Calling Joe West

bullbarrel said:

This is my first post, attracted here by Joe West, discussing handgun equipment in Arizona. As a resident there for 16 years I got my permit for concealed carry in 2000 and continue with one now in Virginia. Call it American culture or not, if I cannot take my gun into an establishment today, I don't go. My new Motobecane is being checked over currently and I will soon be on the road, and as my handle suggests, armed. As to equipment though, what about these Motobecanes? The mechanic here is most impressed with it and it's not one of the more expensive ones. He says Taiwan makes very good bikes, not like China, or Japan today. Twenty-five years ago I had a French-made Motobecane for commuting to college and it rode very well. Didn't carry a gun then but somehow survived.

You sound like the type that should be riding a cheap Motobecane, or more appropriately a Huffy....Enjoy. Your mechanic is a moron too.

bullbarrel said:

Didn't carry a gun then but somehow survived.

Now that’s amazing. Well... maybe not... In fact, I have never carried a gun while riding a bike and…. somehow... I am still here too.

The biggest threat to you while riding a bike is a car. I suggest carrying an RPG so you can stop that car cold from cutting in front of you.

Motobecanes are no more or less special than any other stamped out aluminum frame. There are many, many manufacturers that use the exact same frames with different names on them. I have several friends who ride them and they are happy with their purchases.

If we assume that you are serious about going armed then the word insane comes to mind, or perhaps you are just very foolish. I own a rifle and two pistols, but strangly enough I have survived several decades without carrying them. One sometimes reads of very serious altercations between cyclists and motorists, even leading to deathm but always mutual combat, that either party could have ended or avoided by leaving. The ending of Easy Rider was really just something in a movie.

Now as to the couter that an RPG would be a better choice. Nah, they are heavy, awakward to carrry on foot let alone on a bike, and very inaccurate.

Trek5500 said:

Now as to the couter that an RPG would be a better choice. Nah, they are heavy, awakward to carrry on foot let alone on a bike, and very inaccurate.

You don't need a direct hit with one of those to get your point across. It would make climbing hills a bit rough though.

bullbarrel said:

This is my first post, attracted here by Joe West, discussing handgun equipment in Arizona. As a resident there for 16 years I got my permit for concealed carry in 2000 and continue with one now in Virginia. Call it American culture or not, if I cannot take my gun into an establishment today, I don't go. My new Motobecane is being checked over currently and I will soon be on the road, and as my handle suggests, armed. As to equipment though, what about these Motobecanes? The mechanic here is most impressed with it and it's not one of the more expensive ones. He says Taiwan makes very good bikes, not like China, or Japan today. Twenty-five years ago I had a French-made Motobecane for commuting to college and it rode very well. Didn't carry a gun then but somehow survived.

I guess I'm blessed with luck, I've never carried a gun and survived a lot of years.

You give the impression of one of those people searching for confrontation, which is nearly as scary as the diehard criminals in society.

Mansmind said:

I guess I'm blessed with luck, I've never carried a gun and survived a lot of years.

Yes, but you have left your fate to luck. That doesn't give the gun toters a warm fuzzie.

boudreaux said:

Yes, but you have left your fate to luck. That doesn't give the gun toters a warm fuzzie.

I guess I might feel differently if I were riding in certain areas, but the biggest danger (at least a lot more frequently) are cars, etc. Sure, like everyone else I suppose, I get the occasional yell, but for some reason those I catch up with at a redlight or stop sign get strangely silent.

Everyone has their own opinions, I find it easier to walk away.. on those occasions when that's been impossible, well...I'm still here.

It is of course true that you can go for decades without carrying and do very well. Better, you don't bother with the gun. But there can come the time when you need it and then it's priceless. As to confrontation, that's the last thing I want. The law states too that you do all you can to retreat. Concerning the Motobecane, I commuted on the French-made one 25 years ago and it was a very bood bike. Now the Taiwan one, I knew the score when I bought it but it seemed better for the money than many bikes out there. I pick it up today from the mechanic, who is a pretty savvy guy by the way. I note that there're quite a few of these bikes on the road around here. I appreciate the comments here.

Er, that's a good bike, not a bood one. Heh heh.

bull (No offense), would this Joe West be a SASS shooter?

Chance3290 said:

bull (No offense), would this Joe West be a SASS shooter?

Nope, just another paranoid American worried about the boogie man.

I don't know what happened to Joe West or his shooting status. Not even sure what section he was in. Picked up my bike yesterday. Mechanic ordered me a pump, he has a day job and often hard to get at.

bullbarrel said:

I don't know what happened to Joe West or his shooting status. Not even sure what section he was in. Picked up my bike yesterday. Mechanic ordered me a pump, he has a day job and often hard to get at.

Enjoy the bike--hope it works out for you! For the record, I'll also be hoping the the firearm is the only aspect of you gear or person to be damaged or destroyed in your first spill. Not that I'm wishing a spill on you; falls are inevitable (fingers crossed for safe cycling).

Happy riding, and be sure to post pictures of the bike once it's fully good to go.

lokstah said:

Enjoy the bike--hope it works out for you! For the record, I'll also be hoping the the firearm is the only aspect of you gear or person to be damaged or destroyed in your first spill. Not that I'm wishing a spill on you; falls are inevitable (fingers crossed for safe cycling).

Happy riding, and be sure to post pictures of the bike once it's fully good to go.

Here's yet another reason why I for one would never ride with a gun on board. The inevitable crashes are bad enough when there aren't stray bullets flying around:
http://home.peoplepc.com/psp/newsstory.asp?cat=strange&referrer=home&id=20050422/426876c0_3421_1334520050422-1921428824