tekknoschtev

I'm curious 1) what runs through your head and more importantly 2) what you do/would do if you legitimately feared for your safety and well being while cycling around town.

I learned of an area where I never felt unsafe driving (heck, I was even looking at a house there at one point last summer) through but today, I honestly started running through my head trying to figure out how a cell phone, set of keys, and an empty leather wallet could be used as a means by which to protect myself. Logic clicked in and I decided that if they took one more step towards me that I'd just bust my butt getting the heck out of there (it helps that they were on foot and that their pants were down past their knees, but I didn't know what they were planning so I wasn't going to make any sudden moves).

Fortunately, the light turned green before anything had to happen and I was outta there but it got me thinking. Were I on my commuter MTB I'd have my tool kit with me which happens to have a knife (note, I am FAR from the Fight of Flight or Fight, but in my head I ponder as many scenarios of what might play out as possible so as to be less surprised if/when something does happen).

But what would you do? Logic (to me) dictates that you should get the heck out of that area as quickly as possible, but it wouldn't entirely surprise me if they had weapons, and there was plenty of stuff to pick up and throw around.

RCordone

what made you think they were going to rob/harm you?

tekknoschtev

the muttering to one another "that f*er, lets get that f*er" They never made any advances, so it might all have been head games to get a rise out of me, which I avoided doing just in case, but it got me thinking about what to do if it really gets threatening.

Clark Kent

I stop at reds, but if there was a sitch that made me uncomfortable I would pop it without hesitation.

PunkMartyr

I think I know the class of people you mean. I recall one time I was going through a bad part of town towards downtown. A young tough in a sleeveless shirt with tattoos and one of those tiny bmx bikes going the opposite direction cuts across the road towards me when he sees me. He didn't say anything so no idea what he was thinking but I dropped the fool like rubbing dog .. off my shoe.

I was reading an article from CA where a 15 year old lied and said he was 17 deliberately because he wanted to prove he was tough by going to jail. They found out after he did over a year. There are some sick gangsta wannabes out there that are so brainwashed they think robbing and fighting is a glorious existence.

Big_e

That's why I never wear headphones while I ride, whether I commute or go trail riding. I like to hear if a vicious dog, or any other kind of animal is coming at me. I will certainly try to outspeed them but I carry pepper spray for dogs. It works good on people too, don't ask how I know.
Ernest

plumberroy

very rarely does anyone mess with me, I do not look like an easy target I avoid /talk my way out .if it looks like A conflict is unavoidable I pick the leader or toughest and do the last thing they expect take it to them luckily it has been many years since I have had to convince someone to leave me alone

ken cummings

It took me a while to remember the last time someone got in my face. There was this very new driver at a shuttle company I worked for. He took offense at something he perceived that I had said and got screaming angry, demanding an apology. I said I'd be delighted to apologize if he'd only tell me what had offended him. "You know what you said you !@%&^$#" This was said from a few inches away. As none of the 20+ drivers and supervisors present seemed inclined to intervene I just said, "I'm sorry you feel that way." He seemed satisfied and backed off. I hadn't apologized for whatever I had said, just that I was sorry he was upset. Whatever cools things down. He was gone 2 days later. Always some psychos out there. As a 6" Clyde I do not seem to have a lot of trouble. Smaller cyclists need to be more careful. Also I do not wear a lot of fancy kit, that may be a factor.

Large Filipino

Never look scared. That's the cardinal law.
I've never been victimized. And I rolled the subways in New York as a youngan.

c0urt

that actually helps alot. most of the time it is just an opportunity thing

last time two guys try to rob me. and i got up and laughed them and told them they would have to earn it. they changed their mind.

intrepidbiker

I was riding with a loaded touring bike in NC when a dog (small to medium sized) started to chase me. The owners egged the dog on laughing. It broke my heart, but I had to spray the dog with HALT. At least this way it'll learn not to chase cyclists. The owners just laughed harder. *******s.

Anyway, I think this is pertinent because that's how I manage hazardous people too. Pepper foam can be sprayed in a stream and is pretty effective on a bike.

vettefrc2000

Get your CPL. I carry when I ride. However, I always try to avoid bad situations. Never escalate a situation when you can walk or ride away.

maddyfish

It doesn't matter how good of a neighborhood you are riding in.

1.Bad things happen in good neighborhoods.

2. As long as there is freedom of movement, people from bad neighborhoods can travel to good areas and cause trouble.

twahl

Slight edit. There are good people that find themsselves unable to move away from bad neighborhoods.

davidmcowan

Funny, when I read the thread title I thought you wanted to know how I threaten people. I ride all the time in all kinds of neighborhoods and people have never f*%$ked with me. I must be crazy.

PunkMartyr

This is so true. Most people don't want to have to come up against any bull if they are so lazy in life they are trying to steal or take something.

Billy Bones

1) The caveman in me feels indomitable and wants to attack. Alas, I am no caveman and in fact I am only a danger to a ham sandwich provided it sits still long enough. Therefore:

2) I invoke the First Rule of Martial Arts. It goes, "I ain't the baddest thing on the street.". Tie this to the fact that here in the US, a large proportion of citizens (sane, insane, drunk, righteously motivated, overstimulated, and undereducated) are armed to the teeth. Then, I invoke the SECOND Rule of Martial Arts: Avoid conflict at all costs.

That's how I got to be an old cyclist!

Don't worry about being called a coward. There's lots of (formerly) brave folks out there who found they couldn't stop a .45 cal. slug after all. And for what?

Fredmertz51

Above all, keep moving. If cornered, kill without regret.

timmhaan

there was a story on BF a while ago that really disturbed me, and still does. a young man was riding on an MUP and came across a bunch of guys hanging out on the path. he decided to ride through and one of the guys took a swing at his head with a bat! a good lesson here... sometimes you just gotta trust your gut and turn around or take another street.

TalkingHead

I have not been riding enough to encounter any thugs or people who are up to no good. Im sure i will living in las vegas anytime though. I do more night rides right now, and live in a semi good area so im not to worried. Last week some teens in a car rolled their windows down and said Hey what are you doin, yelling..then they stopped..and i just kept going on..they left me alone. Cant act scared. I carry a assited folding Knife on my hip under shirt, and sometimes pepper spray..never no what can happen.

goldfishin

a gun works plenty good for most people, but if you want to be the real deal you gotta strap a bomb to yourself (not in the middle east though. those people are used to it), or threaten to set off a nuclear device in a large congested city. when you can manage that you become a master threatener.

huhenio

IT takes years to learn that one for real ...

icedmocha 

It is easy to look intimidating when you are a large Filipino!

maddyfish

Add to your bike equipment list a bottle pepper spray.

Billy Bones

Just be sure to use it as a last resort and don't let it get taken from you. The ability of epinepherine (and drugs) to overcome the effects of this stuff is legendary.