How do you stay safe..alone?

[farrellcollie]

not sure what little girl you are talking about.

I don't know who she is either - I don't recall seeing or hearing anything about it.

[Jenn]

I really wish you all would carry mace on isolated rides.

I agree that we should not live in fear...but we must respect the possibilities and not take our safety for granted.

I need to find some!! Where would I mount it on my bike? I have 2 water cages, the pump, my computer on my bars,heart monitor....ugh...do they make one you can wear on your person?

[Aggie_Ama]

I was talking to DH last night about this and he said that he would prefer I not ride alone out here. Although he thinks I am safe, he said he would rather me be overly cautious. We have had a few incidents of people "picking on" us in rather large trucks, his fear is that petite woman alone (or any woman) would spear them to step it up a notch. I am always the first one they come upon and have had large trucks honk, swerve and throw things at me.

So while it is resigning my back roads to the morons, I stay safe. He has absolutely no problem with me riding in the areas that the other cyclists are out at alone. Ironically, the traffic volume is much higher there but much more tolerant of the cyclists.

[HoosierGiant]

I need to find some!! Where would I mount it on my bike? I have 2 water cages, the pump, my computer on my bars,heart monitor....ugh...do they make one you can wear on your person?

I always carry Halt! while on the bike -- we purchase it by the case from Performance Bike. Although originally marketed for use against dogs by mail carriers, delivery persons, etc., the only ingredient is capsaicin -- otherwise known as pepper spray, and equally effective. Being absolutely paranoid about these kinds of things, I've carried a mace/pepper spray combination on my keyring since my college days, but that's too long ago to even mention! While mace may not be permitted in some states, pepper spray probably is -- check your local regulations.

We have seen advertisements for holders for these devices, but they were mounted on the bars if I remember correctly. Not an option for me as I already have a Flight Deck and a Garmin residing there. I'll ask DH if he remembers where we saw the ads.

Halt! does have a clip on the side of the canister. Many cyclists in this area just slip the canister over an available cable, but I can't see my way clear to scuffing things up -- I'm vain when it comes to my beautiful bike! I used to ride with it clipped to the outside of a rear jersey pocket -- a visual clue to yut-yuts coming up from behind that I'm "armed" -- but getting it back on was almost an impossibility for me unless I stopped. (And who wants to do that?!) Ditto for clipping it to the waistband of shorts, although I have seen some riders who clip it to the hem of one of the legs so it's on top of the thigh. Not sure I could handle that.

I'm lucky in that the reflective strip across the back of my seat pack is a separate piece. Now I ride with my Halt! clipped there. Then it's a simply reach back to retrieve, and (because the seat pack material has more substance than that of clothing) I don't have any difficulties reattaching mid-ride. We live in a rural area with a gazillion dogs, the vast majority of which run loose -- as many as six per house -- so I've had lots of practice. And, that's the important part -- practice, practice, practice until that retrieval move is as second-nature as grabbing a water bottle.


http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...slisearch=truehttp://www.performancebike.com/shop/...slisearch=true

[Velobambina]

That's a good deal--$4.99 a bottle?

I carry pepper spray/mace and my cell phone--both in my jersey pocket. I ride alone & at times, either after sunset/before sunrise. MS-13 folks sometimes hang out along the trail where I ride, but aside from attempted arson to a wooden bridge & persistent tagging, there I haven't heard of any incidents to humans (not inside the beltway--apparently, there have been some attacks by gangs further west along the W&OD trail in the Ashburn/Herndon, VA area). The only annoying encounters have been cat calls from drunken cretins who drink/pass out in a park that abuts the trail. I just ignore them. My rule is be courteous, mind my own business, and hightail it outta there if I sense danger.

I agree with V, "Crummy things are going to happen to good people. Hiding away isn't going to keep them from happening. You have to keep living your life and doing what you love, otherwise, what's the point?"

[margo49]

I agree a lot of it is Body Language and looking like you're not to be messed with. But I dunno how a woman would cultivate that - being *born* with it myself if stories of my chilldhood are to be believed.
A friend of mine says there is a school of thought that a lot of people have an doggy/animal mentality. Whatever they perceive to be the power structure they accept and will fit in. So that if *you* project that you are the Top Predator *they* will be quite happy to fill in the roll of Bottom of the Food Chain, no questions asked. I think there is something in this but it is not the whole story 100% of the time.
I also agree that yelling and getting angry are good tactix.
I keep my eyes open 360 degrees, noting what cars are passing and especially u-turns.
I have done that pretend talking on the mobile phone thing once in the middle of absolutely nowhere while this weird guy was following me (me on the bike and him in his vehicle; he had even done a u-turn and was now following me from behind after I had "passed" him going in the opposite direction so I knew he was up to no good). It worked and he drove off as I described where I was and how I was "about 10 or 15 min away" which I dunno if he heard or not. I had quick-dialled the SO and stated talking immediately which was just as well because he dint answer and phoned me back only 15 min later to see what I wanted. LOL! I coulda been cut up in lil' pieces by then! Funny in retro only of course! I am an advocate of the phone on a clip to the bars for this reason.
Sad to say, I think age is a part of it. My Mother asked me worriedly once and I told her "Yes, people do sometimes look and even whistle or shout . But as I draw closer they become less and less enthusiastic" (to understate the case)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Yep, pepper spray (mace) right on my bike stem (vertically) attached with a small ball-end bungee cord. I can grab it in an instant. I take it in inside with me if I go to a store, cafe, etc. (don't want some little kid grabbing it and spraying themselves and then sueing me!)

Also I take my cell phone handy, with 911, DH, and local police numbers entered into both voice dial AND speed dial.

I also tell DH where I am going on every ride.

Once when I was riding a secluded wooded country road, and pickup truck passed me, then pulled over to the side of the road and stopped up ahead of me. I turned around and went back the other way instead of going closer and riding past him. The next week a guy in town saw me getting on my bike and he said "Hey I was the guy in the pickup truck who pulled over to read a map and made you turn around and go the other way last week. When you did that I realized you must have been scared of me and I felt real bad, but I couldn't very well turn around and follow you to tell you not to be afraid of me- that would have been even worse! I'm sorry!"....it was too sweet.

[Jenn]

All my jersey's have the zipper back pocket so I guess I just need to get one with open pockets at the back. I am DEFINATELY going to get the "halt" as you mentioned. I try to ALWAYS be aware of my surroudings and am constantly looking around me, it drives DH nuts, but that is just me.

Now if I could just learn how to look back without swerving into the road I'd be ok!

[mimitabby]

Hey Jenn, get a mirror! I have one on my helmet.

There simply isn't enough room in my head to worry about all this stuff. The idea of riding down a road where there is NO BODY is a little frightening, because if i crashed (not likely) no one would come to rescue me.. (especially if there's no cell signal)
Jenn, if your neighborhood is safe enough to live in and raise kids, it ought to be safe enough to ride your bike!
I live in a big crazy city. I don't have a problem walking the streets at night,
(the sidewalks ) or riding my bike in the daytime. I do even ride at night sometimes, it scares me because of visibility.

I am someone who fights fear all the time. You have to, or you'll end up locked in your house, afraid to go out.

[surgtech1956]

Bike Nashbar has a Halt Holder.

[Jenn]

Hey Jenn, get a mirror! I have one on my helmet.

There simply isn't enough room in my head to worry about all this stuff. The idea of riding down a road where there is NO BODY is a little frightening, because if i crashed (not likely) no one would come to rescue me.. (especially if there's no cell signal)
Jenn, if your neighborhood is safe enough to live in and raise kids, it ought to be safe enough to ride your bike!
I live in a big crazy city. I don't have a problem walking the streets at night,
(the sidewalks ) or riding my bike in the daytime. I do even ride at night sometimes, it scares me because of visibility.

I am someone who fights fear all the time. You have to, or you'll end up locked in your house, afraid to go out.

Well, we live on the base, so we are pretty safe, but where I d my hill training, it is VERY isolated way out at the back of the base. Since I usually only get to ride on weekends while DH watches the little one, I'm out there alone. The erie thing, is last time I was out there this truck passed me 3 times, it DID make me pedal a heck of ALOT faster to get back to the main part of the base where there are "people". I've been thinking about a mirror I may have to get one.
Surgtech, thanks for the info, I love Nashbar, so I'll take a look!!

[kahnartist]

Mace is not that easy to find...but you can find it a gun shops and gun shows. Pepper spray is the 'weapon of choice' and that is EASILY found at any drug store chain or Sams Club possibly. I carry one in my purse, and you probably could keep in your tool bag. They are no bigger than a small cigar.
They can clip on your key ring...and come in all sorts of ways: a clip to carry it on your person, on a necklace (one of those convention types with the logo's on them). If that will give you some 'more' peace of mind, by all means, make the $9.00 purchase. Also, Pepper Spray (unlike Mace) does not expire....so you can keep it for any length of time. They also sell larger home/car ones...bigger like a can of hair spray.

Of course, laws vary in each state. You can't just 'spray' someone because they give you the creeps.

I'd also take a class in self-defence...as many have suggested. You can do this at community colleges or at a local Karate/Kung Fu/Ti Kwon do dojo. They're all in your yellow pages. Heck, even the YWCA has some.

Good luck and be 'viligant'. I'm not sure where you are located, but growing up in Los Angeles...I got 'street smarts' FAST being in a big city and taking public transportation most of my teen life.

I hate to say it, but you do need to be CAUTIOUS in this day and age...it could save your life.

[Jenn]

I just read a post...."Mace" illegal?? Are you kidding me, that is ridiculous! Ohh, yea, we need to be concerned about people that are going to try and harm us!

[Trekhawk]

Well, we live on the base, so we are pretty safe, but where I d my hill training, it is VERY isolated way out at the back of the base. Since I usually only get to ride on weekends while DH watches the little one, I'm out there alone. The erie thing, is last time I was out there this truck passed me 3 times, it DID make me pedal a heck of ALOT faster to get back to the main part of the base where there are "people". I've been thinking about a mirror I may have to get one.
Surgtech, thanks for the info, I love Nashbar, so I'll take a look!!

WOW Jenn Im sorry you still feel unsafe even on a military base. I often take my bike down to the base here to ride as its nice to do some flat stuff for a change. I have done some longer rides out there (60-75 miles) and to manage this without riding the same roads over and over I ride every little road I can find including the ones that head out into the boonies. I have always felt completely at ease. My husband loves it when I ride down there because he doesnt worry about me at all. Im sad that it seems not all military bases are this way.

[Aggie_Ama]

Hey Jenn, get a mirror! I have one on my helmet.

There simply isn't enough room in my head to worry about all this stuff. The idea of riding down a road where there is NO BODY is a little frightening, because if i crashed (not likely) no one would come to rescue me.. (especially if there's no cell signal)

Mimi- This is why I have decided against riding alone. We did a ride last weekend where in 20 miles I saw 3 houses and 5 cars. Can you imagine? Even if it wasn't sinister, something could happen and NO ONE would know. I mean how many times do you hear about people wrecking with wildlife? The part of the county where I live it is safer to only ride with DH or an organized ride.