How do you stay safe..alone?

[HoosierGiant]

I think I'm the one who originally posted about carrying pepper spray attached to the reflective strip on the rear of my saddle bag. For some, it may not be an option; for me, it works wonderfully! I can reach back, grab, and spray in under two seconds -- not that this is a quick-draw type of thing though -- and I mean dead-on, in-the-mutt's-face accuracy. We've logged scads of miles on these country roads, and that means we're very familiar with the location of the various canines: the friendly ones that simply want an excuse to run through the ditch and chase something for two miles before heading back home; the tiny, little (redundant, I know) yappers that have a genetic predisposition toward running under your wheels; the ones who give chase from behind a fence (invisible or otherwise) and pose absolutely no threat; and the vicious snarlers that want nothing more than to latch onto a piece of you. Knowing what is about to accost us provides us the luxury of already having Halt! in-hand when needed. When riding in unfamiliar territory, I am always on the look-out for evidence indicating a dog might be on the premises so that I am not caught unaware. Additionally, unless it's a stealth chaser (and we've encountered a few), most dogs will announce their intention to chase by barking -- providing you with more than ample time to retrieve pepper spray, etc., from wherever you have it stashed.

Anyway, what's feasible for me might not be an option for you. That's what makes these forums so wonderful -- sooner or later someone will come up with the perfect solution for your particular set of circumstances.

Happy tailwinds to you all!