fascinating thread on this. so, does anybody cycle armed? and if so have you ever had occasion to remove the weapon in anger or self-protection while on the ride?
Yes. I live where there is a good population of Grizzly bears. Only once I’ve pulled it out, as it was a mix of panic, shitting myself, and going for my gun…when in fact the brown shaggy beast in front of me was not a grizzly bear, but a musk Ox. But it was good to know that I could get it out in a hurry, and that I was a “clincher” not a “releaser” in a panic situation.
fascinating thread on this. so, does anybody cycle armed? and if so have you ever had occasion to remove the weapon in anger or self-protection while on the ride?
I have had someone pull a gun on me before and I would say that about 2x a year I get in really significant road rage incident. Granted I do 99% of my cycling alone. When it comes down to it I still get more scared by dogs, than people. Never carried and no plans to.
I own firearms. I have a license to carry. Never carried while training biking or otherwise, and never needed despite most of the riding on 2-lane rural roads.
I only really had two car “incidents” ever. One big truck trying to run me off the road. What was I supposed to do? Shoot their windows out if I had a gun? Expect to survive a crash and then shoot after them if they rammed me? Laughable. Second incident was an overconfident shit for brains in a giant 80s convertible who was convinced I cut him off (HAHA!) when I went left into the left turn lane. I actually signaled he didn’t see it. That didn’t go past verbal abuse.
I’ve found the thread very interesting as well, despite it getting away from its intended purpose. What I find particularly interesting is the amount of people who don’t seem to understand or want to understand the rules/laws of conceal carry. Use of the weapon is the last resort when there are no other options.
I have a concealed carry permit and own a number of guns. I have never carried and wouldn’t even think of it while riding my bike. I will always try to de escalate, I would much rather have a slightly wounded male ego than make a widow.
Cars and trucks are too big to argue with.
Dan,
I am an avid sportsman and have a license to conceal carry in my state of PA. (I would like to say that if anyone has ever pulled there firearm in anger I highly recommend not carrying it in the future) That being said I have never concealed carried while on a bike. The thought process behind this being that the reason I carry is to protect my family. I usually ride alone or with my buddies. I figure most people who would be looking to commit the sort of act I would need my weapon for would be looking for a woman or younger adult. Although I live in a rural area and 2 cyclists were recently robbed at gunpoint out on a back road about 2 miles from me. They would have had to shoot me…there is no way I would have stopped.
On another note I am looking for a good rig to carry a crossbow and rifle (1 at a time) on the mountain bike for hunting. If anyone has suggestions let me know.
I have mine mounted to a k-edge bracket beside my go pro on the handlebars. Saddle has a rear-mount pepper spray dispenser. Cycling is crazy-dangerous, you never know what could happen.
I have a concealed carry permit and own a number of guns. I have never carried and wouldn’t even think of it while riding my bike. I will always try to de escalate, I would much rather have a slightly wounded male ego than make a widow.
Cars and trucks are too big to argue with.
That’s the key. Most of the road rage situations escalate either protecting one’s ego, or the feeling of not being in control and attempting to regain control of the situation. Drop it. Both if it. Just come home safe. Someone flips you off or comes too close? Smile.
here in New Zealand, handguns (wouldn’t ride with an AK) are arguably impossible to get hold of.
In riding situations I’ve had motorists stop only a couple of times. One time, an apology, even tho I was in the right, defused the situation. In the other, the motorist was arguing the rules of the road. I claimed the road code said I was right. He grabbed a copy of the road code out of the glove box and asked me to show him where it said I was right. I thumbed through, found the clause and said “There”. From the passenger seat, his wife said “I told you”. He spun on his heel, hurled some abuse and stormed off. I suspect she got a black eye from him when they got home, but I got away safely
If I lived in the land of the hand gun, I don’t know if I’d carry or not. Probably not, until I got shot at, then I’d carry.
I used to carry my ‘driving instructor’ which was an old seat post, carried in a spare pump clip. I used that once to take out the rear 1/4 window of a Mercedes that smeared me into the curb one morning. Another time 3 girls hurled full cans of coke out the car window, trying to hit me. I caught them at the next traffic lights and used the driving instructor to remove the side view mirror.
I switched bikes and have never got around to installing the driving instructor on the new bike.
“I have had someone pull a gun on me before”
yeah, but you piss a lot of people off. was it another pro triathlete?
Depends on my route. Yes I have carried on the bike, no I have never pulled it while carrying on the bike.
“I have had someone pull a gun on me before”
yeah, but you piss a lot of people off. was it another pro triathlete?
Lol, no it was not another triathlete at all. Just a regular pick-up truck loving, cyclist hating peep.
fascinating thread on this.
Indeed.
Since you are asking, as you know, I live in Canada, thus, to the best of my knowledge, it would be illegal for me to be carrying any sort of firearm, loaded and ready to go, concealed or otherwise while on a public roadway.
I’ve ridden a bike all over the place for over 30 years in Canada and in the U.S., and I have never, ever felt like I would be in a situation when/where I would need a firearm.
Now, I’ve been on a few rides in areas of the U.S., where I am sure “locals” would have advised me either not to go, or perhaps arm myself accordingly. I recall one ride, a one and done affair when I was passing through Savannah GA. Headed straight inland, on some beautiful back roads - big trees, Spanish moss, the whole bit. As I carried on, the houses got progressively more dumpy until they were more shacks than houses. Everyone seemed friendly. Waving from the front porches, and elsewhere. Road an hour in and an hour back. The guy at the front desk of the hotel I was staying at near the Interstate, thought I was crazy. Told me he never goes back in that area!
While living up in the mountains I would carry while mountain biking and trail running. But that was more an issue of wildlife than anything else (Moose are F’in aggressive and bear spray doesn’t do jack). I used a chest pack which also let me carry food/ID etc.
As I said in the other thread, I never carry when training on my road bike.
I’ve found the thread very interesting as well, despite it getting away from its intended purpose. What I find particularly interesting is the amount of people who don’t seem to understand or want to understand the rules/laws of conceal carry. Use of the weapon is the last resort when there are no other options.
I think the last resort debate is interesting as it appears from various news sources and professional police officers that this is very much in debate. I’m not saying anything but I know for myself that if I’m biking and my heart rate is already up that I might be prone to make the wrong decision.
I wouldn’t consider riding with a gun and I never have. Having one wouldn’t have helped in the few encounters I’ve had with angry motorists. I’ve never dealt with a large carnivore while on a bike ride. I don’t ride through the 'hood late at night. I can’t imagine trying to pull a gun out of a holster/fanny pack/camelback and shooting at the dogs that have chased me while I’m still trying to ride my bike.
just funnin’ wit ya 
.
I totally respect anyone’s decision to own or not own a gun.
But what baffles me are the people that have concealed carry training/license and firearms but yet don’t bother to take it when they are cycling. Why carry it everywhere else if you’re not going to carry it when you’re out isolated by yourself surrounded by angry drivers? It’s not hard to dismount and brandish a weapon if god forbid need be. I’ve had far more scary scenarios while cycling than I have in general public. If I were going to carry it anywhere that’s exactly where it would be!
“I have had someone pull a gun on me before”
yeah, but you piss a lot of people off. was it another pro triathlete?
It’s only January, maybe a little early to be breaking out the post of the year material?