I read a bunch from the pepper spray thread, but was thinking dealing with just dogs would be what I'm after.
At the eve of the Big 5-0 I've just started riding again after a couple of years, so my speed and stamina aren't much. This morning on the way in to work I'm passing the last house on my block, see 2 smaller dogs come charging from the back yard to the front running and barking inside of the fence I look ahead and see the gate is closed.
Good I was riding at a comfortable place, (not wanting to burn out my legs so early in the week) I turn the corner and head up the side street, now I hear barking, I was thinking wow are those mutts loud. I get to the next turn (a left) and glance down the street I just turned of, those 2 mutts where in hot pursuit, only about 30 ft behind me! I spin up the revs and hit a couple of higher gears, I've put a fair distance between me and the mini hell hounds. By now my legs are burning, I'm breathing heavy and I'm sweating, so I go back to pacing myself.
Not 30 seconds later I'm hearing the barking---AGAIN!!! Once again I kick up the revs and hit a couple of gears, this time I go as long as I can before I'm spent, I start looking for a place I can stop and defend myself, along with something to use as a weapon.

I was lucky that in this case it was small dogs, had it been a REAL dog it would have chased me down no problem.

The question is what to use for dogs?
Not real found of pepper spray, I'm thinking on a windy day I could get more on me than the dog, I have zero interest in a gun. I'm leaning toward and extending baton type thing, that would come in handy if the menace had 2 legs as well.
I'd like to hear if you have some better ideas.