Do you know where the OP will be touring?

I don't really care to be honest.

My post was more of a general reply to all the anecdotal pseudo-science about not needing bear spray.

I must have missed where someone opined that it would never be useful. Can you show where someone so opined?

I must have missed where I stated that. Can you show me where I did?

Get over yourself.

Just got back from a road bike tour in bear country (Jasper AB to Missoula MT). We did have a can of bear spray along that one of our friends had given us, but it remained packed away where it wouldn't have been of any use if needed. Just didn't feel the threat was sufficient while cycling on roads where the chance of a surprise encounter would be very small. (Loved the warning on the can to not spray it on your body or clothing - guess some were thinking that bear repellant was similar in use to mosquito repellant.)

I'm sure the mozzies would find it unbearable.

Classic!

That is what the decision is about at least for me. There has to be a real risk before I add another 1 pound item to my gear. When you look at the bear attack statistics there aren't all that many attacks even when you include fishermen, hunters, backpackers, berry pickers, geologists, forest rangers, lumber crews, and all other folks in the outdoors. Someone on a road tour is at pretty low risk of a bear attack even if they do a little hiking here and there. If they stick to the lower 48 the risk is even lower.

I have read over the bear attack death statistics and have never heard of a single bear attack on a bicycle tourist. Granted only the fatal attacks reliably get recorded, but still, out of thousands of bike tourists touring millions of miles over the last 100+ years I would have to hear of at least a few serious attacks before I'd feel the need for bear spray.

To my way of thinking, using good camping practices and good sense when bears are sighted is sufficient for any touring I plan to do on or off road. The risk is higher for off road tours or backpacking trips, but I still think it is reasonable to forgo the bear spray for those as well.

If someone chooses to carry bear spray on tour that is fine if it makes them feel better, but the likelihood that they will need it is pretty minute and for those of us who try to pack light the extra weight isn't insignificant.

I worked in Philiy for over 25 years doing plumbing in residences and section 8 projects. I've had many run ins with dogs. I've beat a few off with a plunger it flashlight, but usually they will respond to a command voice.

BUT...

I lived upstate for a few years. We had one or two packs of feral dogs. A-holes from the towns would come up to the mountain and drop off unwanted dogs. I guess they felt they could survive up there or something. Those dogs that lived would join the pack and give birth to some nasty dogs. Those dogs were nasty. Very nasty. God help anyone who thought a handful of rocks would stop them. Im not sure how helpful pepper spray would work either. I only had three run ins with them but they were enough to be glad when I learned the neighboring campground used to shoot them in droves before the campers came for the summer.



Only ever had one run In with a bear. Both of us were scared and ran the other way. Luck for me he was pretty young. We had momma bear trapped and relocated. She was big and angry.

Another Meanace out there in the wild would be a pissed off deer. They aren't a whole lot of fun either.

And if you've lived in Philly your whole life and ever had any trouble you don't get our much.

Fox labs makes the nastiest pepper spray out there. If I was worried about bears i would be carrying some of that.

Housekeeping at your campsite is most important.

Carrying a gun big enough to dissuade a bear would be a lot of weight. I wouldn't bring it but a general backwoods answer is a short barreled .44 magnum revolver. Load the first two cylinders with .44 specials for critters and people, the last four with magnums for tough critters and tough people.

I had clearly stated in the orig. post that I was trying to find a lower cost substitute for the expensive bear sprays with a product that has similar long range spray/jet and was much cheaper. My question was if anyone had inadvertently been sprayed with Wasp Spray (or had the info from other sources) and was it irritating enough to be used as bear spray. It was pointed out that it may injur/harm the bear permanently, though the MSDS did not indicate so. So, I conceded that the Wasp Spray was not a good alternate. One reason for asking here was that the audience would not need an explanation of what a bear spray was. May be I should have posted in some hunting or hiking forum where a bear spray is more acceptable and would not have generated this unforeseen and definitely unplanned discussion resulting in it being a troll.

This will be my last response to the thread that IMHO has gone far off the track.

"Cyclists! Nom. Nom. Nom."

You mean something like this





Try 10% white vinegar with 6 million scoville hot sauce in a spray bottle. My spray bottle has a 20 feet reach.

I put inadvertently 7% white vinegar near my eyes and it hurt really bad for at least 1min. I can't imagine what adding hot sauce will do.

Coming to this discussion late. Here are my thoughts:

1. I assume you will be traveling somewhere with a significan bear population.
2. Wasp spray is designed for wasps. If wasp spray was designed for bears as well, it'd be called "wasp and bear spray".
3. Bear spray is intended to be a life saving product for both you and the bear. It saves you from being mauled, and it saves the bear from being put down after it mauls you.
4. Don't be the guy who killed both himself and a bear, because he was too cheap to buy real bear spray. It's too embarrassing.
5. If for whatever reason you can't use bear spray, bring a .44 magnum revolver.
6. Whatever you choose to use, practice with it before you have to use it against a real bear. Yes, that means you'll have to buy two cans of bear spray. Worried about the cost? Just do a half day of over time this weekend. There's four cans right there. You were probably just going to sleep in anyway.

Except the OP has never toured and, unless i missed something, has never even stated that he plans to tour in an area with a significant bear population.

check posts #65/#66



That aside.
The worst thing that could happen to us just happened.......bear/wolf alliance

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dail...184811892.html

This forum is for people to ask questions. That includes people who are new to touring. The OP doesn't need your approval before he is allowed to post. You are being antisocial.

No. I am thinking that this was all nothing but an attempt to inflame since even when asked he refused to state where and why he thought spray--bear, wasp or otherwise--would be useful to him. I.e.., There is not the slightest indication that he is planning to tour, much less planning to tour in an area where the likelihood of a bear confrontation is appreciable. If you think that passes for socialization then....

Perhaps you are upset that I pointed out some things that makes your assumption unwarranted. I find such reactions commonplace these days.

Whether if / when / where he plans to tour is his business. He asked a simple question about bear protection. If you don't feel like participating, just move on. No need to be nasty about it.