Riding Solo - staying safe

[kamikazejane]

As the OP of this thread, I want to say sorry for even asking the question. The thought that this discussion would turn to a debate on firearms did not even cross my mind. The thought of *arming* oneself didn't even cross my mind as an option. I was thinking along the lines of the suggestion given about your SO being able to track you on GPS. Had I known that we'd even be talking about carrying a gun on a ride, I would never have started it. Political biases aside, I was hoping that this would be constructive. Although I had no way of knowing that it would devolve to this, I will say that some of the *reasonable* (and no, I don't consider carrying a GUN to be *reasonable*) suggestions were helpful and I thank those people. /thread

You have no need to apologize. You had a valid question and concern and there were some good suggestions. I don't think anyone made the suggestion to carry a gun. The original question/concern that I asked was on how to carry one while biking. I would have to read through all the posts but I don't think anyone including myself actually said/suggested that you should carry one. I probably should have started my own thread asking my own question instead of interjecting it into yours. The gun talk turned into an off topic tangent that unfortunately I initiated with my comment and question so I apologize that your thread was blown up by it and the focus of your post was lost at some point.

[lovelygamer]

Velo



/thread



.......

That was win!

[snapdragen]

Let's all step away from the thread for now, m'kay?

[Aromig]

I'm brand new here (just joined yesterday) -- and I'm not riding very much now (recovering from a broken tib/fib) -- but thought I'd share my personal "safety" precaution with you. I own a "Spot" personal GPS tracking device. It didn't cost much (I think I spent $100 on the unit -- and they have specials all the time), and you pay for a yearly subscription. There are different options - you can have it report your position to a website every 10 minutes that you can allow your family to log in and check (you can set it to private so only invitees can see). I don't do this very often although I bought the service. The one service that IS useful is that it has an emergency button that you can press when needed and it will summon emergency responders. I've take my spot in places where I can't get cell phone reception - it gives me peace of mind when I can't get cellphone reception (which is frequent than people realize).

For a small subscription (like $12 a year) it also provides emergency rescue insurance (if you use the function for emergency responders, it covers the cost). I used that just this summer -- I broke my leg parachuting in Norway and the insurance is paying the $3000 helicopter transport bill (I can't IMAGINE how expensive it would be for helicopter transport in the US).

Finally, my favorite function is a "check in" that I can send a text to my husband saying "I'm OK." I do this when I'm done parachuting, hiking, etc. for the day and I'm on my way home. If he doesn't get that check in when expected, he knows to start beating the bushes for me. I bought my first unit at Eddie Bauer, and I bought a smaller unit at Gander Mountain last year, and I've seen them at REI. You can learn more about it at findmespot.com (I know there are also other personal GPS locators out there too).

Amy

[zoom-zoom]

Amy, I've see ads for the Spot devices in the back of Bicycling and/or Outdoors magazine. That is really intriguing. I could see something like that being very useful for someone like me.

[pll]

I would carry that!

[Susan Otcenas]

Ladies,

Putting on my (hardly ever worn) ADMIN hat here:

I read this thread from start to finish. I have to say that all of you on the forums continue to amaze me. Guns are a very emotionally charged subject and it's clear that many of you fall on polar opposite sides of the opinion spectrum on this one. And yet, despite a few tense moments, the thread has stayed remarkably civil and respectful. That speaks volumes about all of you, and I am so honored to "rub shoulders" with you here on the forums, regardless of your political persuasions. Thank you.

I'm going to ask all of you now to just take a breather and step back from the carry-or-don't-carry portion of the thread, because as has been stated a few times already, it's unlikely that any minds are going to be changed on this particular point. Let's continue to discuss velo's concerns and the very real and very important topics of safety and *feeling safe* (which I think are two separate but similar ideas) while out riding and doing what we love, without any further discussion on guns. I very very much do not want to shut this thread down, because I think there's been a ton of great conversation here, but I will close it if the gun theme comes up again.

Again, thank you all for your intelligent and thoughtful contributions to this thread!

Susan

[Bike Writer]

I'm brand new here (just joined yesterday) -- and I'm not riding very much now (recovering from a broken tib/fib) -- but thought I'd share my personal "safety" precaution with you. I own a "Spot" personal GPS tracking device. It didn't cost much (I think I spent $100 on the unit -- and they have specials all the time), and you pay for a yearly subscription. There are different options - you can have it report your position to a website every 10 minutes that you can allow your family to log in and check (you can set it to private so only invitees can see). I don't do this very often although I bought the service. The one service that IS useful is that it has an emergency button that you can press when needed and it will summon emergency responders. I've take my spot in places where I can't get cell phone reception - it gives me peace of mind when I can't get cellphone reception (which is frequent than people realize).

For a small subscription (like $12 a year) it also provides emergency rescue insurance (if you use the function for emergency responders, it covers the cost). I used that just this summer -- I broke my leg parachuting in Norway and the insurance is paying the $3000 helicopter transport bill (I can't IMAGINE how expensive it would be for helicopter transport in the US).

Finally, my favorite function is a "check in" that I can send a text to my husband saying "I'm OK." I do this when I'm done parachuting, hiking, etc. for the day and I'm on my way home. If he doesn't get that check in when expected, he knows to start beating the bushes for me. I bought my first unit at Eddie Bauer, and I bought a smaller unit at Gander Mountain last year, and I've seen them at REI. You can learn more about it at findmespot.com (I know there are also other personal GPS locators out there too).

Amy

I had no idea such a thing existed. If not for you posting this and me reading it I would be unaware. Great information, thank you.