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[MomOnBike]

I'll echo the not acting like a victim thing.

I've also thought that our bike chains/cables could be a very effective defensive weapon. A U-lock would probably be best, though, come to think of it.

Another thing that might help is a women's self-defense class. Surely you'd learn some techniques there. I probably shouldn't speak too loudly, I haven't done this yet, but I should.

[Aggie_Ama]

The running stores here carry pepper spray.

I have thought about getting a can. Being on my bike doesn't scare me. What I thought about was the night I got a flat. I was on a busier road, so a lot of people were watching. If I was out in the boonies I might have been a target. Of course I tend to be completely naive, we have a low crime rate and I feel really safe. I don't worry about walking my dogs at 3:00 am (we don't have a yard and the girls gotta go). My miniature schnazuers are only harmful to the occasional cricket!

[SouthernBelle]

As to the dog spray, what I have is a citrus based spray that I got at PetSmart. I've only used it once when a doggie was snapping right at my ankles, I was on an uphill and couldn't speed up. He ran right away.

[Denise223]

You need a license in Mass to carry MACE. When you get your license at the police station, you bring it to the local police gun shop & purchase your mace.

Here's an online MACE site:

http://www.macebrand.com/index.php?main_page=index

To quote GEONZ:

(My motto is "the best defense is not to be worth fighting." - not worth it 'cause I"m no threat, not worth it 'cause I look like I might be NUTS, sometimes I wonder which one I'm casting...)

After reading this topic, I really have to be much more "conscious" of what I'm doing. More often than not, I do 'carry myself' in such a way that exudes confidence, that it wouldn't be worth someones time to mess with me.

But, there are times that I'll say, "hmm..frozen yogurt sounds good", and then I'll just leave the house with my keys and pocketbook -- not thinking at all that there might be potential risk. I DO have mace (one is on my keychain and the other I keep in my pocket).
I have to be honest, IMO, with MACE, you really have to be pretty prepared if you have to use it -- things can happen in a split second.

What do you ladies suggest when you're out walking alone, and you come up against two or more people that "you just get that feeling in the pit of your stomach", that maybe they're out to do you harm??? (sometimes, it's sheer paranoia...)

MomonBike-- you mentioned a women's self defense class... I think that's a great idea.

Unfortunately, in todays world there are just too many weird, creepy people out there..... MOST people that are considererd "dangerous" LOOK ABSOLUTELY NORMAL!!

It makes all the sense in the world to be cautious & prepared. AWARENESS IS KEY!!

Thank you SouthernBelle for starting this topic.

Have a great day!

Denise

[kaybee]

I've bought pepper spray at Kmart, and most sporting goods stores here carry it. It is legal here in Georgia, and you are only asked your birth date when you purchase it (I assume you have to be over the age of 18, which I am by more than a few years). Personally, I only carry it when my running partners fail to show up and I have to run alone at 5:30 a.m. I don't like having to carry anything when I run, but it makes my husband feel better.

KB

[Bikingmomof3]

As to the dog spray, what I have is a citrus based spray that I got at PetSmart. I've only used it once when a doggie was snapping right at my ankles, I was on an uphill and couldn't speed up. He ran right away.

Thank you for the tip! I will check with my local pet stores. Oddly, humans I am not affraid of, strange dogs terrify me. I would not want to carry anything too "harmful", with my luck, I would spray myself.

[Grog]

As to the dog spray, what I have is a citrus based spray that I got at PetSmart. I've only used it once when a doggie was snapping right at my ankles, I was on an uphill and couldn't speed up. He ran right away.

A simple water squirt from a water bottle would probably work too.

If you like to flavor your water with a zest of lemon that's even better I guess. Very unpleasant in the eyes.