Weapons...Do you carry anything?
-liam-
Posts: 1,831
I don't, but I have thought about it.
Couple of occasions, late evenings on my way home from the woods down a specific canal path, I have had to pass a group of chavs/yobs that come out with the usual "nice bike mate" with a sneer on their face whilst refusing to remove themselves from my path. I'm not daft enough to ignore the fact that there is the usual shi te attempt at intimidation but what if they decide to take it a little further next time? Perhaps make me stop. What then?
A lot people on this website have expensive bikes that they pump plenty of cash in to, as much as for a hobby as to make them perform better and I wonder how many share the same feelings as me or perhaps even do carry something.
I've always owned, since the days when I would go camping and fishing etc, a fairly big survival knife. Something like a 5 inch blade but it now lives in my toolbox but I do often think about putting into my bag, especially for night rides, but then statistics do say that many people actually get injured by their own weapons so is it wise?
What would you or what do you do?
Couple of occasions, late evenings on my way home from the woods down a specific canal path, I have had to pass a group of chavs/yobs that come out with the usual "nice bike mate" with a sneer on their face whilst refusing to remove themselves from my path. I'm not daft enough to ignore the fact that there is the usual shi te attempt at intimidation but what if they decide to take it a little further next time? Perhaps make me stop. What then?
A lot people on this website have expensive bikes that they pump plenty of cash in to, as much as for a hobby as to make them perform better and I wonder how many share the same feelings as me or perhaps even do carry something.
I've always owned, since the days when I would go camping and fishing etc, a fairly big survival knife. Something like a 5 inch blade but it now lives in my toolbox but I do often think about putting into my bag, especially for night rides, but then statistics do say that many people actually get injured by their own weapons so is it wise?
What would you or what do you do?
0
Posts
I'd take a different route home.
I probably should consider it.
But in certain cities, for instance Bristol has a huge problem with people being mugged for their bikes, how tempting is it ?
Kona Kula
Duster
Mmmbop
Alternatively take another route home but to be fair you have every right to be on that trail as much as the yob on his feet
Carrera Subway 1 Singlespeed
2011 CR1 Comp
I've ridden straight at a group of the fuggers once, they soon jump out of the way when they realise you're actually speeding up towards them.
Oh, and when I had tubeless tyres on (luckily) a few of them smashed a few glass bottles and shouted at me to ride through then, then.
So I did. a few tiny little hisses later and the tyres were healed
Depending upon the level of intimidation and threatening posturing, just inform the police, safest that way.
Failing that, just make sure you're carrying your biggest D-lock and give a blood curdling war cry as you charge at them full pelt waving the lock around your head like some kind of medieval mace!!
Simon
I do take that approach. I'm a big lad and would take some stopping but some people are stupid enough.....
Kona Kula
Duster
Mmmbop
It's also recommended to use this method against vicious dogs/sheep/cows etc.
Provided your assailant is prepared to wait politely while you dig around in your bag til you find it, you'll be fine!
I'm not going to start describing where I would actually keep any such weapon for ease of access because I've not thought that much about it.
Kona Kula
Duster
Mmmbop
Nothing illegal about carrying it, stings like fook if you get it in the eyes or throat. Winner.
and keep the D lock handy.
Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
Kona Kula
Duster
Mmmbop
Deep heat isn't. Considering that your a cyclist it would be a lot easier to explain why you are carrying it round with you if ever you were stopped.
Avoidance is best. Challenge garden variety chavs - they are too cowardly to to put up much of a fight but a serious mugger could be drug crazed and unstable and very dangerous - give them the bike if your forced to stop. Better than risking serious injury or death. Bikes can be recovered or replaced.
Although I empathise with the idea, it's tempting but just not worth it.
Kona Kula
Duster
Mmmbop
He's not going to build up a lot of speed very quickly and we all know how much it hurts when we come off. So imagine if you will, you give him the bike, at some point he has got to turn from you, let him cycle a little bit before giving chase and grabbing his clothing and slamming him from your very bike. It's needs to be worthy of WWF standards.
It must be finished with the muttering of "fkin noobs" and a loud tut.
I can see that turning into a monty python esqe comedy sketch. Could go round in circles all day
Kona Kula
Duster
Mmmbop
Installed in a pump bracket bolted to the bottle cage on the seat tube. At first glance it looks like a pump. Easy to get to with either hand, and just flick open to use.
When going jungle bashing with the MTB I zip tie a machete in a scabbard to the front fork tube.
Caveat : I was trained by the armed forces of my country. I know how to use the asp in both lethal and non lethal ways. If you do not have the right training, or are heavily outnumbered, it is better to give in and walk away, or to avoid the confrontation. Never let your ego write cheques your censored can't cash.
But if I wasn't shuch an impressive specimen :roll: I'd go with the biggest d-lock I could find or a lock and chain, both legitmate to carry. Or get a nutted rear axle and carry an 18inch ally tube as a leverage extender incase you have to fix something the rear wheel/tyre legitimate tool as would be a small shovel (cold steel sf shovel/east geraman army surplus etc..) with a nice sharp edge for trail building/repair I guess if you have permission from a landowner where you ride to clear the trail then even a bilhook or similar could be justified. Having said that you could justify a small knife due to the extreme nature of mountain biking you may have to untangle yourself or bike from undergrow afetr a crash, this is actually the reason I carry a knife when freerunning off road after getting caught up in creepers going downhill.
Mongoose Teocali
Giant STP0
Why are MTB economics; spend twice as much as you intended, but only half as much as you wish you could afford? :roll:
And in October the stags will have a go at anything.
I find a good experiment is to walk round a busy town and keep staring at a singlepoint. If your stare is harsh enough and you walk in a dead straight line it will often be other people moving out of your way and not yourself moving out of others. If an impact is going to occur you can always at the last minute move a shouldr or walk sideways. I seem to remember somewhere someone calling it an inch wide perspective... being able to leave things to the last inch before moving the minimum distance away from it...
Carrera Subway 1 Singlespeed
2011 CR1 Comp
I always carry the best weapon of all.. The brain.
Some folk should use it more often.
H.G. Wells.
A small penknife can be deemed as a harmless tool... until you pull it out in a threatening manner. Then it becomes an offensive weapon and even if you get away unscathed, the legal penalties are harsh.
I've been in my fair share of trouble over the years, now I always walk away. In your situation, I would just find a different route.
Boardman FS Pro
I only carry mine cos of the scissors. I carry cartoon with me as well and so the scissors are perfect for cutting it to the right size if my tyre decides to blow out on me. Never have i thought about using it as defence. For a start its in a little case in my jearsey pocket so tightly jammed in i have to take out a tyre lever and multi tool first just to get to it. By which time i could have cycled back the way i came and taken a differant route.
Carrera Subway 1 Singlespeed
2011 CR1 Comp
Works everytime.