird)

Could you relate the account of that story, by any chance?

-Kurt

P.S.: An ideal comeback conceived for all idiots:

"Hey, buddy, you know what this is?" (Hold up seven fingers)
"No."
"A week's worth of this." (Flip the bird)

My fav is the old gong show schtick...

You like sex?
You like to walk?
Good, then take a F'ing hike!

And I figure he's quite fortunate. He was yelled at once in "years". That's great! He must live in a wonderful place.

I live in a pretty good place for cycling, and I still get yelled at a couple times a year. <<shrug shoulders>>
Actually, I do live in a good place, the fact that I have not been yelled at while riding is that I am just getting back into it after quite a few years. Also, I have not thought about this incident in years, but I was riding in the same area that it happened at and I got to thinking about it. If you read my first post, you will notice that I was not upset about them yelling at first, it was them making a second round at me,and then blocking the road. I just posted this to get other ideas of how to handle it if something like this ever occurred again. If nothing more, it has brought to light differing options and opinions that other riders might be able to use. Please also note that I said that I thought better of the the gun idea and was asking for OTHER options. If I did not make that clear in my first post, then I apologize. I meant this to be a discourse on how to deal with harassers, but it looks like I may have failed on that mission. :lol:

My fav is the old gong show schtick...

You like sex?
You like to walk?
Good, then take a F'ing hike!

Ah, so you remember that one too :p . Everything is an old joke, ain't it?

-Kurt

Not going to pack a gun on the bike or my body...too much temptation to use it when I shouldn't.

But, with all the gas about gas prices, and someone bringing up the possibilities in the future of bike-jacking, well...let's just say my 3' krypto chain is gonna have more than one application....

I'm with those that carry common sense.

I suppose a pepper spray might do little harm to carry. My guess is, unless you're pretty hotheaded or really unlucky, you'll never use it on a human being but it might serve you on a particularly aggressive dog if you get in a tight spot.

A gun? There are endless threads in BF by bike weight weenies reducing frame and component weights at considerable cost and there are thousands of threads questioning the efficacy and necessity of wearing a helmet but talk about something that you could carry on your bike for a lifetime and never use and is just a lot of extra weight?- a gun might be at the top of the list IMHO.

My guess is that the chances of the gun coming in handy are about as good as winning a $300 million Powerball Lottery but people sure buy a lot of those tickets and eventually somebody wins, so as remote as the chances are logic and reason often lose out over fantasy and emotion. What's ironic is that if you think it through rationally there isn't much reason to carry a firearm on a bike ride, which means that rational people don't carry them. But if you subscribe to inflated fears, are highly imaginative, paranoid or tend to get into inflamed situations with motorists (or other cyclists?!!:eek:) a gun "makes sense".

So for those who think they'll need a gun by all means carry one around and maybe you'll get "lucky" enough to be glad you have it. :rolleyes:

At what point did we turn into a nation of ******* and whiners.


About the same time we decided if was more appropriate to run away than confront criminals.

Could you relate the account of that story, by any chance?

-Kurt


How many pages would you like ;)



P.S.: An ideal comeback conceived for all idiots:

"Hey, buddy, you know what this is?" (Hold up seven fingers)
"No."
"A week's worth of this." (Flip the bird)


:lol: that's funny, and not too clever that it's impact should pierce the densest skull.

If it is just yelling ignore them or flip them off. If they menace you or try to run you off the road then it is time to use your cell phone, pretend it has a camera even if it doesn't. Or if it is happening frequently get the Action cam and start turning them into the police.

Two things I see with the original post: First, the guys in the truck displayed rudeness and immaturity, but I saw nothing mentioned that rose to the level of a threat that would justify using any level of force in defense. Second, they left the area, which makes this a one-time event; harassment generally means a pattern of activity.

Moreover, the original poster, to his credit, did not take their bait. Suggestions of giving them the finger are advocating escalation, and once one has escalated an event, he has largely abdicated any right to claim self-defense if the other party then escalates in return. Incremental escalation is not seen in a good light by the legal system. "Reasonableness" is what we seek. It can be entirely reasonable to respond with force, sometimes even deadly force, but using force too soon on the threat/force continuum can land one in prison, where one learns the real meaning of harassment.

OC spray, a.k.a. pepper spray, can be effective, but as with chemical warfare through the ages, mind the wind direction! Back-splash/back-splatter is no fun, but happens. Mace? A mace is a weight, often spiked, mounted on a long stick/handle, used in medieval times as a weapon for smashing one's armored opponent. Chemical mace was developed in the 20th century, and has largely been eclipsed by OC spray, with the latter being generally more effective and easier to decontaminate from one's own clothing and body. Think if it as hot pepper sauce in an alcohol-based carrier.

I welcome the new member to Bikeforums, but must advise that in my humble opinion, your user name is perhaps not the best, especially when coupled with the original post in this thread. Joining a forum with an immediate agenda is not seen as the way to do things on just about any forum.

Lastly, I am not a lawyer, but do wear a badge, as is made clear in my member profile. I do not work for my hometown's PD, but for that of another jurisdiction. I must maintain a cloaking device around my full identity, as my employer does not like me to dispense advice on self-defense, weapons, laws, and such, while being identifiable as a member of the agency, unless it is filtered through our PIO. I am a believer in the Second Amendment, and the right of self-defense, but also support the "reasonable man" concept.

What the "rednecks" did was criminal menacing. It is a degree of an assault. He should surely be concerned about people who were threatening him.


Being yelled at is hardly criminal, let alone menacing. If you're that scared, you better stay on the front porch.


About the same time we decided if was more appropriate to run away than confront criminals.

There is a big difference between running away and simply ignoring them.

Being yelled at is hardly criminal, let alone menacing. If you're that scared, you better stay on the front porch.
... 1. You are not an attorney or law enforcement
2. You are a troll

If you feel a need to carry a firearm with you everywhere you go there is something seriously wrong with you. The reason being is that eventually you'll feel the need to use it and as Chip pointed out such force is almost never called for.

1. You are not an attorney or law enforcement
2. You are a troll

1. are you?
2. can you define troll?

Dear Road-Rage,
I suggest traveling back to where the big bad meanies in a truck yelled at you, search for your balls and have them surgically reattached. That is unless you like living as a transgender, in which case I will fully support that decision as well.
Sincerely,
ruiner

Dear Road-Rage,
I suggest traveling back to where the big bad meanies in a truck yelled at you, search for your balls and have them surgically reattached. That is unless you like living as a transgender, in which case I will fully support that decision as well.
Sincerely,
ruiner

Way to be helpful, rambo. :rolleyes: