Quote Originally Posted by crazycanuck
Umm..this is getting a bit freaky..carrying a gun whilst riding???? Pepper spray???. Excuse me for being a bit ignorant but do you really need those two items??
I would never carry a gun, but I have carried pepper spray for years for dealing with dogs. I very rarely need it, but if one is very persistent and comes right up to my pedals in a threatening manner, by golly he's going to get a snoutful! It causes no permanent damage, just gives me enough chance to scoot away while the dog is rubbing his eyes in the grass. Don't get me wrong, I like dogs very much, have one myself, but being threatened by unfriendly, unrestrained ones while riding is scary and potentially dangerous, and I will do whatever it takes to protect myself.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get to my pepper spray in time when I had my accident in April, despite the fact that it was mounted right on my handlebars - the dogs that ran right at me came out of nowhere way too fast. It might have saved me a broken pelvis if I could have used it.

Emily