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Anyone carry pepper spray while riding?

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rec.bicycles.soc archive
Published
17 June 2004
Last activity
25 June 2004
Original author
J999w
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  1. Not so much for dogs ... I'll either spray some Gatorade on
    them or wack them with my pump ... but more for when
    encountering rowdy kids just starting their summer vacation,
    have had a few too many cans of beer, and getting just a
    little too abusive while half hanging out of the window of
    their friend's car.

    Had such an encounter tonight while out riding about 10:30pm
    (sometimes 'ya gotta ride whenever you can). Now, I'm a big
    guy (6'5" and 200+ lbs) and normally don't get harrassed,
    but every once and a while I come across some buzzed social
    bottom feeder feeling brave and is ready to take on the
    'faggy bicyclist'. My normal reaction is to flip them the
    finger, or give them a stream of expletives and some
    suggestions of physical impossible feats, but I fear that
    some hot night, when I'm out riding, I'll come across
    someone looking for a fight and I'm thinking that the full
    water bottle I bounce off their car will just entice them
    more and I'm going to need an edge (something legal).

    Anyone carry pepper spray? Ever use it? What kind?

    Thanks.

    jw Milwaukee

  2. "J999w" <[email hidden]> schreef in bericht
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    Anyone carry pepper spray? Ever use it? What kind?

    Thanks.

    jw Milwaukee

    roseversand.derose main.cfm
    d=0&vip=0&art=0

  3. Quoted message said:

    Anyone carry pepper spray? Ever use it? What kind?

    Ruger GP-100 4in barrel, stainless. 148gr. FJHP Federal
    Hydroshock Gun control - The ability to put two rounds
    through the same hole.

  4. I carry Halt to deal with dogs, but my Air Zound horn works
    just as well. I suppose the Halt would work pretty well
    against two legged predators, but my tiny little North
    American Arms 22 revolver will work better.

  5. J999w said:

    Anyone carry pepper spray? Ever use it? What kind?

    I started carrying Halt! after a homeless guy took a swing
    at me with his cane as I was riding by (he missed). I never
    did use it though. I was using that clip they make for it
    and about 6 months after I bought it, it fell off when I was
    on a long fast downhill. I haven't replaced it. I recomend
    not using that clip. I seem to get more threats from drivers
    who can roll their windows up and render it ineffective.
    Loose dogs are rare where I ride.

  6. Bill Davidson <[email hidden]> wrote in news:OE1Bc.8231$tC5.7408
    @fed1read02:

    Quoted message said:
    J999w said:

    Anyone carry pepper spray? Ever use it? What kind?

    I seem to get more threats from drivers who can roll their
    windows up and render it ineffective. Loose dogs are rare
    where I ride.

    In front of the windshield is the air intake vents. Some
    pepper spray directed to this area would be forced into the
    vehicle by the ventilation system regardless of whether the
    windows are up or not. I think most vehicles have some flow-
    through ventilation even if the system is switched off.

    --
    Mike DeMicco <[email hidden]

  7. "J999w" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Not so much for dogs ... I'll either spray some Gatorade
    on them or wack


    them

    Quoted message said:

    with my pump ... but more for when encountering rowdy kids
    just starting


    their

    Quoted message said:

    summer vacation, have had a few too many cans of beer, and
    getting just a little too abusive while half hanging out
    of the window of their friend's


    car.

    Quoted message said:


    Had such an encounter tonight while out riding about
    10:30pm (sometimes


    'ya

    Quoted message said:

    gotta ride whenever you can). Now, I'm a big guy (6'5" and
    200+ lbs) and normally don't get harrassed, but every once
    and a while I come across


    some

    Quoted message said:

    buzzed social bottom feeder feeling brave and is ready to
    take on the


    'faggy

    Quoted message said:

    bicyclist'. My normal reaction is to flip them the finger,
    or give them a stream of expletives and some suggestions
    of physical impossible feats,


    but I

    Quoted message said:

    fear that some hot night, when I'm out riding, I'll come
    across someone


    looking

    Quoted message said:

    for a fight and I'm thinking that the full water bottle I
    bounce off their


    car

    Quoted message said:

    will just entice them more and I'm going to need an edge
    (something


    legal).

    Quoted message said:


    Anyone carry pepper spray? Ever use it? What kind?

    Thanks.

    jw Milwaukee

    Colt .380 Mustang Pocketlite w/ 102 gr Golden Sabre ammo.
    Started carrying it all of the time (legally with gun
    permit) after 2 drunken hoofties tried to run me off of the
    road with their pickup truck.

  8. Mike,

    This is a pretty dangerous recommendation. Drivers of the
    ilk under discussion lack the talent to drive safely in the
    first place. Rendering them effectively blind in this
    manner could present a serious danger to a significant
    number of people. Even if you could prove you acted in self-
    defense, I think it likely that should the driver
    subsequently injure someone due to impairment, the
    responsibility would not land there.

    Despite their lack of skills, I cannot advocate the use of
    violence against drivers. Even the insolent hand gesture
    does nothing to improve my mood and potentially escalates a
    no-win situation into one where injuries may occur. Since I
    adopted a more mellow response to dangerous drivers, I find
    that I often forget about them and forget to even discuss
    them after the ride is over. Oh, I still mumble something
    under my breath while smiling and waving at them, but I am
    amused, rather than angry, at them when they look at me with
    total bewilderment.

    There may be times where weapons, sprays, or bad attitudes
    are an understandable response (I doubt, for example, that
    I'd be any too mellow if someone actually hit me), but most
    of the time, I find that I feel better about myself and the
    world, as a whole, if I just let it go.

    Rick

    "Mike DeMicco" <[email hidden]> wrote in
    message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Bill Davidson <[email hidden]> wrote in
    news:OE1Bc.8231$tC5.7408 @fed1read02:

    Quoted message said:
    J999w said:

    Anyone carry pepper spray? Ever use it? What kind?

    I seem to get more threats from drivers who can roll
    their windows up and render it ineffective. Loose dogs
    are rare where I ride.

    In front of the windshield is the air intake vents. Some
    pepper spray directed to this area would be forced into
    the vehicle by the ventilation system regardless of
    whether the windows are up or not. I think most vehicles
    have some flow-through ventilation even if the system is
    switched off.

    --
    Mike DeMicco <[email hidden]

  9. Quoted post said:

    Originally posted by J999w
    Not so much for dogs ... I'll either spray some Gatorade on
    them or wack them with my pump ... but more for when
    encountering rowdy kids just starting their summer vacation,
    have had a few too many cans of beer, and getting just a
    little too abusive while half hanging out of the window of
    their friend's car.

    Had such an encounter tonight while out riding about 10:30pm
    (sometimes 'ya gotta ride whenever you can). Now, I'm a big
    guy (6'5" and 200+ lbs) and normally don't get harrassed,
    but every once and a while I come across some buzzed social
    bottom feeder feeling brave and is ready to take on the
    'faggy bicyclist'. My normal reaction is to flip them the
    finger, or give them a stream of expletives and some
    suggestions of physical impossible feats, but I fear that
    some hot night, when I'm out riding, I'll come across
    someone looking for a fight and I'm thinking that the full
    water bottle I bounce off their car will just entice them
    more and I'm going to need an edge (something legal).

    Anyone carry pepper spray? Ever use it? What kind?

    Thanks.

    jw Milwaukee

    You're not one of those guys who rides in the road, even though there' a bike lane, are you? Many people get freaked out because of people on bicycles. Many are just idiots. But most don't want to hurt us. Those that do don't deserve a bullet (as many on this thread have basically siggested, and which, honestly at times, I might have condoned myself, I am after all a cyclist), but should be ignored.

    Now, if some big ass dude comes up to you and wants to kick your ass simply because your riding a bicycle, then call the cops (you do take your cell phone with you when you ride, right?)

  10. zperrys said:

    Now, if some big ass dude comes up to you and wants to
    kick your ass simply because your riding a bicycle, then
    call the cops (you do take your cell phone with you when
    you ride, right?)

    And what good will that do, aside from getting medical
    attention more quickly? Do you think the cops are capable of
    protecting you if you call them when you're already under
    attack? Seems the only two choices are being prepared to
    defend yourself or fleeing from danger. Mitch.

  11. In article <[email hidden]>, George

    Quoted message said:

    "J999w" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:20040617022833.11381.00000078@mb-
    m23.aol.com...

    Quoted message said:

    Not so much for dogs ... I'll either spray some Gatorade
    on them or wack


    them

    Quoted message said:

    with my pump ... but more for when encountering rowdy
    kids just starting


    their

    Quoted message said:

    summer vacation, have had a few too many cans of beer,
    and getting just a little too abusive while half hanging
    out of the window of their friend's


    car.

    Quoted message said:


    Had such an encounter tonight while out riding about
    10:30pm (sometimes


    'ya

    Quoted message said:

    gotta ride whenever you can). Now, I'm a big guy (6'5"
    and 200+ lbs) and normally don't get harrassed, but
    every once and a while I come across


    some

    Quoted message said:

    buzzed social bottom feeder feeling brave and is ready
    to take on the


    'faggy

    Quoted message said:

    bicyclist'. My normal reaction is to flip them the
    finger, or give them a stream of expletives and some
    suggestions of physical impossible feats,


    but I

    Quoted message said:

    fear that some hot night, when I'm out riding, I'll come
    across someone


    looking

    Quoted message said:

    for a fight and I'm thinking that the full water bottle
    I bounce off their


    car

    Quoted message said:

    will just entice them more and I'm going to need an edge
    (something


    legal).

    Quoted message said:


    Anyone carry pepper spray? Ever use it? What kind?

    Thanks.

    jw Milwaukee

    Colt .380 Mustang Pocketlite w/ 102 gr Golden Sabre ammo.
    Started carrying it all of the time (legally with gun
    permit) after 2 drunken hoofties tried to run me off of
    the road with their pickup truck.

    What, you going to shoot them as they drive away next time?
    (Not that they don't deserve it but I can't see the gun
    being of much value in this context.)

    Quoted message said:


    --
    James P. Spencer Rochester, MN

    "Badges?? We don't need no stinkin badges!"

  12. James Spencer said:

    What, you going to shoot them as they drive away next
    time? (Not that they don't deserve it but I can't see the
    gun being of much value in this context.)

    About all you can do is have it ready in case they come
    around again. If somebody nearly strikes you with a 2 ton
    blunt object, and then turns around and aims it at you
    again, I'd consider that a good reason to respond with
    force. Mitch.

  13. Gooserider said:

    I carry Halt to deal with dogs, but my Air Zound horn
    works just as well. I suppose the Halt would work pretty
    well against two legged predators, but my tiny little
    North American Arms 22 revolver will work better.

    What kind of ammo do you carry in that thing for dogs?
    Snake shot?

  14. zperrys said:

    You're not one of those guys who rides in the road, even
    though there' a bike lane, are you? Many people get
    freaked out because of

    In my state, there is no provision that states you *must*
    use the bike lane if there is one. Bicycles are just as much
    vehicles as cars, (pardon me, no one drives 'cars'
    anymore...) SUV's are.

    Quoted message said:

    people on bicycles. Many are just idiots. But most don't
    want to hurt us. Those that do don't deserve a bullet (as
    many on this thread have basically

    What [censored] planet are you living on? Anyone who has
    choosen to use their vehicle to attack me, deserves a
    bullet. Preferably two.

    Quoted message said:

    siggested, and which, honestly at times, I might have
    condoned myself, I am after all a cyclist), but should be
    ignored.

    That's right, just ignore the people that suggested that the
    use of force in response to an attack by a two-ton moron-
    piloted vehicle is justified. Just lie down and let them run
    you over next time. God forbid you actually defend yourself.
    Grow some balls, dude!

    Quoted message said:

    Now, if some big ass dude comes up to you and wants to
    kick your ass simply because your riding a bicycle, then
    call the cops (you do take your cell phone with you when
    you ride, right?)

    Riiiight, and Mr. Big Ass Dude will very patiently wait for
    you to fumble out your phone, call 911 and wait while you
    describe him, the situation, and your location. I'm sure his
    fear of the police will freeze him in his tracks. Fight or
    flight, those are your only two choices in that situation. I
    prefer to have to have both options.

    Where do you live? I would much rather be there than here in
    the real world.

    Regards,
    H.

  15. J999w said:

    Not so much for dogs ... I'll either spray some Gatorade
    on them or wack them with my pump ... but more for when
    encountering rowdy kids just starting their summer
    vacation, have had a few too many cans of beer, and
    getting just a little too abusive while half hanging out
    of the window of their friend's car.

    Had such an encounter tonight while out riding about
    10:30pm (sometimes 'ya gotta ride whenever you can).
    Now, I'm a big guy (6'5" and 200+ lbs) and normally
    don't get harrassed, but every once and a while I come
    across some buzzed social bottom feeder feeling brave
    and is ready to take on the 'faggy bicyclist'. My normal
    reaction is to flip them the finger, or give them a
    stream of expletives and some suggestions of physical
    impossible feats, but I fear that some hot night, when
    I'm out riding, I'll come across someone looking for a
    fight and I'm thinking that the full water bottle I
    bounce off their car will just entice them more and I'm
    going to need an edge (something legal).

    Anyone carry pepper spray? Ever use it? What kind?

    Thanks.

    jw Milwaukee

    If I were to carry something non-lethal other than a gun,
    I think I would probably prefer a air-powered cartridge
    loaded taser (the kind that looks like a gun and shoots
    15 feet,*NOT* the cheap contact kind) over a can of
    pepper spray. I believe that they're legal to carry
    concealed in most states without a license. They require
    some training and practice to use effectively, but the
    training is easy to get.

    People who are enraged (or just pumped on adrenaline) and/or
    on drugs can still function and continue attacking you even
    after being sprayed (especially with consumer-grade sprays),
    whereas 50,000 volts will stop anything short of a bull
    elephant dead in his tracks.

    I have been trained to use both, and when facing a single
    attacker, I would feel much more confident of stopping an
    attacker with a taser in my hand than a can of pepper spray,
    but that's just me. If you are facing multiple attackers,
    then I might give the nod to the spray, assuming you are
    properly trained and practice it's use.

    Regards,
    H.

  16. "Gooserider" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    I carry Halt to deal with dogs, but my Air Zound horn
    works just as well.


    I

    Quoted message said:

    suppose the Halt would work pretty well against two legged
    predators, but


    my

    Quoted message said:

    tiny little North American Arms 22 revolver will
    work better.

    With all due respect, your NAA mini revolver is a cute, fun
    little toy, but I would hope you would never consider one to
    be a serious defense weapon.

    Dave

  17. Raoul Duke said:

    "Gooserider" <[email hidden]> wrote in
    message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    I carry Halt to deal with dogs, but my Air Zound horn
    works just as well. I suppose the Halt would work pretty
    well against two legged predators, but my tiny little
    North American Arms 22 revolver will work better.

    With all due respect, your NAA mini revolver is a cute,
    fun little toy, but I would hope you would never consider
    one to be a serious defense weapon.

    Dave

    Well, in context, if I had to choose only one between a can
    of Halt!, an air horn, or a NAA .22 revolver, I'd take the
    (tiny) revolver over the other two choices, although I think
    that there are much better choices for a carry gun
    available.

    Dogs are usually pretty easy to scare off, so I'd probably
    prefer to have two choices, one for two-legged perpetrators,
    and one for the four-legged kind. Oddly enough, the thought
    of shooting a dog disturbs me a great deal more than a
    person. I'd much prefer to use a non-lethal form of
    persuasion on our four-legged friends.

    Regards,
    H.

  18. "J999w" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Not so much for dogs ... I'll either spray some Gatorade
    on them or wack


    them

    Quoted message said:

    with my pump ... but more for when encountering rowdy kids
    just starting


    their

    Quoted message said:

    summer vacation, have had a few too many cans of beer, and
    getting just a little too abusive while half hanging out
    of the window of their friend's


    car.

    Quoted message said:


    Had such an encounter tonight while out riding about
    10:30pm (sometimes


    'ya

    Quoted message said:

    gotta ride whenever you can). Now, I'm a big guy (6'5" and
    200+ lbs) and normally don't get harrassed, but every once
    and a while I come across


    some

    Quoted message said:

    buzzed social bottom feeder feeling brave and is ready to
    take on the


    'faggy

    Quoted message said:

    bicyclist'. My normal reaction is to flip them the finger,
    or give them a stream of expletives and some suggestions
    of physical impossible feats,


    but I

    Quoted message said:

    fear that some hot night, when I'm out riding, I'll come
    across someone


    looking

    Quoted message said:

    for a fight and I'm thinking that the full water bottle I
    bounce off their


    car

    Quoted message said:

    will just entice them more and I'm going to need an edge
    (something


    legal).

    Quoted message said:


    Anyone carry pepper spray? Ever use it? What kind?

    Thanks.

    jw Milwaukee

    Yes...I carry "10% Pepper Spray". Halt might be OK for dogs,
    but it is very weak pepper spray, and would not be a good
    choice against two-legged varmints.

    A small pepper spray fits neatly in the jersey pocket and
    can be deployed quickly. I've used it several times on
    dogs, and the effect is impressive. They seem to
    immediately lose all interest in chasing me, and sometimes
    go to the side of the road to rub their muzzles in the
    grass. They don't whimper or cry, so I'm assuming it
    doesn't hurt them too much.

    I've never used it on a person, but I've seen it used by a
    cop on a belligerent drunk and feel comforted by how
    "persuasive" the pepper can be.

    ~_-* ...G/ \G cyclistats.comcyclistats.com CycliStats -
    Software for Cyclists

  19. "Raoul Duke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    "Gooserider" <[email hidden]> wrote in
    message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    I carry Halt to deal with dogs, but my Air Zound horn
    works just as


    well.

    Quoted message said:

    I

    Quoted message said:

    suppose the Halt would work pretty well against two
    legged predators,


    but

    Quoted message said:

    my

    Quoted message said:

    tiny little North American Arms 22 revolver will work
    better.

    With all due respect, your NAA mini revolver is a cute,
    fun little toy,


    but

    Quoted message said:

    I would hope you would never consider one to be a serious
    defense weapon.

    Dave

    I wouldn't want to get shot with one. It's a last ditch
    option which fits nicely in a jersey pocket. Is it the
    equal of my Kahr P9? No. But a single 22 shot is likely
    to be enough to deter anybody. Or at least give me time
    to get away.

    Mike

  20. J999w said:

    Not so much for dogs ... I'll either spray some Gatorade
    on them or wack them with my pump ... but more for when
    encountering rowdy kids just starting their summer
    vacation, have had a few too many cans of beer, and
    getting just a little too abusive while half hanging out
    of the window of their friend's car.

    Had such an encounter tonight while out riding about
    10:30pm (sometimes 'ya gotta ride whenever you can).
    Now, I'm a big guy (6'5" and 200+ lbs) and normally
    don't get harrassed, but every once and a while I come
    across some buzzed social bottom feeder feeling brave
    and is ready to take on the 'faggy bicyclist'. My normal
    reaction is to flip them the finger, or give them a
    stream of expletives and some suggestions of physical
    impossible feats, but I fear that some hot night, when
    I'm out riding, I'll come across someone looking for a
    fight and I'm thinking that the full water bottle I
    bounce off their car will just entice them more and I'm
    going to need an edge (something legal).

    Anyone carry pepper spray? Ever use it? What kind?

    Thanks.

    jw Milwaukee

    I carry it in case of bear or mountain lions, but the animal
    I find it most useful for usually drives an SUV.

    Pepper spray/mace combo is my weapon of choice. Try ebay.

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