Barba, this thread isn't about whether or not weapons are appropriate for use, because clearly some of us think they are. Sense you seem to think that safe places are the key, please tell me, where would be safer to ride than Gross Point? (Gross Point is one of the richest places in the US, and is also where the bull dog came out of nowhere and charged me.) Also, using your wisdom, please tell me what you would have done if you were riding in a very good neighborhood and a huge dog you couldn't possibly outrun came out of nowhere and charged you.

I must also ask what situations or training you have been involved in that lead you to believe that attackers will render you incapable of fighting back before you can draw a weapon. I'm not saying its impossible, but its never happened to me or anyone I've so much as heard of, and its hard for me to imagine such a scenario, short of 5 guys ambushing one bike rider with baseball bats, and the thing about that is, it aint gonna happen.