Absolutely.

I set my arm on fire. Then I'll have a "fire arm". Get it?

Seriously though, pepper spray should do the trick. Followed by a frame pump to the head.

I carry pepper spray all the time; mainly the weak stuff for dogs that get overzealous. I do have a 9mm in my laptop bag at all times. It would take an immediate, life-threatening situation for me to resort to the actual gun. A good pepper spray will give me the time I need to get out of the situation before it deteriorates further. Cell phone call to the cops would be the first reaction if talking didn't defuse the situation.

Weapons? Not really... Tools? Yes. Usually a spyderco folding knife or two. And i have a spyderco byrdwrench in my camelbak usually.

My iHelmet has satellite linkup. I "paint" the target, then I have the option of ordering a cage-melting laser beam.

I have a Surefire flashlight to blind and disorient any assailants that may get me to stop. If I can't get out of a situation by pedaling or using words and wit, a weapon probably won't help me much.

i carry a surefire light as well, and have used it a couple of times for mean dogs *they hate it*. but i also carry a kershaw boa and a small 40 s&w because here in ohio we have carry permits. but in all reality i will rely on wit and speed to get out of any situation if it is at all possible. it would have to be my life or the life of a loved one in serious danger before i draw my gun.
and to the idea that a gun or weapon of any kind will just escalate the situation, that is not true. because if it comes to the point that a weapon should be drawn, it should be used, quickly and decisively. never pull a gun unless you intend on using it in my opinion. dont get me wrong, they have about two seconds to turn and run before i line up the sights. if they dont show an attempt at retreat, i will do what i have to do.
thats just my humble opinion.

Wait a min.. I could be totally off the range here as I've not seen Terminator 1 in a long time but is that a reference to the movie?

Skew them with whats between your legs or beat them to death with your chest. Ackhem.. that covers both sides of things if you know what I mean.

No need to carry a weapon. I've been in one fight in my life, back in the seventh grade and got my ass beat. I learned if charm and good looks fail, I can run like the wind, like the wind baby.

A hand gun and humble.. the both words in the same sentence, such a natural association. And no I souldn't thing anybody ought to get you wrong,not while your packin' a pistol. Killing quickly and decisively , love it !

Don't use a gun to kill or injure. Use it to gain compliance

I do carry, for work, but its always locked up, and stowed in my pannier.
Ive got a can of pepper spray too, for dogs.

No guns here, other then my self.

I need to get a gun.

If it were legal to carry a gun here I'd carry a .50cal desert eagle just to prove that I'm no weight weenie.

Pretty funny.

No weapons. I've studied martial arts (not for the purpose of self-defense, but that's another discussion) for a few years and never had to fight. I think that the incidence of unprovoked stranger attacks is often exaggerated among "self-defense" proponents, and that there are usually multiple options for exiting a 'cage rage" situation long before it comes to a fight.

I have at times wished I had something in my hand I could have thrown at a rude driver, but have never gone so far as to pick something up for that purpose.

When confronted by a family of Canada geese last week, I had to make do by picking up gravel from the path an throwing it at them as hard as I could. The gravel hitting their feathers makes a unique noise, which was fascinating; but that was pretty much the only effect. As far as I could tell, it didn't scare them, hurt them, or annoy them (they were already annoyed). When I started throwing sticks at the goslings they finally got the message and shoed them out of the path. Unbelievably stupid birds.

Rudi

My commute takes me through some ghetto areas. Well, ghetto for Salt Lake. Anywho, Utah has carry laws, but I"m not planning on carrying for the simple fact that I understand fully that if you draw you better be ready to shoot to kill. Shoot to injure just gets you in jail.

However, I do take personal defense into consideration. I've got a master lock python thing that I keep ready to go and I've got my frame pump. I'll be getting some mace or pepper spray soon. So far I've only had one potentially violent confrontation, but was able to avoid by sucking up my hockey player tendency, letting it go, and not bite the bait of some dude calling me out because I glared him when he damn near hit me.

depending on the meal prior to the ride, a deadly dose of methane.

2 knives, pepper spray and a fish bat when commuting. It's overkill, so what

On my roadie rig it's just one knife.

Actually, it's kinda embarassing, but i have to maintain a CCW license in all 50 US states in order to legally wear pants...

Wouldn't it be cheaper to just use a band-aid?

Shuuuuuunnnnn...