Quote Originally Posted by kamikazejane View Post
Michigan is a friendly gun toting state ....for the time being until our rights as Americans continue to be striped away, but that's a topic for another thread lol

Thanks for the links. I will have to check them out. I could probably clip it into my back jersey pocket. I would have to practice drawing it from there. I could probably get a bag to carry towards the front on my top tube and slip it in there leaving an opening for easy access and draw. But then if I am knocked off my bike I don't have access to it so it's pointless to carry at that point. Then I worry about it being up against my skin when Iam sweating salty sweat all over it.
kamikazejane,

I'm ok with your comment, it was brief enough and as you said not suitable topic for this discussion so you didn't elaborate. I give ya a pass on that.

I wondered if anyone was going to get to the subject of a firearm for protection. Late last year I considered it briefly for a day or so. I believe I live and travel in a safe area, however, what is really safe anymore? You read about random crazies out there.

I ride alone frequently, I enjoy picking up and going at any time without making prearrangements with someone and I do like to ride with friends at times too. Most of the time I feel just fine, it's when it gets late into the season when people start thining out that it can get spooky. There is a remote park with a trail in it around a lake that is so beautiful in the fall and late fall. In the summer the park has enough people in it to feel pretty secure if you hurt yourself someone would find you. In the fall it gets pretty quiet out there except for some disc golfers and lone walkers. I have felt creepy out there at that time of year. I carry pepper spray for times like that and for wandering dogs in the rural areas that aren't fenced. But a firearm affords more protection. I have the same worries as you, if it were kept close enough to be useful I'm afraid I'd shoot myself accidently and what about falls and crashes???

So far, no good answers. I feel less secure in the Ann Arbor area because it's a college town and there have been incidents and rashes of men preying on runners and single females. The last such time a few months ago when there was a series of rapes I steered clear of my Ann Arbor rides until they caught up with the guy and apprehended him.

I take precautions, remain alert and aware and ensure that my demeanor suggests that I'm not an easy target. Beyond that, there's not much else you can do.