Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

I decided to start carrying a fake pistol for self defense on my night rides

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

I decided to start carrying a fake pistol for self defense on my night rides

Old 11-14-12, 10:44 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 331
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I decided to start carrying a fake pistol for self defense on my night rides

With winter here, I am doing a good deal of riding at night, and alone. I feel the need to defend myself.

I've had a fair amount of people confronting me. Nothing too serious. I have kids in raised pickup trucks driving by yelling "FA**#&T!!!" at me almost on a weekly basis. I am totally immune to that and don't even think twice about that. I've had people throw eggs and beer bottles at me. I can let that go too.

It's when people threaten physical harm and try to steal my bike that I feel I need to defend against. I've had people push me off my bike, and there have been recent incidents of cyclists being beaten and robbed on the same trails I ride on. One even happened 2 hours before the same spot I was just at. And the scary thing these muggings happened on a saturday afternoon.

I chose an airsoft gun, so if authorities were ever involved, they would know my intention was to only defend myself. If I had a real, but more subtle weapon like a knife, or stun gun, I could be accused of using it offensively. I also don't believe pepper spray would be effective either because every time I've been confronted, it was with 2-3 guys. I have never been confronted by someone acting alone.

If someones approaching me, looking to assault or rob me, I want to just be able to lift up my shirt. Have them see the pistol, so they turn around, get back in their car, and leave me alone. That's all.

What if the other person has a real gun? That's a chance i'm willing to take. I think in that situation though, I would know they had a gun before they knew I had a weapon (real or fake). People using a real gun offensively is likely to brandish their weapon sooner than someone who's using a fake gun defensively. In which case they can take my bike and beat me up, it's not worth my life.

Of course the idea is not perfect. Ideally the best thing would be to have a riding partner everywhere I go. But I just don't have that option. I'm open to suggestions that are more safe and effective for defending myself though.

Here's the pistol. It looks like a Walther PP, or a Kel Tec P32. Its metal, and has the clip, and cocking mechanism like a real pistol. It was ridiculously cheap. I removed the orange tip of course.

HBxRider is offline  
Old 11-14-12, 10:47 PM
  #2  
Junior Member
 
jonny wong's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: WA
Posts: 129

Bikes: Huffy

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 28 Times in 5 Posts
Horrible idea!
jonny wong is offline  
Old 11-14-12, 10:48 PM
  #3  
Just Keep Pedaling
 
Beachgrad05's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lakewood, CA
Posts: 3,355

Bikes: 99 Schwinn Mesa GS MTB, 15 Trek Domane 5.9 Dura-Ace, 17 Trek Emonda SL6 Pro & 18 Bianchi Vigorelli

Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 251 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 67 Times in 34 Posts
Originally Posted by jonny wong
Horrible idea!
+1,000,000,000
Beachgrad05 is offline  
Old 11-14-12, 10:50 PM
  #4  
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 38
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Where do you live? This seems like a pretty bad idea. Real or not i'm pretty sure if you pull this out, even in self defense, you could be looking at some trouble with law enforcement.
The Pedalphile is offline  
Old 11-14-12, 10:50 PM
  #5  
Junior Member
 
jonny wong's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: WA
Posts: 129

Bikes: Huffy

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 28 Times in 5 Posts
How do you really defense yourself with a toy? Get a real ONE! You will get killed for waving that little fake one!
jonny wong is offline  
Old 11-14-12, 10:56 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
zonatandem's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 11,016

Bikes: Custom Zona c/f tandem + Scott Plasma single

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 77 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times in 11 Posts
In AZ anyone can carry an unconcealed weapon . . . no permit.
zonatandem is offline  
Old 11-14-12, 10:59 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 57
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I have always heard "Don't ever show a gun unless you intend to use it". It's an invitation for the other party to use deadly force. So how would one use a toy gun?
Bingo Blingo is offline  
Old 11-14-12, 11:00 PM
  #8  
One legged rider
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Moraga, CA
Posts: 1,390

Bikes: Kuota Kharma, Surly LHT, CAAD9, Bianchi fg/ss

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
What the previous posters have said is correct. Pulling a fake gun on someone is just as bad as pulling a real one and not actually shooting in a lot of places...it's called "brandishing" and in some places is a serious crime.
you have four real options if this really is a serious problem...in increasing order of risk
first, and most desirable, avoid the areas you are getting harassed. If its an area where there are undesirable types hanging around, it's understandable that they are harassing you. I live real close to the bad parts of Oakland CA and Richmond CA (two of the most crime ridden areas of the US) and no way are you catching me on a bike there.
second, carry pepper spray or similar type thing.
third, learn to fight.
fourth, carry a real gun. I find this option silly for cycling, but I commonly carry a large handgun when I go hiking in pot farm or bear country so I can't totally dismiss it or it would be the pot calling the kettle black.
benajah is offline  
Old 11-14-12, 11:01 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 115
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'm in Texas and I carry a real one
canemaster is offline  
Old 11-14-12, 11:05 PM
  #10  
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 45

Bikes: Felt

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
holy crap, where do you ride?
ADSW is offline  
Old 11-14-12, 11:13 PM
  #11  
Do a barrel roll.
 
Porkponey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Rockledge, FL
Posts: 201

Bikes: Trek 7.2 FX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
It's worth saying again. This is an awful idea. This isn't hollywood. People don't just run scared when they see a weapon.

If for any reason we got into some sort of altercation, regardless of who started it, and you pulled that reasonably real looking gun on me, I would shoot you. With my real gun. In real life. With real bullets. You would either suffer real injuries or die a real death. And I'm a friendly guy that wouldn't pull my gun until the absolutely very WORST of circumstances. Please consider the fact that the bad guy won't be as kind.

You're going to get yourself killed.

Also that looks more like a sig p230 than a walther.
Porkponey is offline  
Old 11-14-12, 11:18 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
kenmcchord's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Kissimmee, FL
Posts: 162

Bikes: 2006 specialized s-works Tarmac, 2013 Surly Disc Trucker

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Bad idea. If you're going to have a piece make sure it's real. And take it to a shooting range, know how to use it, and keep it loaded. Or find somewhere else to ride, that would be what my wife would demand I do. I do feel for you, this sounds like a pretty bad situation, but that toy gun isn't going to make it any better. Good luck...
kenmcchord is offline  
Old 11-14-12, 11:21 PM
  #13  
In Real Life
 
Machka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152

Bikes: Lots

Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times in 329 Posts
Where do you live?

We're travelling around the US right now, and we want to make sure to avoid your part of the US.
Machka is offline  
Old 11-14-12, 11:31 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
pgjackson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Gulf Breeze, FL
Posts: 4,128

Bikes: Rossetti Vertigo

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 229 Post(s)
Liked 119 Times in 70 Posts
Are you stupid? If you pull a gun (fake or real) on someone, you better be ready to die. Just how do you plan to defend yourself with a fake gun. Might as well take some cardio kickboxing to go with your fake-gun false sense of security. PLUS, you can go to jail for that. I don't see an orange tip on that gun. YOU will be at fault if something goes down, and I don't think a judge is going to have mercy on you when you get your a$$ pummeled by a guy who was defending himself because he thought you were going to shoot him.
pgjackson is offline  
Old 11-14-12, 11:47 PM
  #15  
SuperGimp
 
TrojanHorse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Whittier, CA
Posts: 13,346

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix

Mentioned: 147 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1106 Post(s)
Liked 64 Times in 47 Posts
Carry a fake gun and you're inviting some macho jacka** to go all macho jacka** on you when he sees that you're armed. Er, I mean "armed"

Pepper spray would at least be useful.
TrojanHorse is offline  
Old 11-14-12, 11:50 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,953
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Liked 6 Times in 6 Posts
If HB means Huntington Beach then you are all kinds of fubar'd.
you might as well buy a real gun because the consequences are the same.

Just carrying it, and the popo stop you... will have you munching pillows with unintentional boyfriends for a while.
better bone up on CA gun laws
Worst idea ever.
cruiserhead is offline  
Old 11-15-12, 12:21 AM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
JetWave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 359
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
You don't carry that gun unless your last name is Bond. Joking aside BAD BAD idea.
JetWave is offline  
Old 11-15-12, 12:30 AM
  #18  
Maximus
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,846
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
..
https://www.hulu.com/watch/10310
Gluteus is offline  
Old 11-15-12, 12:32 AM
  #19  
Chainstay Brake Mafia
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,026
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 10 Posts
i wouldn't be surprised if it's illegal just to remove the orange tip to make it look like a real gun

get pepper spray. or dont ride there

Just carrying it, and the popo stop you... will have you munching pillows with unintentional boyfriends for a while.
if the cops don't shoot you first
frantik is offline  
Old 11-15-12, 12:34 AM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 367
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I'd either find a new place to ride or get a real gun.

Fake gun does nothing.

Sounds like you live in hell.
gamby is offline  
Old 11-15-12, 01:49 AM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
zazenzach's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,282
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 24 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Originally Posted by Bingo Blingo
I have always heard "Don't ever show a gun unless you intend to use it". It's an invitation for the other party to use deadly force. So how would one use a toy gun?
this is worth emphasizing again and again.

guns are a last resort. you only show one if you're in a situation where you have to use it. they are not meant to be some form of visual cue you use to dissuade others from messing with you.

plus, if someone is crazy enough to start a physical altercation with a stranger, he's probably crazy enough to be carrying a firearm or other weapon himself, which he will use to kill you.


Originally Posted by frantik
i wouldn't be surprised if it's illegal just to remove the orange tip
it is in many states and under many different circumstances.
zazenzach is offline  
Old 11-15-12, 03:49 AM
  #22  
Senior Member
 
surgeonstone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South Bend IN
Posts: 11,218

Bikes: 1976 FRESCHI, 2004 Crumpton.

Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 925 Post(s)
Liked 21 Times in 10 Posts
Either trolling or just plain stupid, no scratch that - unbelievably stupid.
surgeonstone is offline  
Old 11-15-12, 04:09 AM
  #23  
Senior Member
 
jdip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 131
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I have to agree with everyone else... This is a terrible and very dangerous idea.
jdip is offline  
Old 11-15-12, 04:33 AM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
Essex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Northeast United States
Posts: 1,147

Bikes: Tarmac, Focus Urban 8, Giant Hybrid

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Your writing suggests some level of literacy. So, why would anyone capable of writing this well chose to ride in areas where trouble is around the corner? Personally, I've traveled in very dicey parts of the world and cyclists (unless they are moving at turtle speed and look vulnerable ) are not the preferred target of hoodlums.
Essex is offline  
Old 11-15-12, 04:44 AM
  #25  
Mostly harmless ™
 
Bike Gremlin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Novi Sad
Posts: 4,424

Bikes: Heavy, with friction shifters

Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1105 Post(s)
Liked 213 Times in 127 Posts
Find the time to read this:

https://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/

Then do what YOU think is best.



One more thing. I don't trust the police to make the streets safe, but for some PARTICULAR problems (ceratin persons, or certain areas, at certain times), you should be able to get some cooperation and protection. If you go to the local police station, introduce yourself, let them see you're not hot headed and realise you have a REAL problem (if you do).
Bike Gremlin is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.