macaroni steve

I had to shoot a few people on my last tour. The first one was sort of fun... I mean, I had just gotten off work in NYC and was SO jonesin' to pump someone full of lead. By the time the third psycho tried to kidnap me (somewhere around Burlington, VT) I become sort of numb to the thrill... not to mention the brains I had to clean off of my tent each night....

Sorry for being so sarcastic... but I cannot believe I'm reading this thread. Are you people serious? Carrying a gun on a bike tour? You're more likely to cause a problem than to be the victim of one. Sure there ARE psychos out there, but it's completely ridiculous to go on a bike tour in this mindset. And yes, you are paranoid. I certainly wouldn't want to tour with any of you gun carrying folks.

RalphP

Um, did you read the thread? Wait, there's no question, you didn't even skim the thread with any attention.

stormchaser

No he didn't read any of it.

I'm a gun owner and I would not recommend it, and I have been shot at in a situation where it would've been nice to be able to return fire but was unarmed due to carry laws in the locale.

What I would recommend instead would be a partner to ride with. That would help with safety and more importantly keep you from going bonkers. You could have someone to talk to and help pitch the tent.

Also recommend taking coffee.

jcm

Easy there. Your stereotypical anti-gun kneejerking is what's paranoid. You might be surprised at how many people carry around you. I doubt you could tell if any of them are anything other than normal. Put down the flame-thrower.

jamawani 

Years ago -

On a cross-country trip, I was riding on a gravel road in the Black Hills of South Dakota. A pick-up was flying towards me and I kept giving the "Palms-Down / Slow Down!" gesture. He didn't. He flew by me kicking up gravel and dinging my leg pretty bad. So then, I gave him the "Extended Finger" gesture. He screeched to a stop. I was - of course - alone.

I spun my bike around facing him as he jumped out of his truck. Me - being the diplomat - I said, "Gee, you sure were in a hurry a moment ago. And now you have time to stop!" I had my hand inside the handlebar bag - probably digging around for my wallet so they could identify my body if anybody found it. The guy's buddy in the passenger seat kept screaming at him, "Get back in the truck! He's got a gun!"

Actually, it was a banana.

PS - After a couple of F.U.s, he got back in the truck and drove off.

PSS - There's a lesson in this, somewhere, for solo cyclists.

PhattTyre

While your sarcasim did make me laugh a little, read the posts, no one has told me this is a good idea and I myself admitted to coming up with this bad idea while posting a little drunk.

Had I been thinking a little clearer my question might have read:

"What are some safety precautions and self-protection options one should take while touring alone?"

In reading all the posts it sounds like a little common sense and maybe some pepper spray would do it. Is that accurate?

PhattTyre

Never flip off the hilly-billy romping his pick-up?

macaroni steve

yeah, i did read the thread. and even though guns aren't the primary topic here, it's weird to think that some people that have posted (although most don't condone the use of guns) have carried guns in the past. now, im not completely anti-firearm and there's nothing wrong with vigilance and self-defence. but a gun on a bike trip? i'm sorry, but thats just the exact kind of mentality that i'm trying to get away from on a bike trip

jamawani 

Phatt & Mac - -

Since both of you are planning your first big trips, I'll share twenty years' experience.

Solo touring carries additional risks - especially for women - but also for men. I look forward to the day when women can do things alone and not be accosted, but will probably not live to see it. But guys, too, can find themselves in trouble. I've been challenged by a group of guys maybe 10 times in twenty years in the vein of, "You think you're really tough on that bike, doncha?" It's happened in North Carolina, in Ohio, in Wyoming, in Oregon, even in the Northwest Territories. In the latter case, I was already in my tent - they were drinking - and I chose not to respond AT ALL. I just pretended to be sound asleep - but it was scary. For whatever reason, guys have testosterone problems.

That leads to alcohol and recreational drugs. You need all your wits about you - especially if you are planning to random camp. I did a lot of drinking in my first three tours and got into a few difficult situations - like crashing with someone who turned out to be a big-time dealer in a small town - really smart - or getting taken home and hit on by a homophobic/homicidal redneck - that's always a fun situation. Learn to lie politely. I would be VERY careful about accepting overnight accomodations if solo touring. I'd say about 98% of the difficult situations involved drunk people - even when I was perfectly sober.

Yeah, I'm a cheapskate - but I also prefer the qualities of random camping. Campgrounds nowadays are usually zoos - especially KOAs and other private ones - massive RVs, CD players, loud arguments about who should be voted off "Idol" next. I might as well be in Brooklyn - with apologies to Brooklynites. But random camping alone has risks. In areas with poorly-paid farm or construction workers, illegal immigrants often stealth camp. Some, not all, of these camps have problems with alcohol, drugs, and violence. This is especially true along the Mexican border and in California's Central Valley. I accidentally saw some drug runners coming into a remote section of the North Carolina coast one night. I flattened myself in the sand dunes for hours and didn't move. These folks don't ask questions. In general, more problems happen on weekends. That great stealth camping spot may also be a prime hang-out for teenagers to party in. If you are far from any civilization, then the day doesn't matter, but if you are close in - a campground might be wise on weekends.

I live in the West and have gotten into many gun conversations. Years ago at the University of Wyoming, my fellow grad students couldn't believe I didn't carry a gun in my pick-up. For those who are O.K. with guns - fine - but I believe that carrying a gun actually INCREASES your risk. I believe that carrying a gun and not carrying a gun involve fundamentally different outlooks. I believe that carrying a gun may lull you into situations that you might otherwise avoid or downplay. That said, the poster who wrote that you shouldn't carry one unless you are prepared to use it - is absolutely right.

"Prudence" has a bad name these days - as in - "She's a prude." But the old saying - "Prudence is the better part of wisdom." - certainly applies to bike touring. And, especially solo touring.

If you want any more route info, just e-mail me directly by clicking on my handle.

Happy trails - Juan

tacomee

Juan's last post was pure touring gold--- stay away from booze and dope. I'm a guy who really likes beer, but most all the troubles I've ever had on bike where at a tavern, or with people who just left a tavern.... just be careful. Small town America is infected with a tiny number of hateful cowards who use alcohol as liquid courage to mess with strangers.

I'm not a church going person, but I highly reccomend using churches as a resorce on tour. Stop in and ask if you can fill your water bottles. Ask about places to eat, things to see, roads good for riding, places to camp safely. I always try to send postcards to churches that help me, just to say thank you. Ask for email adresses, give yours freely.

If you tour in one area mostly-- it's easy to make a friends network.

macaroni steve

Well said jamawani,

I have never toured alone and am currently planning my 3rd big trip in a couple of weeks (Florida to NYC).

Being from NYC, I naturally have some fears about the "deliverance" types out there. So I might actually find myself in a more concerned position if I were alone. That said, I can appreciate Phatt Tire's anxiety about it. I guess I was just very surprised to find people talking about bringing guns on a bike trip.. i mean it really is funny to me. I might bring some pepper spray though.

Krink

I'd recommend the pepper spray, though I've heard laws vary on that, too. Does anyone know? You're far more likely to use it on a dog, though. But that's another controversy. I carry it when I remember but I've never used it.

I once toured with a woman in the midwest, and we camped in a small town park next to a river at the suggestion of some rugged looking dudes in greasy overalls. It was hot and humid like you were walking around in somebody's mouth, and most everyone in the little town eventually came down to the river to cool off, and talk to us. We also went to a bar to eat, and realized people had heard about us even if we hadn't met them.

That night my friend got a case of nerves, even though everyone had been friendly. She finally fell asleep humming Dueling Banjos with me. But after she fell asleep, I was alone with my thoughts,and then I started to worry. The river gurgled. Twigs snapped. Someone was definitely sneaking up on the tent! I jumped out ready to confront whoever was lurking and do battle bare handed (and bare-assed). And, of course, I saw absolutely no one in the moonlight, unless you count some spooky shadows and a white-faced Holstein placidly chewing her cud across the fence.

A gun could have made that Holstein an victim of silliness and exhaustion. It's one to thing to accidently waste a dude in dirty overalls, but just think how guilty I would have felt to bring down an innocent bovine.


Bring a way to make coffee, not just for yourself, but to make for others if you camp with them. It's a happy drug. I think alcohol stoves are very easy to use and the fuel isn't under pressure or as explosive, a plus for anyone who doesn't achieve full mental acuity until after the first cup of the day.

Speedo

I can't speak for other states, but in Massachusetts you need a "Firearms Identification" or FID card. To get one for a real firearm you need to take a safety course. That's not required for pepper spray, or chemical mace. So, for pepper spray it's a formality, but still needs to be done. In today's world of mandatory sentencing, I think it would be worth checking the states you intend to pass through. I imagine you can handle any paperwork before you leave home.

Speedo

Tom Stormcrowe

Juan, one of the best posts I've read about guns and bike touring! Especially that part where you state that if you carry, it greatly increases the chance you'll get in a situation where you perceive you need to use it!(paraphrased).

Nermal

Overall, I go with the consensus that the cons outweigh the pros on the matter of carrying a gun. I don't, and wouldn't. I own guns, but carrying tends to limit the options, rather than expand them. Still, I would accuse no one of paranoia for asking opinions.