mrhedges

does anyone of you commuters that ride at odd hours through high crime areas carry pepper spray or other self defense weapons?

I ask because last night coming home from my studio three kids yelled HEY GIVE ME THAT BIKE and tried to force my off the road into a parked car. I got away fairly easily but they gave chase. two were on foot and one was on a mountain bike so I was much faster. but what would have happened if they knocked me over? I dunno I was thinking of carrying pepper spray for that reason, just in case. Sh*t happens expecially one the westside of chicago. Not only that but to deal with road raging drivers trying to pick fights. I have always been able to navagate a way out of these kind of situations but what happens if I don't?

uke

Change your route. No matter what, it's always better to avoid a confrontation than to engage.

lil brown bat

Did you bother to call the cops?

mickey85

maybe have a baseball bat tethered to your top tube? Then you'll really "give" them something...

e0richt

train in krav maga, it can't get taken away like pepper spray...

BroadSTPhilly

You take your risks. Most of the times if you are alert you can get away. People have aked for my bike in the past and I am always disinclined to acquisce to that request. So I speed away. I have considered carrying a number of things and when I was a kid I actually dissuaded a group of hooligans with a can of mace. At this point I carry nothing and I consider my best weapon my wits and my speed.

SeizeTech

pepper spray as a second option sounds good. you first option is best to stay away if you can.

DieselAmy

People on bikes have been attacked lately on our most popular MUP, sometimes losing bikes, but also being sent to the hospital after being beaten. I refuse to ride that part of the trail by myself. One common tactic is someone (usually multiple ppl) waiting along the side and then throwing a trash can or another bike at the rider.

I carry Halt, but I would like to come up with a holster of sorts so it's more accessible. So far my only close call has been a Rottie lunging off his porch after me.

J.C. Koto

Pepper spray might be illegal in your area. Technically, *anything* that can be used as a weapon can be illegal to brandish or deploy in certain areas, even a bike lock, and even if you have a good reason to be carrying that item. Besides, there is a *great* chance of falling victim to one's own weaponry.

BroadSTPhilly said "At this point I carry nothing and I consider my best weapon my wits and my speed.", and really, truer words have rarely been spoken. Situational awareness is *the* most valuable skill for surviving rough areas. e0richt's suggestion for Krav Maga training is apropos particularly for its emphasis on situational awareness, but any martial art, self defence course, or police-civilian awareness seminar would be good as well, not so much for "fighting skills" which are a nearly useless ultimate scenario, but for developing the skills to avoid those scenarios in the first place.

In other words, keep a level head, pay attention, and stay safe!

rugerben

I sent you a PM.

I will just repeat one thing here that I mentioned in the PM.

The weapon is what you have between your ears. Whatever is in your hands, is just a tool.

famelec

I can't say that I'm an advocate of carrying around pepper spray, but if you're going to do it you might as well get a decent bike mount to get at it quickly:

https://www.selfdefenseproducts.com/spray_holders.htm

Brian

DataJunkie

I carry pepper spray but it is more for the occasional dog. However, dogs charging me have stopped since I started carrying it. Go figure.
I determine what areas have the most risk and avoid them. One area of a MUP I ride is no longer being ridden due to this fact.

mrhedges

yea a friend actually got robbed on a mup in the west suburbs, he chased the kids down and got them to tell him where they put his wallet. I guess they just knocked him down took his wallet and ran they dropped it pretty quickly he only had a couple bux on him.

self awarness is key. As soon as the kid said give me that bike i knew there was trouble. that said I won't take that route that late at night when there is a much better one.

the funny thing is that the bike isn't really worth much but I spent alot of time making it work and fit me.

as far as the cops go, I can't imagine chicago PD doing much over some kids who threatened to take my bike.

Shimagnolo

Fannypack on the back of my waist; Pepper-spray in a belt loop pouch on the right hip. It is about the same size and shape as a cell-phone pouch, so no one even pays any attention to it.

oakback

Could one of the kids have had a gun on him? Is there any way to know for sure? If you pepper sprayed one or 2, and another didn't get the spray, could that kid have pulled out a gun and shot you? Avoidance is best, and giving up the goods might be a good option if there's no exit.

Too big, go with the fish bat! Lightweight aluminum, wrist strap, and it even floats!

mrhedges

I probably won't get anything. I'll just avoid certian points of time at certian times and trust that i can get out of most trouble. or i'll just start carrying an AK-47.