x2.

If the little bastard is willing to kill someone, he deserves whatever comes back at him.

I don't have a problem with that...it's just that "packing heat" on your bike rides, and being able to successfully deploy it, seems like, well "overkill".

In terms of risk reduction, you'd probably reduce your chances of injury more by mounting a 10' tall lightning rod on your bike.

Except for those pesky overhead powerlines.

hey! i am a vegan--get it straight!

I actually got jumped and had my bike stolen about a month ago on my ride home from work. I was only about 1 1/2 blocks from my apartment, 2 blocks from the college campus. Totaly random. It was like 7:30 on a tuesday night.

I used to do this, partly for work, partly for competition, to the tune of >12K rounds per year. It builds skills and gunhandling, but don't ever confuse drills with having any similarity to a real gunfight. There is also a question as to the quality if training. Learn and practice stupid habits and you will perform them in the non-forgiving arena of a real life encounter. The same goes for your martial art of choice.

I own guns, have a CWP, and have no problem with the idea of persons being legally armed. I do have a problem with people who fire a few rounds per year/month and feel that they are now gunfighters (this includes LEOs who do the minimum qualification).

I'm with Paranurse on this one... I ride though neighborhoods I'd never walk through. On a bike, I become one of two things: invisible, or a spectacle, depending on the neighborhood, and time of day. I roll through Carver homes in the middle of the night, no one is messing with me. Why? Because I'm on a bike. I guess it's the stigma attached to them, whatever that is.

I don't know why bikes have this effect on people, but I'm never worried riding around in ANY neighborhood at night. Now, I also don't talk smack to people in cars who almost hit me (it's funny though, that almost NEVER happens in the ghetto, as lots of people either ride bikes, or know people who ride bikes), or really to anyone, but I'll stop at a stoplight, get some odd looks, but other than that, it's totally chill.

I find the most aggressive people towards me so far have been college students. Go figure. Again, no idea why, I don't start crap, don't look hard, but I have had em' jump into the road in front of me, just looking for a fight. THAT one resulted in me telling him "shouldn't you be shopping at the Gap or something dude?", slow witted laugh, which followed a really original comeback (I think he got it from The Terminator) "fark you, arsehoe". I think I said something about "Please tell your mom to stop calling my house, it's over" and rode off. Idiot. I shoulda Ortiz'd the guy, and made him buy me a sandwich, but hey, I'm a nice guy.

Numerous other encounters, as I ride through the GaTech campus every day, too and from work. I think it might be because their not from here, so they error on acting "hard", rather than just relax? I don't know, but that kind of behavior, at least where I grew up (um, ya know, Georgia, specifically Stone Mountain), will get you only so far before you get beat down like a snare drum. Nothing, I repeat NOTHING I'd shoot someone over though. That's a bit radical.

Just make them buy you a sandwich. It's funny, you get a free sandwich, and he learns a lesson not to mess with people unless he feels like getting tore up, and purchasing a sandwich for them.

Umm... What's Ortiz'd mean and does the sandwich have to be a certain type? Nothing with ketchup right?

+1

It's been a long time since I was in a fight, but Cyclaholic nailed it -- you have want to it. What it is is survival! To survive in a fight, you have to be angry, vent this anger and at the same time, be under control and aware of your surroundings.

Anyone remember the old Kenny Rogers song -- Coward of the County?

Referring to Tito Ortiz, UFC fighter. He usually likes to take guys to the ground, and beat the crap out of them.

But no, I hate ketchup.

I'm thinking about a reuben now though, mmm... Off to Jason's deli I go. Hey, it's okay, I already put a pretty good workout in today. I think corned beef has protein too right? So really, it's pretty healthy, as long as I don't think about it at all, and how bad it is for me.

re: woody

Anger will get you in trouble in a fight, me friend. Wears you out, and makes you do stupid things.

Best advice I ever heard in a normal, average fight? Watch the guys right hand. 99% of shmoes you'll meet on the street will lead with a right hook. Catch that, underhook, spin w/leg trip, and the aforementioned Ortiz method of submission. Should be over pretty quick. Works well for us short guys too (5' 6" )

And if he's got a knife or a gun, just give em whatever he wants.

I really don't do anything except try to be alert to my surroundings. What more can you do really?

BTW-I'm a gun owner and have never entertained the idea of carrying a weapon with me on a ride.

This Biologic Postpump 2.0 would make a fine albeit somewhat heavy 718g baton/seatpost/pump, 580mm long. At 33.9mm diameter a big large for small hands though.

If you cut off the seat clamps it'd be an awesome personal carry. Would still be a legitimate personal carry perhaps even in the UK if you're cycling.

https://www.thinkbiologic.com/products/postpump-seatpost

Recreating it as a frame pump might require creating some custom pegs for your frame, and modifying the sawed-off (ex-seat clamp) end of the pump.

Just ordered one, so I'll soon know all. Might have a machine ship create some knurling at the end under the seat clamp, the handling end for defense purposes.

Biologic also makes some short ones (eg 350mm) in other diameters like 27.2mm and 31.6mm. Bit short to call a baton at that length though.

Just act crazy. Totally, bizarre a$$ crazy, screaming and ranting about how the aliens probed you last night. People will stay far away from you. I promise.

A 26" telescopic baton is a practical bit of blunt force trauma inducing kit but surprisingly weighty, too weighty to pack along once I've loaded everything I actually need for work. It comes along only on the potentially squirreliest of night shifts: full moons, pagan/Xian/civic holidays (long weekends in general), highly anticipated sporting events.

The best defense really is being aware of your surroundings, follow your instincts and apply a healthy dose of common sense.

This is my personal opinion:

I try to avoid any and all dangerous situations. If I get that certain feeling in the pit of my stomach I turn around and take a different route. Unfortunately there have been reports of ambushes along the trail I ride on (rarely), so, I really have no defense against that sort of an attack. However, I will be getting a conceal carry permit at 21, which means I will be armed. I doubt I will ever need to use it, but if I do I will only use it when it is 100% necessary and my life is in immediate danger. If I draw my gun, I shoot to kill; center mass. I'd never ever want to take another human beings life, but it's always good to have protection.

I agree with what your saying. Speaking of Martial Arts, I'm seriously thinking about learning Tae Kwon Do. A martial arts forum I am on told me it's a great one so now I'm looking for the right place to go.

2-step plan

1. i employ common sense such that i avoid situations where self-defense is required.
2. ABUS Bordo folding lock with the heavy end extending outward.

The ABUS Bordo is a fine folding lock. But I'd hate to use it as a crude flail. Better to use it as a simple block for hand strikes.

I am a Judo player, and I still compete for fun. I also box and will usually punch a heavy bag for fitness training...

With that said, I'll most likely run/ride away or give them what they want....but....If they clinch with me, I'm going to give them a quick Judo 101 intro to falling.

I offer no apologies for it, I carry an American Derringer in .40S&W everywhere and always. I sincerely hope that I never have to use it. Firing it is equal to your own private earthquake and hurts your palm and wrist like you wouldn't believe.

Beats pulling a prayer book outta your pocket.

I don't know about the size of the can and accessible mounting on a bike but, my wife carries a can of wasp and hornet spray between the driver's seat and the door. It beats any civilian "pepper spray" junk in sudden stopping power and has a range of somewhere around 20 feet. It's as legal a weapon as you could wish to carry.

No, it's not the movies at all. I was recently attacked by two guys who chased me on my bike in two cars, finally cornering me. Even a gun wouldn't have helped - they were all over me in a second, intending to harm as much as possible. I fought as much as I could, but it was 2 against 1 old guy. Much smarter to have avoided the confrontation by not cursing them when they cut me off within inches.

Don't laugh, but I am thinking about carrying a combat knife!!

Avoid areas and situations in which you feel you are not safe. that will take care of most of it.

That's why I never have and probably never will carry. Different perspectives are valid for other people in different situations so that's not a recommendation but it is my perspective.

IMO the main purpose of a handgun boils down to shoot someone, and if I carry then I'm preparing to do that. To me any non-lethal method is better, and if there's more risk I'll accept that. But I'm also not convinced it's riskier to be unarmed than to carry a handgun.