Care to back up your statistics with a source?

Ruger LCP in 380. Weighs 9.40 ounces and is 5.16" x 3.6" which fits nicely in a jersey pocket.

Amen to this. Built like a defenseman and attitude to match if you even look at my bike crooked.

I carry this sometimes. Would cut a creep to pieces in seconds.

http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecent...es/em12bts.jpg

Wow...

I live in the Korea Town district of Los Angeles. Specifically, South of Wilshire - if you know the area, you know what that means. Remember the Rodney King riots? People were killed about a block from my place. Gangs? I've got 4 that vie for territory on my streets, despite the (very, very slow) gentrification. My garage door gets tagged on a bi-weekly basis (which is surprisingly good).

That being said, I also don't drive to my training routes. Malibu? It's a 30 mile ride out there, sure, but I ride in and out of K-Town all the time... whether on the commute or in full on roadie gear. I take rides 24/7 and have never, in 5 years of living here, felt threatened.

Compare and contrast, go ahead...

Illegal for personal use in California unless it is one of the new high pressure tire pumps!

Care to give a reputable citation?

Oh that's right, I forgot. There isn't one.

Two things on my mind. First, file a police report on the bike chase incident if you can recall any information on their identities (clothing, bike, height, build, etc).

The other thing. Let me put it like this. A guy recently told me a story about two pit bulls attacking him, he beat one of them unconscious with a pipe and the other backed off. You did the right thing, it was a fight or flight situation and you made good on flight. Its rare you won't be able to escape as a bike is versatile, but have a plan just in case.

My U-lock comes to mind. I flatted a couple of months back and just walked it home as I was about a mile away and it was dark out. One hand firmly on the bike the other clenching my U lock the whole way home. A lot of it is intimidation factor. You look like easy prey they don't think twice. They start to say something like "let me see your bike" "hey man can I talk to you a second" and you are yelling "NO THANK YOU SIR I'M NOT INTERESTED" holding a u lock they tend to back off.

Is that legal in the US for citizens to own? America rocks, anyone want to sponsor me?

A spare bike chain could work well. Wrap a quarter or less of the chain around your knuckles, leave the rest of the chain dangling. Good for striking from distance and good for dirty boxing. C02 canister in the other hand. Perfect for keeping the knuckles stiff and allows for minimal give. Also, don't need excuses for carrying any of that when cycling.

As Rick James says "Cocaine is a hell of a drug" or Meth for that matter.

Your life isn't worth your valuables, but there is still a strong chance that they will kill you after they take everything just so there is no witness to turn them in. Many people have been robbed and then told to turn around and are then shot. I am not comfortable with that chance, so I will carry.

A display of firepower is not a good deterrent, especially like you said if they are packing themselves. If you pull your piece, you shouldn't just be displaying as a deterrent, you should be pulling it with full knowledge that you are about to use deadly force. In some cases, if you are not yet allowed by law to use deadly force, you could get in trouble for brandishing when you show a display of firepower, so its something to be very careful with.

Yes those are perfectly legal to own in many of the US states. However, in many states, it is illegal to actually carry and you can get in a lot of trouble for having/using one. In texas, I am licensed to carry a concealed handgun, but I cannont legally carry a baton. In fact, I would get in quite a bit of trouble for carrying one, even though I can have a loaded Glock on me. Other states have concealed weapons licenses that 'may' allow for it (I'm not familiar with their laws, so I won't say whether its possible or not)

For some of us the discussion of concealed weapons is entirely irrelevant. Unless I become a judge or a peace officer tomorrow morning, I'm not going to be carrying a firearm anywhere...

I would suggest maybe avoiding areas that are low on foot or car traffic. If I've learned anything in almost 33 years in the big city, it's that the empty blocks are the ones you avoid. It's safer to be on a crowded and thugged out block than to be somewhere where you see no one. Bike paths can fill that role unsettlingly well after dark.

+1 million.

that information came from my brother, the district attorney for pontotoc county, oklahoma. I believe him. where exactly he got it no i cannot tell you.

Wear a 10 gallon hat on your next ride and they,ll figure your just a recently convicted DWI cowpoke.

Carry a Bull-whip on your handlebars..Ever seen a person hit with one...priceless!!

how true
 

Yes, if your fight to defend yourself and your property....you may end up in a hospital. However, go out on a ride and the same may occur to you without the opportunity to defend yourself. 900 accidents involving bikes and cars in NC alone last year. The last was in the News and Observer here (local paper) by a drunk driver no less. Which is the greater risk? You take that very chance every day when you leave your house. To allow yourself to be taken or taken advantage of by an untrianed thug only adds to the chance that something happens to you. However, by being properly trained in defending yourself, you remove that other persons ability to do that to you. By the way....my other two hobbies are golf and cagefighting. Also, note...i said "properly" trained.

I NEVER ride at night. Period. Traffic, road debris, a**holes. Just not worth it.