Does trail safety influence your riding?

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You may or may not have heard about this: 2 weeks ago outside Atlanta a female cyclist was raped and murdered. She rode the trail regularly and was alone.



This is the exact same trail I ride and I do usually break off from my group and go ahead. I used to stop at places that were quiet, but no longer. I still ride ahead and people think I'm nuts. A lot of other women I talk to have guns or mace in the back of their jerseys. I don't and my co-workers keep putting personal safety memos on my desk and forward me these absurd e-mails from a friend of a friend that knew a person who once worked with a person whose cousin survived this horrific attack.



How did this affect you or did it effect you at all?

I know this is an old post, but I hav 2 reply. I feel 4 u :( girls in the sport. Us guys don't hav that aformentioned worry. But we want, and need, women in the sport. My dear, get yourself a pocket pistol and some training. It'll give u that element of security as long as your comfortable with it ( i.e.proper and safe handling of firearms ) Also, it's not as cumbersome as it may seem if'n yer crafty. If u r interested, message back 2 me. My weapons training is from the U.S.M.C. (oooRAHHH!!, SEMPER FI!!!) and I might have a few tips. I've trained more than 1 female in this respect. :) All happy shooter's today.

Gosh, pistol slung cyclists in the US... I think I'll stay away from those areas. :rolleyes:

cool....more room to go faster :D. U should only worry if you r a perp though ;). Remember, my freind, we ARE talkin bout a damsel in distress. Strict attention, of the realistic type, must b paid. This is not a freindly world in which we reside. Trust me on this one, I know. But on a positive note, I believe we cyclists are making it better :) .

p.s. here in the good ole' US of A we believe in the right to protect ourselves. So much so, we wrote it into the constitution.