Well in kansas the wind is always blowing, sometimes it's blowing in your face. And no, i have several knives that i would say would make a great self defense weapon, one of them is a Emerson la griffe, it's a fixed blade with a one inch blade that has a hole in the handle you put your finger through. Nearly invisible, very concealable and flat in the pocket, and fast to deploy. I don't think someone could take my lagriffe away from me so it's very good for self defense.

I also believe that if someone punched or grabbed me and i opened a 6 inch cut in their arm and said, want some more or are we through? That most people would want to take themselves to the hospital. Hardly life threatening.

As for the skill required, not true. Say will, not skill. Conceal the knife until the last moment and be determined to use it. Suprise, speed, and maintaining the initiative will win for you in a self defense situation.

I have never stabbed or cut someone so most of this is coming out of my ass and the books that i have read, some by people who actually know what they are talking about.

and c) it can easily be taken and used against you.

I'm all for a collapsable baton or pepperspray however.

Pepper spray is not veyr handy on windy days. Collapsable batons are illegal.

I thought we talked about bikes here, not how to make a crime scene look like self defense/manslaughter? Jesus, I smile and wave at people on the street because I'm friendly and nice. I think I would hate life if walked about assuming everyone was armed and wanted to **** me up. It's not like I'm unaware of crime. I work for a public defender office that only handles death penalty cases. Just go ride your bike, wave to you neighbor, and calm the **** down. So you got spat on, some woman showed my brother her tits as he was riding the other day. We all have good days on our bikes and we all have bad days.

Not to mention that pepper spray or a taser can knock someone down from a far.
Ever tried to knife fight while riding a bike? It's not easy!

We do talk about bikes here. Sometimes because we ride bicycles it places us at risk. In a car you are much more anonymous and much more safe. Some people don't understand why we are even on the street and it makes them act oddly. I work, pay my taxes, and obey the law. Sometimes people become victims and then statistics. If you read an article about someone defending themselves it stands out. If you read an article about someone being the victim of a crime it blends in to the other victims, the other statistics.

How do you handle road rage when you are on a bike? What do you do if someone chases you off the road and then parks in front of u, slams on the brakes and gets out of their car? Happened to me three times where i live in the last 6 months. I am white in a poor neighborhood full of blacks and mexicans and i ride a bicycle. Here i am the minority.

You might think that we are "civilized" here in America and for the most part you would be correct. But if someone crosses over the police will not protect you. I'm not advocating paranoia here, if you constantly look for trouble u will find it. But sometimes trying to avoid trouble isnt enough and that is not the time to think about self protection.

Well it's good to discuss these situations so, as this thread obviously points out, we know what to do or not to do in a situation like that when our emotions get the best of us. Information like how to make a crime scene look like self-defense can prove very useful to some of us... And what's wrong with some woman showing your brother her cans? I'm no perv but I wouldn't mind. ;)

They spit at you and rode past. They didn't hurt you or take anything. Move on--your pride may be injured, but life is too valuable.

Sadly this is mostly right. The police works best usually AFTER the act.
Like that scene from the Simpsons when Marge goes in to Chief Wiggum and tells him someone's threatening her. "Ma'am, there's nothing we can do, come back when you have the knife in your back, not all the way in, but it has to at least stand up on its own."

Ok interesting thread. I just want to say this if you pull a hand held mele weapon out in a confrontation it can be taken from you. If you do not understand the concept of ranges and have no idea how to use your chosen weapon, you are endangering yourself. Regardless of whether it is a knife, mace, baton etc. Out of the three a knife is quicker.
However in NYC weapon choice is key considering like Ca. and Mass. most hand held weapons inclusive of Martial Art weapons are illegal to carry, and in alot of states the length of a knife blade is what is used to determine legal or illegal. My Camillus for example is legal to carry in Tx. however my 10" Ontario tanto is not.

Unfortunately, in NYC, almost everything mentioned here, tasers, stun guns, mace, is illegal.
A 10 lb chain with a 2.5 lb chunk of lock at the end capable of blowing through a car roof worn around my shoulders, however, is perfectly legal...

Personally, I don't think it was racist, or racially motivated.
I think it was just stupid teenagers doing what stupid teenagers
do.

Marty

I can't imagine many things that would make me more angry than having someone spit on me. However, going postal with 6 foes, even teens, could well be a bad idea. Even if you know what you're doing. You pull your knife they pull 4 or 5 knives and the only thing you prove is how much your medical insurance will pay. Khife fights are nasty business. I wouldn't choose that option unless I was cornered. And BTW, in a past life, I taught martial arts.

Just for the record, that was a good day for my brother.

Once more with feeling, here is the pic of the knife i carry. This won't be taken away and if someone wants a carry knife for self defense this one is a good one. Should be legal everywhere as it has a one inch blade.

http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecent.../lagriffe.html

Try "Counterassault" bear repellent--like a cross between mace and wasp&hornet spray. Guaranteed to make a grizzly cry at 30 feet, so who knows what it would do to a gang of ruffians trying to part you from your bike. Plus it comes in a handy size to fit in your stash pocket.

Hello?

A collapsible baton or pepperspray can also be taken and used against you. Imagine you don't have the stomach to fight and they take your baton and crack your head open with it, just as bad as being stabbed with a knife. Or if they take your pepperspray and spray you in the eyes, then proceed to kick your skull in, just as bad as being stabbed to death.

Realistically, when you are carrying a weapon and actually pull it out to use in a fight, you're running the risk of getting yourself killed.

That's why I didn't do anything to those kids. I thought about the consequences and swallowed my pride. I wasn't going to go to jail for a group of fu*king kids.

Right on kurremkarm! Also as said above "You were scared for your life and are too shook up to talk right now".

No a knife is not ideal pepper spray is worse and I believe this took place in the peoples republic of N.Y.C. so the right tool for the job is illeagle.

Joe

Wise decision, Ultra-g. It is hard not to think about the things you WISH you could have done to the punk who spit on you though!

There was an incident where I was accosted by some gang members a little over a year ago (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=22564) while riding on a local bike trail. If I had had a weapon and tried to use it on six teenaged gang members, I probably would have been hurt or killed. While I had many sleepless nites for a time after that, mostly thinking of all the "superwoman" things I wished I could have done to those punks who scared the dickens out of me, I have to say that I am glad things turned out like they did...no **** kits at the hospital or bloodshed at least, just a scare that caused me to become more aware of my surroundings and the people I encounter on my rides. (I went for a ride on that bike trail in town yesterday, and I was pleased to see that it looks like it has been cleaned up and once again safe for the townspeople to enjoy.)

Can we split this forum into two?

Perhaps the 'Fixed Gear Forum' and the 'Paranoid militant's weaponry' forum.

THANK YOU

You did the right thing by not reacting. I wish there is a easy way to mete out justice that does not involve you taking up a weapon, but there is none as yet. Believe me, it is only a matter of time before the kids get their fair share. Their attitude/issues can only get them in trouble. I would be tempted to show pity on those poor idiots, considering the environment they are a product of.
What you do to someone reflect more on you than what someone do to you.

Ultra-g, it takes more courage not to fight back than to react to stupidity of others. If you had stabbed the dude, you would've ended up in jail and have a felony record that will ruin your life. Also, that **shole could sue you civilly and take all your assets. It's tough to be on the short end sometimes but it's better than making the situation worse. Fight back only when you are cornered otherwise the law is against you. It's not fair, but that's the way it is. You did the right thing.

A friend and I got mugged at gunpoint two weeks ago (http://www.absenter.org/past/2004/06...d_with_gun.php) while taking photos, riding on our bikes. I had my mini u-lock on me which I find to be a decent weapon if need be, but really, I don't have that kind of distrust or paranoia. Since the incident however, I've become even more aware and heightened, but I still don't want to live in a society where one has to carry around protection. I know that you may not go looking for it and it may come looking for you (as I've already experienced above) but it's stuff like carrying weapons that's just one bad bad idea.

Here's an example - about a month or so ago now, just across the street from Wrigley Field where the Cubs play (I live two blocks away -- and this is a yuppie neighbourhood) two Cubs fans got into an altercation of the most stupidest of issues -- one guy was crossing the street while this guy in this car was turning. Some drunken words were exchanged, the crossing guy had a souvenir bat and hit the car with it. Driver came out and they got into a tussle. Another guy came out of the car with a SHOTGUN and shot the guy with the souvenir bat.

This is just after a game, 6pm or so, on one of the busiest streets in town. Plenty of cops and witnesses and bystanders. They got caught obviously but it's ****e like that, that makes me wonder.

Wow, I'm really looking forward to the time when I feel as though I have to ride around my city with the assumption that -

1. Everyone is armed.
2. That they can harm me.
3. Someone is going to come out on top and if it isnt me the other person might not stop.
4. I will harm them.

Man, look at all the fun I'm missing out on! All that anger, suspicion, fear and paranoia! I wonder, living in a place where you have to ride around with that mentality, what has to happen before you start to think "Hey, this is wrong. What's causing this? How can I help change it?"

As for the specific incident, there's not much you can do about it. Why pick a fight with 5 people just because one spat on you? It is worth ruining your life and stooping to their level? And why abuse some guy just because he was one of the group, when he obviously wasnt the one who spat on you? What, one 'Hispanic' guy spits on you so now you feel as though you can exacerbate the whole problem by abusing the one guy that you could catch?

Honestly, I don't think becoming part of the problem is going to do anyone any favours - you need to channel that sh1t into something positive before you do something stupid.