Beautiful ride - and need a bat and pepper spray

[kenyonchris]

Good Lord!! You need to check your state laws. In some states an ASP (or foldable baton) is considered a prohibited weapon. Like Knuckles or an Illegal knife. And some police supply stores will not give them to civilians.
Having used my asp on dogs before (while on duty, checking backyards on alarm calls) let me tell you it isn't all its cracked up to be. You better be accurate or you just have a pissed off dog. Pepper spray might be a better option (the Wal-Mart variety will be fine, police issue would be overkill, and if you got in in your own eyes...well, let me tell you about how much fun it is) BUT pepper spray WILL blow back at you, and does NOT affect some dogs. I don't know why.
I cycle the roads, I get chased by dogs on the patrol bike and on my road bike. I will tell you that on my patrol bike I have access to my spray, my asp, a stout flashlight, my pocket knife (a law enforcement switchblade that I use to cut seatbelts) and, of course, my gun. And what do I use for dogs? My water bottle. A squirt in the eyes usually works, it is more accessible than anything on my belt (which is meant to be accessed from a standing position, not while pedaling with one hand on handlebars).
Putting pepper spray in your bento box or the rear pocket of your jersey may work for you and give you a safety net.

[staceysue]

I never thought of using my water bottle as a weapon . . . . . are batons heavy? I wonder if they're illegal here. I'll have to check with my cop friend.

I think most dogs will back off if I just get off my bike and act aggressive. I have a very protective German Shepherd, but I know if somebody actually had the nerve to bark back at her she'd probably run off with her tail between her legs. It wouldn't hurt to have some sort of protection, though, for those unusually aggressive dogs.

[sooz]

I carry the 'fogger jogger' in my Bento box always, altho it has a hand strap. I've never used it; putting the bike between me & the dog, & yelling, has worked fine in all doggie showdowns so far.

Here's the link:

https://store.udap.com/merchant.mvc?...tegory_Code=PS

These pepper sprays are very scary. My hubs accidentally got the tiniest bit on his hands once & he barfed terribly just from a few breaths. Maybe it was just power of suggestion tho, as all his mucous membranes were, so far as I know, unmolested....LOL