Originally Posted by BarracksSi (Post 12384789)

I think my butt is the smallest part of my body.. :D

Originally Posted by Doohickie (Post 12384244)

(Bud... there are some good routes just east of the train tracks that run between McCart and Crowley to get from the area where you work to Westcreek Park. You may already know it, but it's a pretty good ride- very light traffic).

Originally Posted by DX-MAN (Post 12380307)

HAHAHAHAHA!!

You just DESCRIBED my neighborhood! I live in one!

I have to say, though, that Chipcom's bullet comments (no pun) are pretty accurate. I do, however, violate a couple rules he put out.

I ride a pricey bike, a $2K Dakar XLT, and it's pretty beastly in appearance. (As in 'capable' not 'ugly')

My advantage? The thugs are convinced I'm an undercover/plainclothes cop, or affiliated somehow, and could get them busted. Their logic? No 'cracker' would ride a bike like mine through 'their' hood unless he was a cop.

There WAS one, a few years ago, who was just too stupid to even process THAT; he sat on his screened-in porch across a busy 4-lane from me, hollered, "HEY, WHITE BOY!" and dry-fired his revolver in my direction, 6 times.

Originally Posted by Artkansas (Post 12383360)

I've had a number of commutes through less than desireable neighborhoods. On my last one, at the corner that I thought was the worst, one night I had a flat. As I sat in the light of the McDonalds parking lot patching the tube, someone came up and tried to offer me a $20 bill.

I've had trouble in good neighborhoods as well as some in worse neighborhoods, but as Chipcom said, pretty much a bicycle is too small to rate goofing with. So be aware and keep your distance from people and you should do okay. If you sense trouble, double your cadence.

Originally Posted by chipcom (Post 12389235)

I gotta say that I've been in more potentially threatening situations that involved snooty white folk than with poor folk who live/hang in the hood over the years.

Originally Posted by dwilbur3 (Post 12389274)

+1 It's the suburbanites in the huge pickup trucks I worry about.

Originally Posted by RichardGlover (Post 12389945)

When riding through bad neighborhoods, I don't do anything differently other than make an effort to pay attention to my surroundings.

95% of conflicts can be avoided by good situational awareness, listening to 'bad feelings' your gut may be telling you, and avoiding the situation entirely (e.g. avoiding large groups, as mentioned by somebody else).

Most of the remainder can mostly be handled by keeping your cool, making it clear you're not a threat, and an absolute dedication to swallowing your pride.

For the few situations that can't be handled any other way, I carry a (legally) concealed handgun & pepper spray (which is not to say that I think I 'only' need them in 'bad' neighborhoods - bad things can happen anywhere).

Originally Posted by himespau (Post 12390413)

wow, that doesn't sound like a good situation. I wonder why he was pulling the guy over when dispatch didn't appear to have anything on him (not saying he was in the wrong, could have been riding as if drunk or something). Just not a lot of info there.

Originally Posted by chipcom (Post 12389235)

I gotta say that I've been in more potentially threatening situations that involved snooty white folk than with poor folk who live/hang in the hood over the years.

Originally Posted by chipcom (Post 12389291)

and the soccer moms yaking on their phones in mini-vans and SUVs

Originally Posted by chipcom (Post 12390235)

You might want to avoid carrying on a bike in northern Ohio for a spell.
http://www.sanduskyregister.com/sand...oting-sandusky

Originally Posted by BarracksSi (Post 12384789)

I think my butt is the smallest part of my body.. :D