Riding alone out in the sticks

[caligurl]

i ride alone.... hubby knows my usual routes... i let him know if i'm going to deviate so if something happens... he knows where to come look!

i used to not even go into the park... cuz no phone service... and little traffic... but i've gotten braver... cuz i like the low traffic!

i ALWAYS carry my cell phone! and i have dog pepper spray that i wouldn't hesitate to use on a person if i needed to!

[Trek420]

Live alone other than doggie, other than the commute I do not often ride alone.

Standard precautions: wear road id. carry cell phone, keep it charged, vary route, road id has numbers of "Maes friends", they have my families numbers.

Kids don't try this at home:
Non standard precaution: I have a second degree black belt in Aikido, I carry a small (very small, minute, tiny) knife. If my gut is telling me to leave...it will be in the back of my left glove.

Highly reccomend listening to your gut, if you feel it's unsafe...you're probably right. Leave. Other than that have fun out there, if we stop~they win.

[DirtDiva]

Snappy, you can't not do a ride that involves views of Piha etc. It would just be rude!

[SnappyPix]

Snappy, you can't not do a ride that involves views of Piha etc. It would just be rude!

Heee - too true! You crack me up DD!

[Raindrop]

I agree totally with Trek420 about listening to your gut feelings. I read a book many years ago that was based on that premise and I've recommended it to a lot of people.

The Gift of Fear by Gavin DeBecker

Just a little OT addition to this thread.

[Trek420]

Raindrop "I agree totally with Trek420 about listening to your gut feelings."

Thanks, its not about fear. Gut feelings cover a lot of stuff, Like the first time I met someone sight unseen from this board (AG at the SF Grand Prixe). I just felt "I don't think she'll try to steal my kidneys" I was right, still have kidneys.

And you don't have to do a martial art. I feel anything we do to make you feel strong, comfortable in your body is the best self defense. Some bad guy may be thinking today "I don't think so, she looks strong" when S/he looks at you. Bad guys have gut instinct too ;-)

The fight that never happens is the one you win.

Some of you who have had encounters with violence you did nothing wrong. It's truly never the victoms fault.

Some days, wrong place and time..nothing you can do.

But if you're reading this you survived and that's all that matters, you're here.

I don't train to be the biggest baddest..whatever (ignore the hysterical laughter in the background of those who have met me ).

I hope to never use my training outside of class...again.

If I could snap my fingers and there would be no violence, no chance I'd ever need it....I'd still train.

On good days it's the next best thing to flying, and I love to learn. On bad days it's like fixing that 3rd flat ;-)

It's like cycling that way and that's why we ride. So keep pedaling TE gals (and guys).

But back to the topic at hand, don't give into fear but trust your gut.

Sure you may feel silly turning around and going the opposite way because of something you feel about that car, or pulling out your cell phone to call for help because of something about the way that person looks at you, or stopping at a store or business if you feel something's wrong about the situation.

Better silly than hurt. But it's important to take action imediately.

If you turn out to be wrong and that person was me or another peacefull harmless person we can laugh about it later.

I guess I'm feeling pensive, sad because of the rider who died. I like to think if I was attacked I'd do what she did, she fought back, hard and continualy from all reports.

I'd never know how I'd react and hope to never find out.

I like to think that in a true emergency life/death situation that if I loose that fight at minimum there will be enough remains bits and peices flecks of blood and parts *of my attacker* on me to pin the case on him.

can we talk about chocolate now?

[Raindrop]

Yeah, I still agree to listen to your gut, because usually your first impression or inkling, is the probably the right one.

Still...spending most of my formative years in Alaska and riding the bike trail near my house (along Campbell Creek), I often...not occasionally, but often met up with moose on the path. I always felt fear! And I always, turned around, and rode home.

Maybe the word "fear" is not correct here but the act of caution is correct. I don't live my life fearing what might happen, but when I'm in a situation that raises the hair on the back of my neck, the fight or flight kicks in!

I ride alone and in some areas that at first made me nervous. But after you do it...it ceases to have the fear connection. But....if I encounter something that makes me fearful, I pay attention to it because as tough as I think I am...some situations call for me to rethink what I'm doing or where I am.

Does any of that make sense?


(Yes...we can talk chocolate...or if you're like me, BBQ potato chips (the drug not usually allowed in my house. Curse my husband and his damn poker nights!!!)

[salsabike]

What Raindrop says is exactly what Gavin de Becker says in The Gift of Fear--pay attention to those gut feelings, because sometimes the feeling that you should turn around and get out of there is exactly right. You don't have to live in fear to give it its due respect when you do feel it---you just need to pay attention to it when it pops up because sometimes it's telling you something you really need to know and act on. The Gift of Fear is a very smart book by a security expert and I also highly recommend it--even made my husband read some of it.

[tomgrrrl]

I ride alone 95% of the time....I always carry my wallet with ID and Healthcard and my cell phone. Generally there are lots of routes around here in the East Bay that are pretty bike friendly. There are a lot of cyclists out and about so drivers are used to seeing cyclists. I also make it a habit (even in the heat) to wear my neon green vest when riding on the roads so as to make myself as visible as possible for drivers. In addition, I have a rear-view mirror attached to the drops (on the left) so that I can see what's coming.....I know it looks geeky on my Serotta, but I don't care what others think, it makes me more comfortable to see what's coming.

When I'm on my mtb and riding alone I stick with routes that are fairly well-travelled like Old Railroad Grade on Tam and tell my ex that I'm on the ride....

[deena]

Trek420 -

I was watching my daughter's taekwondo class tonight thinking, "Wow, those sparring moves could come in handy." At the end of the school year I told the instructors I would start in fall - now I know what my off-season workout will be!

[Trek420]

Deena,

TKD is a beautiful art, great lower body work out. The focus is on kicks it will help your flexibility, range of motion, it'll build what some call "explosive strength" and concentration. Most TKD classes are very aerobic too.

It's an Olympic sport, competition can be fun. It's all good for the bike. Good choice for off season training.

Take it for those reasons, enjoy, have fun.

I'm sure your teacher would join me in hoping you and your daughter never ever need to "use it" but continue to enjoy learning and grow in the art.

[deena]

Trek -

I hope she (or me) never needs to use it for real! I've been watching my daughter's classes for almost a year now and never tire of it. You're right, the forms are beautiful - they remind me of ballet (did that for 15 years). I like the precision and control in the movements. I have been secretly waiting until she got to the "high belt" levels to start classes. Didn't want to steal her thunder and now she can teach me!

Thanks for the positive motivation! I am excited to start!