How many of you carry a gun as part of your cycling equipment?

martin_j001

lokstah, similar to the religion thread in the bike cafe, you are correct that this thread turned into an argument on law, culture and society. Although that was not its intended purpose at all. The thread starter in no way asked what everyones opinion on carrying while they rode--but if they carry, and I'm sure he would have liked to know what they carry. In terms of those two questions, this is in fact a cycling equipment question. On the other hand, the thread on religion in the bike cafe forum is not related to cycling at all--that thread needs to be "concealed" long before this one does (and in every other forum I'm a member of, it certainly would have been deleted--or moved to a more appropriate place at the least). As some have already pointed out, this topic is getting a lot of attention, with most of its posts still relevant and on topic--discussion between those who carry and about what they carry. I stress again, that in terms of the thread starters post, this thread is still a cycling equipment topic.
Also, similar to the religion topic, you will always get people who want to post just to argue about who is right and who is wrong. In every post that has anything remotely to do with politics, religion, guns, cyclist rights, doping--it will ALWAYS turn into a pissing contest between those who think one way and those who think another way, and the most vocal ones will be the most closed minded ones (usually the case).

capwater

380 auto with hollowpoints, unless of course I'm in a race or group ride.

lokstah

Martin, I appreciate your explanation. I've visited this thread from time to time roughly since it was a baby, and I understand the perspective--there is a contingent of cyclists who think little of carrying a handgun on a Sunday ride.

That said, it's a tremendous stretch to consider a firearm a piece of "cycling equipment," whether there's a dedicated circle of armed cyclists or not. If 8,000 of the country's billion automobile commuters religiously carry PowerBars in their cars for the sake of feeding the homeless at intersections, that wouldn't qualify PowerBars as "car equipment," suitable for discussion alongside steering columns and luggage racks. You'll never find handguns listed in the QBP catalogue, despite the fact that Joe and Capwater pack while riding.

That said, the non-contentious gun talk which has occured here is pretty bike-removed. It's vanilla gun-enthusiast chatter.

It's also undeniable that gun ownership is, unlike groupset choice and tubeset material, a culturally and ethically contentious issue, period. It has been for years. To characterize the lightning-rod effect this thread has had as being the fault of noisy anti-gun folks, and not the natural effect of discussing guns in a forum about bikes, is silly.

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i relish complicating the obvious and trivializing the stupendous

biker7

It is you lohstah who is the lightening rod and perpetuating this thread...lol. As a non gun owner I do not take exception to the placement or the content of this thread at all. It has in fact been informative as I would have never imagined that so many car a gun when they ride their bike. I will be more careful who I outrun out there on the bike trails for fear of reprisal...lol.
Take it easy brother.
George

howierart

When I go cycling I carry as little as possible, who wants to carry soemthing heavy up the hills with you? I even empty the essentials from my wallet into a plastic bag to keep the weight down. Though in these modern times Ive found towing a gas chamber comes in useful. Just in case I see someone who might be a threat...No to be honest im lucky to live in a part of England werethe birds sing and the sun shines. I say hi to my neigbours and everythings nice. Every now and again if we got problems we get drunk and fight it out like men..Ha ha ha ha or take it all out in a time trial or a football game... Peace and love to one and all! Ive learnt soemthing from this, something I already knew.. Ive no reason and no desire to ever go to America..

lokstah

I do question your statement, above, particularly since you've compared my objection to the presence of this thread, with your objection to the presence of Boudreaux. On more than one occasion, in discussing the latter, you've criticized myself and others for not speaking out against him, all the while perpetuating extended shouting matches of your own. Don't you think you're qualifying these respective crusades a little oddly?

I just don't find this a remotely relevant thread. There are plenty who find the subject interesting, but the only substantial discussion which has arisen has been either heated discourse on gun ownership, or pure gun-enthusiast tech chatter which simply can't be qualified as discussion about cycling equipment.

I'm calm here at my desk (trust me... all the coffee in the world isn't going to perk this guy up right now), but that's my opinion, George. It's my take. Like you, I'm willing to dedicate some thread space from time to time to object to material I think is misplaced or inappropriate; that's all.

Stay cool.

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i relish complicating the obvious and trivializing the stupendous

Hazmat

why not a compact .45? there are some very light models on the market and when its at the base of your back, 4-6oz is not a whole lot

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Weisse Luft

The difference in effectiveness between a .380 and a compact .45 is much less than that between a .22/.25 and a .380. I have a few .45's but they are all full size. The lightest .45 is still about 20 oz, loaded. Or twice that of the Kel Tec P3AT, also loaded. When I ride in bear country, and that is grizzly, not black, I carry my steel frame Para Ord that has been converted to .45 Super. 200 grain truncated cone FMJ's at 1200 FPS is barely adequate bear stopper, pun intended. The only saving grace is the 14 round magazine. Yes, it kicks a bit more than the P3AT

Hazmat

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my oldest brother has a few Paras and he's converted one of the .45s to a super .45, I've only used it at the range a few times, but its a very smooth peice, though I am not a fan of the grip he put on.

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Alpha

Joe, how would a foreigner detect american truth from american fiction when americans don't know the difference!

Joe West

Some Americans do

ritcho

It's nice to see this thread pop up again, I thought it was dead, but someone woke it up again.

Fwiw, I don't carry a gun as cycling equipment or as any equipment. Gun ownership is heavily restricted in this country, for pretty good reasons and I've never had a situation would require one. Not a single person I know has been in such a situation either, though I suspect there may be some luck involved.

Nevertheless, there are lots of people in this country that need to use firearms - security guards, police, farmers and they use them for their intended purpose.

At the very least, though I don't share all his views, Joe W (and others) advocate intensive training in the safe use of firearms, for those that want them and are allowed to have them.

Next time you're down under, come for a ride, have a beer, but you'll have to leave the gun at home...

Ritch

martin_j001

I'm glad someone else is picking up on that too. All too often, gun owners are given the stereotype as reckless people who have a way to kill people, and thats not always the truth. Similar to the stereotype that a legal, law abiding gun carrier is a more dangerous person (completely opposite of the truth). Training is what every gun owner needs to have--with their specific firearm. However, as with cars, training doesn't always make everyone the perfect car/gun owner.

capwater

Unless were talking mounting a 5.56 mm SAW on carbon fiber aero bars, what say we 86 this thread gents?