I have a lot of second hand experience. Friends and acquaintances being jumped and beaten up, or attempts to do so, for their bike, or just for fun. Without fail, the ones who stood their ground fared the best even without weapons, if they were male.

So, I would say in my town, females should get trained and licensed to carry firearms. They should be required to carry one. Or never leave the house, and have a gun on hand anyway.

Male, if you are an action freak, or ex-military, or big, or fierce - probably no gun needed. The problem with firearms, if the thing is not in your hand....worthless. Most likely it will be hard to grab in time of need, but hey, you got training and a carry permit - I'm cool with the gun thing. It won't work for me on my bike.

I used to carry pepper spray. Maybe 20 years now. I had to show it to some folks, and they knew what it was and backed off, but it's been years. I try to avoid areas/times of night when crime is high now. I gave up the pepper spray last month in favor of an collapsible ASP alloy baton of 21" like a previous poster on this thread. I keep it in my front right pocket where my pepper spray has been clipped all those years. I will probably be knocked away from my bike, so the thing must be on my person. It is shiny and silver. It sounds b@d@$$ when it opens, glistens in the light, and feels good in my hand. It looks like NOTHING folded up.

Given my experience, most likely some kids will knock me off the bike by surprise from a hidden crouch - behind a car or some object. (I make a U-turn if I see anyone walking toward me in the street, especially groups of kids/teens). Then his buds will join him from another hiding place. They intend to beat me up no matter what, so I don't have anything to lose by fighting them. So assuming I can get up, I will deploy the baton and charge the kid who hit me. If he has a gun, I was dead anyway. If not....I have a chance. Usually the bigger kids get the younger ones to knock you down - minors who won't go to jail. Then they all jump on. So the closest kid gets a baton sandwich. Then the biggest kid if possible.

Most likely, they all run away shouting profanity and threats once they see I am prepared to do battle. If not, I am going down fighting, not begging.