Originally Posted by
IPassGas
We have bike toured in black bear country (US/Canada) for 30 years and never have used a canister. If we didn't have a decent tree to hang food (usually we could), then we would keep it near us, outside the tent. Sometimes (very few) a bear approached. I will agree it is stimulating, but black bears have always immediately ran off when we yelled or banged on stuff. Skunks/raccoons/squirrels are a different sort of issue.
We have also backpacked extensively in grizzly country, mostly the Canadian Rockies. I view grizzly country as fundamentally different. We always used the two rope pulley system, taking pains to find appropriate trees. Although, these days I would likely use a canister. Also very careful with cooking and all smelly stuff.
Perhaps carrying a canister on a bike is not a big deal, and why not? The food must be in something anyways and it deters all varmints. However, I have never felt the need for a canister in black bear territory.
Interesting. I've wild camped quite a bit and frankly, it is the critters that bother me the most. In my experience, mice aren't afraid of human scent and our kids (less careful than adult wrt food inside a tent) have had a couple of break-ins over the years. Which is why we now travel with an Ursack (and gave stern lectures
)
Now, this will be my first solo trip, wild camping, in an area where bear sightings are common and, perhaps more significantly, some bears may have become used to man's presence (there is a report of a death, a few years ago, although circumstances are unclear and the official advice is that there is very little risk with the exception of the presence of young cubs -- we all lose our temper from time to time when there are kids, so no surprise here
I've read interesting and often opinionated debates on the reasons/merits/etc of canisters/ursack/hangs. I will very probably settle on our tried and true (so far) Ursack. Save a few $ and limit the storage space devoted to touring-related gear.