Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - do you carry pepper spray?

If so, where did you mount/store it at? I recently purchased a handlebar bag (http://bikeisland.com/images/qjanddhbar4.jpg) and want to stuff it on the side. Thanks.

Sorry, this might be the wrong forum. :D

Yes. Halt. I carry it and a road rash kit in a pouch on my top tube.

HALT. I have it on the strap on my Camelback

I have my pepper spray clipped to a strap on my top tube. The strap is extra security so my frame pump will not fall off when hitting a pothole, crossing railroad tracks, etc.

In my opinion if it is zipped up in a bag you will never be able to get to it when you need it most.

yup, I carry it everywhere, keep it in side pocket on handlebar bag.

Hello Mijome07,

I carry it only when I'm going some distance from my home.
Back in '85 I had the opportunity to actually use it as a
black devil a of a dog was bearing down on me and with a
quick prayer that this product would really work I aimed into
the face of the beast, well sure enough that puppy stopped.

Animal lovers please do not read into this, believing I'm some sort
of dog hater/abuser. I've had my share of wonderful dogs

Cheers.

Have you seen the flashing banner for this product?

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/road-bikes/product-accessories/2009-kimber-pepperblaster-5838.2282.0.html?utm_source=BF&utm_medium=GIF&utm_campaign=KIMBER

Have you seen the flashing banner for this product?

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/road-bikes/product-accessories/2009-kimber-pepperblaster-5838.2282.0.html?utm_source=BF&utm_medium=GIF&utm_campaign=KIMBER

Sounds nasty.

I don't know if that would be legal over here ?

I take it when I ride at night, I use sabre products.. I keep it in my jersey pocket..

Never even owned any, can't think of any need for it. What situations are you folks that carry it on your bike anticipating?

I don't have any yet, but I live next to a cemetary and I wanna keep the zombies at bay. :D

I don't have any yet, but I live next to a cemetary and I wanna keep the zombies at bay. :D


Better to live next to one, than live in one. :)

Forgot all about zombies...

One note of caution. My brother carried pepper spray strapped to his handlebar for years without incident. Over time the vibration fretted away thru the canister, until one day he got the whole container in his face at once when the walls gave way, much more excitement than he was planning for that ride and a real danger at road speed. If you carry, think about protecting the container.

Yes. Always. Where you can get it quickly - clipped to an outer pocket.
Someone suggested taking the clip from a clip-on eyeglass case and taping it so the can rides upside down with the nozzle pointing inwards, then clip it to your strong-side pants pocket. That way when you grab it it will automatically be in the proper position in your hand.

I carry counter-assault bear spray. It's just what I have from backpacking trips. It's more highly concentrated Capsaicin, and it's rumored to be illegal to use against people, but if I'm getting mugged I don't really care what's legal and illegal at that point. I prefer a 30ft cloud of illegally blinding spray to a knife/gun wound as I'm riding away.

I opened this thread because I ride after work on a MUP during the week at dusk / in the dark and a recent beating death of a runner in NVa got me thinking.

I'm getting some.

I carry Halt, clipped on the shifter cable, quickly and easily reached.

I've probably used it one to three times a year. It's very effective if you make a direct hit on the face. Dogs learn.

I opened this thread because I ride after work on a MUP during the week at dusk / in the dark and a recent beating death of a runner in NVa got me thinking.

I'm getting some.

Consider these two, the Kimber product and matching black nylon pouch (http://www.midwayusa.com/Search/Default.aspx#kimber%20pepper____-_1-2-4_8-16-32), and ride with it on a simple nylon web belt (http://www.rei.com/product/737207).

Would be a good idea to have the thing with you in case you're separated from your bike.

I do now. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=521839)

Fox Labs pepper spray (http://www.defensedevices.com/worhotpepspr.html) with bike mount. (http://www.defensedevices.com/bike-mount-bicyle-pepper-spray.html)

I carry counter-assault bear spray. It's just what I have from backpacking trips. It's more highly concentrated Capsaicin, and it's rumored to be illegal to use against people, but if I'm getting mugged I don't really care what's legal and illegal at that point. I prefer a 30ft cloud of illegally blinding spray to a knife/gun wound as I'm riding away.

I've been carrying regular pepper spray, but plan to order that bear spray shortly.
I ride up in the areas where encountering bears and cats is a very real possibility, and in the last two years there have been two collisions of cyclists with bears near here. And I would have no qualms about using it on two-legged vermin as well.

I don't have any yet, but I live next to a cemetary and I wanna keep the zombies at bay. :D

damn zombies!:thumb:

I don't have any yet, but I live next to a cemetary and I wanna keep the zombies at bay. :D


I thought the best way to take care of zombies was to bash them in the head.

I've been carrying regular pepper spray, but plan to order that bear spray shortly.
I ride up in the areas where encountering bears and cats is a very real possibility, and in the last two years there have been two collisions of cyclists with bears near here. And I would have no qualms about using it on two-legged vermin as well.

Yeah it's pretty sweet. I've test fired an old canister and it lets off a huuuuuge cone shaped cloud.

I really want to know if it's just a rumor about the federal offense.

Anyway, it's kind of the bee's knees.

I want some that fits in a wrist dispenser, a bit like spiderman had, so it's always to hand.

Does anyone make anything like that ?

I want some that fits in a wrist dispenser, a bit like spiderman had, so it's always to hand.

Does anyone make anything like that ?

I can imagine that making switching your hands from your hoods to your drops a little more exciting! hahaha!

I posess pepper spray and have carried it on occaision. So far, I haven't had to use it.

I carry an air horn. Almost always sends the mutt home. They have very sensitive hearing and 120dB is painful.

Yeah it's pretty sweet. I've test fired an old canister and it lets off a huuuuuge cone shaped cloud.

I really want to know if it's just a rumor about the federal offense.

Anyway, it's kind of the bee's knees.

What product do you use, specifically?

I carry counter-assault bear spray. It's just what I have from backpacking trips. It's more highly concentrated Capsaicin, and it's rumored to be illegal to use against people, but if I'm getting mugged I don't really care what's legal and illegal at that point. I prefer a 30ft cloud of illegally blinding spray to a knife/gun wound as I'm riding away.

It is illegal to use on people or a dog, you risk killing the person or dog by suffocation.

To be honest, using bear spray would only come in a limited window on a bicycle. The dog would have to be chasing you and at least a meter away... Anyways, the spray should be strapped to the top-tube or somewhere you can get to it instantly. You also risk rupturing the canister if you fall or drop the bicycle. A bad scene!

I made a "holster" for a can of bear spray and attached it to my handlebar bag with a snap. I've use Halt! type products with some success, but some dogs kept coming. It's probably illegal to use athlete's foot remedies for jock itch too, but I assure you that bear spray works on Shepard mixed breeds.

I made a "holster" for a can of bear spray and attached it to my handlebar bag with a snap. I've use Halt! type products with some success, but some dogs kept coming. It's probably illegal to use athlete's foot remedies for jock itch too, but I assure you that bear spray works on Shepard mixed breeds.

Just don't get caught and hope the animal doesn't suffocate to death - a cruel way to go out.

Pepper spray? What for? To spray the cops (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?684400-Bike-thief-busted%21)? ;)

I'd be careful about using Counter Assault. It's a spray and not a stream. It's best served downwind to a bear. If you spray it into the wind at all and get a lung full it could be really bad. At least it is for me. The personal defense sprays are more a stream than a spray ...most of the time and I personally think bikers are better served by a stream. If a dog was coming at you from in front of you and you sprayed counter assault at the dog you might easily ride into that cloud of nasty orange choking pepper.

About 2 years ago a dog jumped out in front of me from some tall weeds, we collided, and I ended up with a plate in my shoulder. The local sheriff refused to file a report, saying that no motor vehicle was involved. He told me to carry a fire extinguisher to spray dogs with.
I also spoke with the mayor and state's attorney.
They took no actions, and the dog is still there and he still chases me occasionally.
I've sprayed the dog twice with Halt and now he knows to stay out of range of that. Still, sometimes he gets bold and sneaks in closer.
I'm looking for a way to teach him once and for all to ignore me. Looks like I have to do it because the authorities refuse to take any action. This is not a bicycle-friendly area.

Talk with the owners. Carry a concealed tape recorder if your state laws allow it. Explain that you will sue them next time it happens. File a complaint with the local dog catchers. In most places if a dog repeatedly attacks a person it will be taken and killed by the authorities. Or sue the owners now if you didn't before. Find out the law in your area. I know people who would carry a gun (legal here without any special license) and just shoot the dog if it attacked again. Probably easier to sue the owners or report the dog a few times and have it put down by city.

About 2 years ago a dog jumped out in front of me from some tall weeds, we collided, and I ended up with a plate in my shoulder. The local sheriff refused to file a report, saying that no motor vehicle was involved. He told me to carry a fire extinguisher to spray dogs with.
I also spoke with the mayor and state's attorney.
They took no actions, and the dog is still there and he still chases me occasionally.
I've sprayed the dog twice with Halt and now he knows to stay out of range of that. Still, sometimes he gets bold and sneaks in closer.
I'm looking for a way to teach him once and for all to ignore me. Looks like I have to do it because the authorities refuse to take any action. This is not a bicycle-friendly area.

A friend of mine used to have a white American Eskimo jumping from the front porch of a house and tries to take a bite on his feet. Talking to the owner did nothing as the owner thought it was a good way to keep people away from their home. After several attempt with pepper spray, the dog got smart and just turn back when he saw the spray but still comes around if he did not see one in the hand of my friend.

He started carrying a paintball pistol with him and plaster the dog several time making the dog looking like a clown with pokie dots. :lol: The owner must have got tire of washing his dog because several weak later, that dog was kept behind a fence.

Well 1/3 of all settled litigation claims in the states last year were from dog bites.

The average settlement was $25,000.

Considering the bear activity where I live it's almost silly not to carry bear spray. A bear and her two growing cubs visit my place daily and when I come home at around 5-6 pm and bike up the foresty driveway and whose there, but mama bear and friends. I haven't really had problems with bears in my years in bear land, but she charged at me last week so I have been wary ever since. I ring the bell when I come home and periodically ring it when I am biking at dusk. She was there when I pulled up the driveway and was very interested and started coming towards me. My husband didn't even notice them. We later went for a walk and there were plenty bears in the park. All in all I'm not that worried about bears, but cougars have been known to stalk cyclists and there are cougars galore. So, maybe someday I'll get some bear spray if there's another heart in mouth encounter.

Considering the bear activity where I live it's almost silly not to carry bear spray. A bear and her two growing cubs visit my place daily and when I come home at around 5-6 pm and bike up the foresty driveway and whose there, but mama bear and friends. I haven't really had problems with bears in my years in bear land, but she charged at me last week so I have been wary ever since. I ring the bell when I come home and periodically ring it when I am biking at dusk. She was there when I pulled up the driveway and was very interested and started coming towards me. My husband didn't even notice them. We later went for a walk and there were plenty bears in the park. All in all I'm not that worried about bears, but cougars have been known to stalk cyclists and there are cougars galore. So, maybe someday I'll get some bear spray if there's another heart in mouth encounter.

The dog that I collided with had chased me numerous times before our encounter. I kept saying that I was going to spray that dog someday. If I had, it would have likely kept its' distance.
Sometimes, if it's just a chance encounter I'll hold off spraying a dog if it chases me. But if it happens more than once, or if the dog is being unusually agressive, the mutt gets sprayed. Many dogs will make a sport of chasing you and that kind of behavior needs to be nipped in the bud. The same may hold true for bears, I don't know.

About 2 years ago a dog jumped out in front of me from some tall weeds, we collided, and I ended up with a plate in my shoulder. The local sheriff refused to file a report, saying that no motor vehicle was involved. He told me to carry a fire extinguisher to spray dogs with.
I also spoke with the mayor and state's attorney.
They took no actions, and the dog is still there and he still chases me occasionally.
I've sprayed the dog twice with Halt and now he knows to stay out of range of that. Still, sometimes he gets bold and sneaks in closer.
I'm looking for a way to teach him once and for all to ignore me. Looks like I have to do it because the authorities refuse to take any action. This is not a bicycle-friendly area.

chopped meat mixed with rat poison. it may save someone else from very serious or permanant injury.

You might also report the dog to the local animal control people. Multiple reports often will trigger an investigation if you can determine who owns him. Shooting him with a paintball gun might also get the owner's attention if he has to be washed. I would never, ever use rat poison. He might choose not to eat it...he could eat a bite and leave some...it could kill another animal...and death by rat poison is a really, really nasty way to go. I would shoot the dog before I killed it with rat poison but before I did that I'd certainly be talking with the owners first and explaining things. You could also sue the owners in civil court and settle out of court with a simple requirement for them to keep the dog tied up. There are many options but poison is not a good option regardless. Just because the government didn't take action doesn't mean you can't sue in civil court...but again...trying to contact the owners would be a first start. Catching the dog and taking it to the pound would also be an option.

Wow, that's crazy. So sorry for your pain and suffering! Have you spoken with the owner and explain the situation and that their dog could be hurt or killed as the result of it's behaviour, or it could hurt a child? My husband used to have to pass a similar dog every day. One day the dog lunged out at him as usual and then a car came speeding down the road and hit the dog(it died). In most jurisdictions if a dog attacks a person they have to be put down. That mostly applies to bites, so not sure what they would say about lunging at people. But the attack caused you major injury, pain, surgery, loss of income etc etc.. Sue if you must. i live in the country and many people think it is perfectly fine for their dogs to have little walkabouts so I am always nervous when I come across dogs I have not seen before. I have also been chased by large dogs while on my bike on a busy highway. Nobody stopped to help and I had to just go as fast as possible until the dog got bored. Also little lap dogs will run out and chase bikes and I have to be careful not to run them over. Honestly I am more afraid of dogs than the bears or coyotes I might encounter. It is true that pepper spray may be illegal, so how about an airgun or starters pistol? They are definitely loud and might startle the dog more.

Where can I get some of that 30' bear spray?

If your thinking about getting it, in all seriousness, get the type that does not need to be shaken, and is a stream vs. a "fog", foam or mist. It is much more accurate, and generally has quite a good range, some 20'. If you have never been exposed to O.C before, you may want to experience a slight exposure...really. In most applications, you will receive some exposure in a real life incident. Being that I'm a LEO, I carry this stuff that is approximately 8 to 10 times more potent than anything on the market :D By the way digibud, you are allowed to record any conversation you have with anyone. The legality comes in when you record the conversation of any party outside of yourself, i.e. two people talking on the phone, without a warrant or their consent.

Where can I get some of that 30' bear spray?
Amazon has an OK selection of bear spray. Bear spray are more expensive and larger than say like a 2 oz spray. You may have to carry it in your water bottle holder if you need it right away.

You may need to rethink the use of a bear spray. Yes it good to be able to spray 30ft, but at that distant, is the dog really consider attacking you? Sort of iffy and the owner might even press charges back against you. Bear spray also holds a lot of spray. If you don't use it all, the seal may not hold and leak out the pressure faster and leaving the rest of the unused portion useless.

If you are really getting some pepper spray, here are some pointers. Bear spray are rated at something like 3 or 3.3 million SHU (Scoville heat unit). Most regular spray are about 2 million SHU. Fox Lab spray are 5.3 SHU. Vexor are the best at 15 million SHU. They have the 1.45% capsaicinoids that are only for law enforcement. They do sell a 1% that is advertise as 15 million SHU for consumer use in a smaller size like 1/2 oz. 15 SHU is way too much for dogs. 2 million should be enough. Personally I like Fox Lab 5.3 stream in a 2oz size. That size can be fit in a jacket pocket or in a pouch on your belt.

Get stream like the previous poster suggest. As a cyclist, you may not have much choice with selecting spray direction relative to wind direction. Most stream spray will shoot 15 ft which is personally I think is consider as a good enough safety zone distant against dogs. However, since bear are much more faster and aggressive, you will need that 30ft zone. I ride with my partner and she seem to attract dog chasing her much more than I. I rather not use spray in that situation because I can accidently spray her instead. Cases like that, I rather try using a Taser turn side way hoping both probe makes contact. Thank god that has not happen yet :)

Most spray are charged with propellant that you do not need to shake before use. If I am not mistaken, Vexor use CO2 which you will have to shake before use.

I also suggest buying a small cheap spray for testing. You will appreciate the potent of the spray if you try a little bit if that stuff. Take the small spray and spray into a towel them apply some of that on your face. After one trial is all it takes to know how strong those stuff are. Try not to rub it off your face, it only makes it worse. Instead take a large bowl of milk with ice cube in it and aplied that on the affected area and time to wear it off. After that test, you will have a much better idea of when to use that stuff and why.

I'm carrying a bear spray in my water bottle cage, ready for quick draw. I'm expecting cops to stop me any time and explain why I need bear spray in NYC :D Perhaps Is should get a small can of pepper spray and clip it to my clothes.

I'm carrying a bear spray in my water bottle cage, ready for quick draw. I'm expecting cops to stop me any time and explain why I need bear spray in NYC :D Perhaps Is should get a small can of pepper spray and clip it to my clothes.

FYI, There are bears in Manhattan and i've heard they do attack.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX2wV-qu1Lc

You don't want to end up like that camper!

I'm carrying a bear spray in my water bottle cage, ready for quick draw. I'm expecting cops to stop me any time and explain why I need bear spray in NYC :D Perhaps Is should get a small can of pepper spray and clip it to my clothes.
I think you might be ok with that. I believe that only conventional spray has to be bought locally and you have to have some records of it in New York. However dog and bear spray can be bought outside and through mail order and no size restriction like here in CA where we are allow to carry only 2.5 once. So it ok to have and carry but it gets a little touchy with the use of a bear spray against human. Best to check with the local on that one. Better yet, carry a bear suit costume in your pannier bag and put it on the assailant after the spray ;) :D

If it looks like a bear, runs like a bear and growl like a bear.... Then it must be a ........