anyone carry'n heat?

[cyclist]

Oh my, last time anyone carried heat while riding was back in the Jessie James era. I would not recomend carrying heat while riding. If it,s dogs and other animals that have you concerned, pepper sprey, or cold water, or perhaps an air horn will do the trick. Also if a dog begins to chase you, get the fire number of the place the dog came from, then carrying a cell phone, or a roll of quarters, place a call to the police, and notify them of the problem. Leash laws are for the most part nation wide. And action by the police  toward the dog owner can and will be taken by the police. If it people that have you concerned, well in anyattempt to draw down on the acusting person, they can use the heat on you. That would ruin my tour thats for sure. If confronted by agresive people, just give them what they want. Now people in general, are pretty freindly as it is to cyclist. For many reasons. So the concern for riding John Wayne style really is not needed. Plan your route, get the emergency numbers carry them with you. Along with change for payphones, and if so inclined, carry a cell phone. Along with sprey., or a horn. Hope this helps. Have a nice day.  

[cyclist]

I wanted to add, when it comes to camping, yes seclusion is nice, but being visible is the safest thing to do. The acusting person wants to be concealed, if you camp in a place with people, the bad guys cover will be blown. making the risk of being caught greater then the value of pulling of the crime. Ok thats all i have for this. Have a great day.

[2010]

Well as a mailman in Colorado for 27 years & an avid cyclist I firmly believe in pepper spray! I have dropped many a farm dog while out riding. These dogs see you coming for miles and lie in the ditch just waiting to spring on you. BUT then I get concerned that some "bubba" is going to take offense to my hurting his pooch. I have carried 2 or 3 cans at once while delivering mail in bad parts of town... I wouldn't think twice about putting it in some dopes face if the situation calls for it.  Please remember "I am Postal"... ;p

[Jbikes1]

Carrying a gun will escalate a situation beyond a normal person’s ability to respond.  If you have no reservation about killing someone, you shouldn’t carry a gun. If you’re not willing to put the whole carload of people “down”, you run the risk of the “Easy Rider” scenario of them chasing you down. If you pull out a gun, you should cancel the rest of your trip. You wont out run the problem.  The best way to avoid trouble is to avoid trouble.  Camp in public places,  near other people. Ask locals, preferably cops, about safe places to camp.  If you find yourself in wild, camp out of site of the road and make sure no one sees you pull in. But mostly, plan ahead and camp in public places. One final Question: If you have no reservation about killing someone, should you be biking? I you do carry a gun, let me know when your trip is… I’d like to not be on the same road.

[bike_california]

Here in California, many dog-owners took heed of the Diane Whipple dog mauling case in San Francisco (the dog owners are doing and have done some serious jail time), so I find the problems with dogs to be more serious in other states. But a thought on pepper spraying a dog...if it's owner is willing to have a vicious dog run loose, just think what he will attempt to do when his dog comes home with the contents of your PS canister in it's face...he's going to be searching for the nearest bicyclist in his car...now there's a scary thought...no easy answers, but I prefer to ride sans weapons. Safe biking to all...

[Numbbutt]

Wow, this IS quite a discussion - not unlike the one that took place in Appalacian Trailway News serveral years ago after two hikers were murdered at a shelter in Pennsylvania, and another two were murdered off the trail in Shenandoah National Park. Since that time, I have always carried a .38 special, tucked away in a nylon bag at the bottom of my panniers. No one except my sometimes touring buddy knows that I have it (he also carries a pistol), and on one ever needs to know that I have it. The only time it sees the light of day is when I turn in at night, where it resides snuggly by my side in my sleeping bag. I do this no matter where I camp - off-road or in a National Park. If I feel as if my life is being threatened by either man or beast, I will not hesitate to use it and answer questions later. God help me if that time ever comes. But somehow I feel as if I sleep a little better. Maybe I am deluding myself.

[cyclist]

So you would shoot first then ask questions later. Interesting, the only problem is that you will have  a corpse that you created , and now you sit in a hot police station with no air condx being asked questions that you do not have the answers for. But the relitives of the expired has a lawer that can pretty much ruin your tour, keeping you tucked away for a very long time. Everyone has the right to defend them selves, but, when it is just you and purp, and it was your gun you are holding when the police arrive, and no witnesses to the action, not lookin to good. Here is the other problem, a little violation  caalled, c,c,w, Carring a conceiled weapon. The weapon was in your panny pack, The problems and fines just add up from there. If a woman who foolishly burns her self  with coffee can win a law suit, well,  . My advice, leave the weapon at home.  

[tgpelz]

I try to follow the golden rule:  Do onto others as I would like them to do unto me.

However, if someone appears in my face at 0200 after cutting a hole in my tent, then I follow the first correlary to the golden rule:  Do unto others BEFORE they do unto me.

In that line of thought, I would not call the police and tell them that I have a body in my tent.  I would again do as they were going to do:  Leave.

As someone has pointed out, the police have a bad habit of grilling the intended victim with the intent of making them the criminal.

However, please recall my earlier statement.  In over 15 years of bike touring and camping (state, federal, county, city parks, front yards and diving in) I have never had anyone bother or threaten me.   Thus, no one ever had to determine if I was carrying pepper spray, or more.  

In fact, I have found that most people are very friendly and will go out of their way to help when I am touring on my bicycle.

So, carry or not, enjoy bike touring. It is a wonderful way to experience our country and meet really nice people.

Tom

[joeprim]

If you call the police even though you have a gun and a dead body you are likely to be ok. It is likely that you just killed some one on there wanted list anyway. You may be the first one this jerk was after, but unlikely.

Any way better judged by 12 than carried by 6.

Joe

[cyclist]

So basicly everything i just said went in one  ear and out the other, right, Having said that, guess i will see you in the funny pages.  :confuse:

[cyclist]

OOOOO OUCH, LEAVING THE TENT AS YOU WOULD ASSUME THEY WOULD. UMMM YES THE PERSON IS AT FAULT FOR  ENETERING YOUR TENT, OR AT LEAST ATTEMPTING TO ENTER YOUR TENT. iF THAT PARTY WAS ALIVE TO TALK ABOUT ANY OF IT, HE ,OR SHE WOULD HAVE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IN REGUARDS TO BURGLARY, ENTERING A STRUCTOR { YOUR TENT} WITH OUT YOUR PERMISION WITH THE INTENT TO COMMIT A CRIME. But now that party is dead, and you fled the scene. Charged to you, leaving the scene of an incident, or crime. The problems add up from there, and you were the victim.  :eg:

[DaveB]

 But now that party is dead, and you fled the scene.

Only if you are truly a d*mn fool.  

[cyclist]

The man just stated that he would shoot the purp, then do as the bad guy would, he would leave. Ummm defending him self he has the right to do, but ya can,t leave the scene, thats foolish, and illegal, ya think ya get it now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Don,t be stupid. :mad:

[5thdown]

The self defense answer is: BEAR SPRAY!.http://www.udap.com/product.htm  A gun can be ineffective and get you in a whole lot of trouble.  I carry a can of Halt for the lone pesky agressive dog and a can of UDAP Bear Spray for packs of dogs, bears, and humanoids.  A split second shot of UDAP Bear Spray from upwards of twenty five feet away, can stop a pack of dogs in their tracks, and can drop 10 people immediately.  I sleep with the stuff. The can is under very high pressure and delivers a devistating punch.  Mount and use a rear view mirror but also carry BEAR SPRAY.    

[joeprim]

If you're in bear country carry a gun that is effective. It would be the last think I would want to use, but I'd want to have it in case all that other stuff didn't work. Moatly it doesn't on Grizzlies.

Joe