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



Originally Posted by Jats .

So, getting back on track - best guns to pack for cycling considering all the trade-offs for weight and comfort etc: small flat double action only autos in .380 or .32 cal. Kel Tec, Seecamp or Ruger LCP.

Carry method boils down to what one's clothing is. Standard lycra shorts with three pocket jersey? Probably best to use a ***** pack and wear in front. Too risky to throw a gun in one of the rear jersey pockets. If wearing pants with deep pockets, then there with a sticky pocket holster. Not a lot of options. I would think attaching a gun to the bike would be a real bad idea. Also with a ***** pack the options open up quite a bit - [eg] larger autos, and revolvers now can be considered, though the weight can have a point of diminishing returns. A loaded Kel Tec .32 is aprox 9 oz. An unloaded Glock 36 is 27oz.

They do make an undershirt type garment with a built-in underarm holster. This method might mean you choose a stainless steel weapon as body sweat is brutal on regular metal. I wouldn't think carrying this way would be at all uncomfortable, but I've never tried it. Don't know how concealable this method is though. Probably not very. (Lumpy)
Do not use the shirt holsters. They are designed for the torso being upright. While cycling you're going to be leaning forward quite a bit while moving your legs which will cause a natural lifting of the gun up and out of the holster pocket.

My Kel Tec P3AT is wonderful for biking. Center of the rear pocket in a Desantis Nemesis holster. (Stay away from anything Uncle Mike).

I wouldn't do a ***** pack. Leg movement and body movement would probably make that very uncomfortable.

weight is a big factor. I own several sub-compact semi's in 9mm, and have owned 2 J-Frame revolvers (one of them an Airweight) and my Kel Tek P3AT is the one I use.
It's flatter and lighter than the rest.


Originally Posted by MaverickNH .

Police: Man shot teens in self defense
CUMRU TWP., Pa. -
A 16-year-old boy was shot and killed and another teenager was wounded by a man they tried to rob as he rode his bicycle along a Schuylkill River trail Wednesday morning, police said.
It happened shortly before 11 a.m. on the Thun Trail in Cumru Twp., Berks Co., near the border with West Reading.
Police said four people were involved -- three teenagers and a 65-year-old man.
"He was riding a bicycle," said Chief Jed Habecker, Cumru Twp. Police Dept.
Police said the teens knocked the man off the bike and onto the ground. They said two of the teens were assaulting the man when he pulled out a gun and shot them.
"There was one juvenile who was shot and is deceased; another juvenile who was shot and is in surgery," said Chief Jed Habecker, Cumru Twp. Police Dept.
The coroner identified the alleged assailant who died as a 16-year-old Reading boy. He was shot in the chest. The other boy who was shot underwent surgery at Reading Hospital. The third teen was committed to the Berks County Youth Detention Center.
The man who police said shot the teens was not charged.
I can't help but think back to all the naysayers in this thread and snicker a bit...though the situation is pretty unfortunate for all parties involved (and their families).
 
Quote: Originally Posted by CAMPYBOB .

I would like to go back and re-read both of the firearm posts in this forum and laugh at all the 'experts' that repeatedly stated a cyclist could not possibly get to his pistol and deploy it quickly enough to save himself from attack by multiple thugs!

LMFAO!

I'm guessing it was the catlike reflexes of the old coot is what really saved him when the kiddies set upon him!

Old dude: 3
Yutes:0

A firearm saves yet another cyclist from being robbed, beaten and possibly from winding up on a stainless steel table in a morgue...where one of the yutes took the express train to.


People with little to no experience try and tell you how to own and operate your gun.
It's like fat people giving you dieting advice.
 
AceBruceGary, good choice on the Keltec! I think I'll snag the Ruger version this Saturday at the gunshow.

A 9 Mak or .380 may not be a 9 Parabellum or .40 S&W, but it is better than empty hand every time!

Situational awareness and a bit of training go a long way to keeping you alive and in the fight when it all goes south in a heartbeat.

Mindset.
Skillset.
Toolset.

In that order.

Like dad always said: "Smile. Be polite. And have a plan ready to kill everyone if necessary!"
 
From another newspaper article...

"[COLOR= rgb(255, 0, 0)]Within minutes[/COLOR] officers from the city, West Reading, Cumru Township, state police and the Berks County sheriff's office were at the scene."

Remember that.

When seconds count, the police are MINUTES away.

On a good day.

The police may not protect. They may not serve. But, they do write a hellova good report and put the chalk outlines downs most ricky-tick!

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=361536
 
Why is it the roughest and toughest talking contributors on this site remain anonomous?
I'll tell you why - they're also the most insecure and paranoid of being identified.

Regardless, the above person is just what I always knew he/she was. It's simply been confirmed now.
Finds a story that fits with his mantra and now his life story is completed. Totally justified in his paranoia now - irrespective of the fact he/she more than likely lives in suburbia far away from any 'mean streets'.

Moderators, please see and remove the above offensive, racist, and callous posts. Thank you in advance.
 
Video report with more details from the shooting: http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-berks/Police-Teens-shot-while-trying-to-rob-bicyclist-65-on-trail/-/121418/8505702/-/26idxez/-/index.html

[COLOR= #ff0000]The teens knocked the man off his bicycle and onto the ground in their third random robbery attempt in about an hour's time, said Berks County District Attorney John Adams.[/COLOR]

What a poor, misunderstood kid Joolius was...

[COLOR= #ff0000]Johnson had previous run-ins with the law and skipping school violated his probation, Adams said. Probation officers went to his home Wednesday morning, placed an electronic monitoring device on him and told the other two teens to go back to school, Adams said.[/COLOR]

[COLOR= #ff0000]"Mr. Johnson and the two other juveniles did not go back to school, and Mr. Johnson did not obey his probation officers."[/COLOR]
[COLOR= #ff0000]Instead, Adams said, the teens went into West Reading and assaulted an elderly man and another man before targeting the bicyclist.[/COLOR]

[COLOR= #000000]The cyclist carried the proper tool for the situation and used it in a defensive manner to save himself from severe bodily harm or death.[/COLOR]

[COLOR= #000000]Chuck Darwin added some more chlorine to the gene pool.[/COLOR]

[COLOR= #000000]I guess it's time to post the meme...[/COLOR]

[COLOR= #000000][/COLOR]

[COLOR= #000000]“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” [/COLOR]

[COLOR= #000000]The cyclist did...something.[/COLOR]
 
Yeah, CB, you know how it goes. TZ asks for JUST ONE example where a cyclist was able to use a gun for self-defense when blind-sided. He gets one, and now whines for more examples and hurls insults.

New Hampshire adopted Castle Doctrine this last year and has passed Constitutional Carry through the House, with the Senate soon to follow. I'll be back to gloat later.
 
^Gloating anonomously - how rich.
Clearly the above (imposter) is previous 'contributor' with an updated screen name. Clever bunny.
Aren't there a many multitude of websites where the likes of your kind can spout harmoniously your co-mingled 2nd Amendment and racist drivel?
Won't deny there are quite a significant number of your brethren out there in webdom - guess you'll take over this cycling site as well.

My sense of self is in no way increased by carrying a weapon with deadly force, and neither is it diminished by not debating incessantly with anonomous people who feel the need to carry and debate. More power to you.
 
MaverickNH,

Good for you folks in NH! Cycle safely and have fun up there!

Ohio has Castle Doctrine, legal open carry and decent CCW that is getting better all the time.

Blind-sided or just cycling into a situation you can not extricate yourself from, the defensive firearm has often been the difference between the intended victim living or dying.

3 to 1 odds with the 1 being a 65-year old man...I'm glad he had that weapon on him and I'm certain he is also.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tonyzackery .

^Gloating anonomously - how rich.
Clearly the above (imposter) is previous 'contributor' with an updated screen name. Clever bunny.
Aren't there a many multitude of websites where the likes of your kind can spout harmoniously your co-mingled 2nd Amendment and racist drivel?
Won't deny there are quite a significant number of your brethren out there in webdom - guess you'll take over this cycling site as well.

My sense of self is in no way increased by carrying a weapon with deadly force, and neither is it diminished by not debating incessantly with anonomous people who feel the need to carry and debate. More power to you.



Yeah, the administrator is trying to figure out why my old lonin/password doesn't work. No, he hasn't blocked me or locked this thread, despite your numerous requests.

I'm still cbjesseeNH - you can look me up, it's a small state.

But chill out dude. You can choose not to read this thread or reply if it bothers you.
 
I don't carry, ether on or off the bicycle. But I grew up with firearms (and carried while in the Army) and since my state now has new carry laws I have concidered getting the carry permit. Because of some of the areas I ride aren't in the best of neighborhoods or are very rural, I would consider taking a weapon along.
 
The bottom line is, Do you trust yourself to save your life, or do you trust society to do it for you?

Depends on how much trust you have in society. If society is untrustworthy, and society would rather you suffer in order to make society look good, then go your own way.

And another thing...do you trust yourself?
 
I have supreme trust in my abilities and judgement.

I have absolutely zero faith in putting my life in the hands of complete blathering morons...such as are found here. I have refused to do so and will continue to do so. My safety and that of my family is MY responsibility.

And the pathetic fact is, these idiots are allowed to vote. Their brain functions...such as they are...are driven by emotion and estrogen. They certainly CAN do as they wish and the added number of willing victims keep the urban trash preying on the easy targets. Bonus for me. More encouraging is the fact these doofuses congregate their numbers in the stinking wastelands of decay...the cities. That makes avoiding both thugs and the terminally braindead and easier task. I only engage them on my terms and schedule.

I've conducted an informal poll of the internet blogs and websites and the universal opinion is that folks are glad Joolius, the thug-life loser, is dead. Most wish the cyclist's aim had been more true and that perp No. 2 was permanently off the street. I concur.

Marksmanship under pressure of attack and after receiving at least two hard blows from the thug trash is very difficult and I'll give the cyclist a pass there. His instinct for survival kicked in and he was doing well to score the hits that he did. I'll bet his heart rate was off the chart during the attack and response. Keeping the front sight centered on the target and destroying it is difficult under those conditions...this isn't putting holes in paper at the range. If the shooter was using a sub-compact pistol (say, one with typical useless sights like the LCP/P38T) the task is even more challenging.

Well, the wife and I are off to the gun show this morning. I'm going to snag another pistol and have a friend make me up a Kydex holster to keep it in the center jersey pocket.

After dinner, last evening, we stopped in a local gun shop and discussed the Reading case with several of the sale people behind the counter. A lady in fifties was working and described her carry rig to me: A S&W semi (Chief's) in 9 MM stainless carried in a neoprene body band worn under her cycling shorts. That sounds not only HOT (neoprene...insulates and has zero breathability), but also uncomfortable to me. I'm guessing she sits the bike in an upright position. If it works for her, more power to her though.

She stated that she lives along a canal tow path that was converted into a hiking/cycling path and that the trail runs thru several...uh...unsavory...low rent areas and she and her husband see thugs on the trail.

All of the employees at the store applauded the actions of the Reading cyclist. He has my heartfelt thanks for standing up to three human shitstains and removing at least one them from the gene pool. Kudos to YOU, Mr. Reading Cyclist!
 
Ne wguy blindly jumping in here... I cant carry a gun in IL (only fricking state in the union that doesnt have conceal carry....) but i always carry a knife.... Not only for protection, but you just never know when you need a knife.... Who knows... If i am out on my mtb, i could fall and break an arm or leg and need to cut up my shirt to make a splint/crutch so i can get home or to medical help.... You can never be too prepared for an emergency... (wouldnt be the first time i broke an arm biking either... 8 screws and a plate in my left arm from mtb....LOL)
 
A knife beats an empty hand every time.

Hopefully, you never have to use it. IL. firearm groups are working on CCW, but the two large cities in the state are dominated by socialists and communists.

Back in about 2003 I attended one of the nicest firearm board assault rifle shoots...in Il! Right on the river, just south of Quincy.The rural areas of the state seem to be very conservative and the folks there are friendly and intelligent. While there, we shot a couple of rifle matches at the PASA Park club, a very nice facility.

The rural roads were perfect for cycling, too!

Cyclists have pedal while armed since...well, since they started calling them "velocipedes". Google 'velodog' pistols and see what cyclists used to protect themselves from vermin and predators...two-legged and four.

This is the modern equivalent of the velodog pistol. In .380 ACP (AKA 9mm Kurz, 9mm Corto, 9mm Browning and 9 x 17) it packs the bare minimum to stop dogs and thugs. a true 9mm pistol (9 x 19) is preferrable for use on large mutts and for prenetrating lardass gansters wearing hoodies. But, the 9mm and up calibers require larger and heavier pistols to deal with the increased power.

So, stuck between the choice of carrying nothing up those long, steep climbs on a hot summer day or at least being able to go home safe and alive after the chance encounter with someone bent on doing you serious bodily harm or worse...sub-compact polymer framedpocket pistols have become the minimum standard for self-defense weapons.

This one weighs in at under 10 ounces, unloaded. Figure about a pound with 7 rounds and a minimalist holster.

The sights are not the best, but this genre of handguns is meant for close self-defense work...and always remember that a close enemy is a very dangerous enemy! The old rule of thumb was 21' was easily closed by a combatant and his target engaged before a weapon can be deployed and brought to bear. By that time, the guy with the best will to survive is often going to be the one NOT going to morgue.

Put it in your center jersey pocket and it almost disappears if in a lightly padded nylon holster.

Figure $259 for the Keltec version and about $279-$289 for the copy Ruger builds. And I'll be go to hell if'n the magazines aren't built in Italy! It will have to suffice until Campy builds me a proper carbon fiber 9mm with a titanium barrel and magazine bodies made of pure Columbus SLX steel!

Mindset.
Skillset.
Toolset.

In that order.

Give yourself every weapon in that kit stay alive in a world where life is cheap and morality scorned.

Almost as small as a H-P 10C engineering calculator an only a bit heavier (unloaded).



In comparison to a 6" scale.



Shown in a cheap inside-the-waistband holster. Good enough to soak with sweat. Firearms, like chains and bearings, require cleaning and oiling every now and again!



Just a bit thicker than the H-P 10C calculator.

 
Originally Posted by MaverickNH .

Yeah, the administrator is trying to figure out why my old lonin/password doesn't work. No, he hasn't blocked me or locked this thread, despite your numerous requests.

I'm still cbjesseeNH - you can look me up, it's a small state.

But chill out dude. You can choose not to read this thread or reply if it bothers you.
LOL! Lot's of inner city, dangerous hoods in NH, I'm sure.
You're right, I'll chill out. Holding a mirror to your behavior/words is a pretty aggressive course of action juxtaposed to carrying a concealed firearm while bicycling. Didn't the dark-colored pot say something rather absurd to the kettle??? Might I suggest you take just a little bit of your own advice.

Peace. Perhaps you have the capacity to fully comprehend the concept...
 
CB, yeah, that is funny. Seems like classic understated british humor. But the good thing is the video cam and the calmness of the lawyer-cyclist helped him get clear evidence, as well as diffuse the situation. Of course, guns aren't a threat to cyclists in the UK, but the driver could have certainly taken the cyclist out with his car after the exchange if he was sufficiently provoked by the cyclist. Considering that the vehicle has us totally "outgunned" in terms of speed, weight and armor protection, death threats from drivers should be taken seriously.

Hey, around here the driver also has no legal concerns when it comes to bullying cyclists. Simply saying "didn't see the cyclist" is enough to avoid criminal charges, as long as the driver isn't DUI. Believe things are different in the UK, where I read the law places primary responsibility on drivers to not hit cyclists or pedestrians. Our state laws say we have a right to the road, and we've gotten the "Share the Road" and numbered-route signs put up around town, but the reality is there are no criminal penalties for drivers who hit and kill cyclists....the stories end "driver not charged".
 
....the stories end "driver not charged".

Agreed. While not always the case, law enforcement would often leave it to the civil trial lawyers to sort things out.

I can't carry a cop or a lawyer in my jersey pocket. A pistol fits nicely.

I will say that of late, DUI/OVI, caught hit-&-runs and road ragers are being taken more seriously by local LEOs. The cell phone camera/video, Go Pro Hero and CCW have all helped bolster the position of the cyclist out playing amongst the Peterbilts.

I did notice, not that I care about it, that the cyclist in the video seemed to be using a lot of the lane (Hard to tell...Damned English never did learn to drive on correct side of the road!) while other cyclists hugged the curb. I know around here that sort of riding would earn a blast on the diesel dually horn, getting flipped off, a rolled down widow shout of "Get your skinny ass of MY road!" and maybe a swerve. Optional would be a half-empty can of Miller winged by a passenger. Or a Pepto-Bismol bottle (true story!).

No clue how it's done on the Island any more. It's been years since I cycled there and I was damned glad to finally get to France where the lanes are correct, the women are better looking and the food is better! And they don't have moronic laws about bicycle road racing.

Hey! Stop throwing those pint glasses at me, damnit!

I was up in Cleveland today on business and ran into a women that is my idol. A judge sentenced her to 6 months of anger management. Apparently, she had punched out another gal's lights during a traffic dispute. After 18 months at it all parties agreed the attempt was an abject failure! God, I love that woman!

And now, I'm going to have "You forgot to indicate!" for a tagline to many of life's morons and their stupid behavior!

Life is good!

Campy(the well armed and laughing at the world cyclist)Bob
 

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