How do you protect yourself?

[nuthatch]

WOW! I've been thinking I need to have my cell phone in its own little pouch on the handlebars for a while now - this story has convinced me. I'm so glad you handled it well and you're safe. I wonder if I could get the pepper spray out fast enough - it seems like everything is a jumble in my pack all the time.

[Allie1DukeFn]

This is SO bizarre! Normally I ride with my DH - but he's been hurting the last two days so I've been riding by myself. I am also out in the boonies.

I was just thinking before I left today about such awful things happening while I am out by myself. I almost didn't go - but convinced myself that I couldn't sit in my house and be afraid.

All are very good suggestions - thanks for sharing! I keep a cell phone with me as well. I also make sure that my DH knows what route I'm taking and when I'm leaving so he knows when to expect me back.

[gretassister]

creepy with a capital C !! I think I would have taken off through the woods or a field long before you did.

[Blueberry]

Wow Blanche! That's scary. I think you did precisely the best thing you could have. I think about it a lot too (especially since one of the kind folks in the LBS mentioned that there were certain places in my area females shouldn't ride alone because of muggings and bike jackings !). I usually ride with my DH, but he isn't a morning person, and often that's the only time I have to ride - so I ride along. I've started carrying my cell phone in my camelbak, but wonder whether I could really get it out in time.

Pepper spray is something I'll have to look into soon - especially as I'll be riding more near dawn/dusk as the days shorten.

I had a similar situation in my car about 8 years ago - I had a nut case get out of a car at a stop sign and come towards me. I had an old cell phone that wasn't hooked up in the car with me. I picked it up and pretended to be dialing - he got back in his car and took off in a hurry.

Glad you're OK - and I agree - report it. Even if the guy doesn't have a record, he'll have one the next time he tries to mess with someone.

[Grog]

Blanche, your story frightens me a bit (although I don't happen to ride in similar deserted roads) but mostly makes me angry. Why is it that women should be harassed and forced into carrying weapons to protect themselves from a couple of idiots out there that feel it's exciting to creep us up (if not worse!!)? Why do they need to have such a control on women? Why is it that very few men will ever have similar feelings when riding (or walking or whatever) alone anywhere?? Why is that we'd feel like we have to ride with some guy just to feel safe??? Why is it that we even have to THINK about the eventuality of such a thing happening??????

It makes me so mad.

I am not sure about the right course of action to take in such a situation but it sounds like you did the best you could do.

Ride strong ladies, don't let anyone intimidate you. I love you all.

[Trek420]

Blanche, anything that you do to survive is ok, you did the right thing.

what Grog said, don't let anything stop you from riding, if you do, they win.

being a "single parent of a dog" I tell my dog my route and when to expect me back ;-)

I think I shared my thoughts about guns and self defense in the other related recent thread but...

where is the jersey that says "Powered by Smith and Wesson"?

[Trekhawk]

Blanche - Glad to hear you are ok and that is a really creepy story. It makes me mad to think that not only do we have to contend with Dogs and Cars etc but that we should even have to consider routes on how isolated we may become because of jerks like that guy.

I always ride on my own and gradually my rides are getting longer. If I dont want to ride the same route over and over to get the kms then I will also need to take some less travelled roads. I have never considered travelling with any sort of spray etc as its just not something Im use to coming from Australia but Im now wondering if I should.