davidl Posted June 11, 2013 Posted June 11, 2013 I ride alone mostly during my week-day rides and with someone over weekends. Riding alone during the week in the morning is great because of traffic. I enjoy the group rides over weekends for some coffee stops and chats. I have ridden alone for many years both in the Western Cape (Greater Cape Town) and in Gauteng (Roodepoort/The Dome) and whilst you do have some near incidents it has always been OK.
MTBc Posted June 11, 2013 Author Posted June 11, 2013 nothing wrong with gangsters paradise. like cape town, there's areas where it's safe, and areas where it's better to stay away. great to hear.
Roneblack46 Posted June 11, 2013 Posted June 11, 2013 Ride alone with my partner, GLOCK 34, Monday to Friday - early morning (at sparrows fart) on pavements and pathways next to road-JHB North and Spruit.weekends - alone, group or friends - races, mtb trails in Gauteng. never feel threatened, just cautious. Pants Boy and MTBc 2
MTBc Posted June 11, 2013 Author Posted June 11, 2013 I think I should get the missus some pepper spray. I've heard that a tazer isn't the most effective for self-defence, pepper spray is more effective.
Beesrib Posted June 11, 2013 Posted June 11, 2013 99% of the time i ride on my own. living outside civilization makes riding in a group difficult. ride road and farm roads. no nice tracks around. it has been pretty safe, some days i don't even see a bakkie on the road, nevermind people.
divernick Posted June 11, 2013 Posted June 11, 2013 Today I decided that if another moron in a luxury german car pulls out in front of me on my commute when he's at stop street and I have right of way, I WILL bury my 29er ZTR Flow in his car bodywork, my spd's will eat his paint and I will take photos and post them on theHub. Damn motorists! I commute alone and MTB with pals. Pants Boy, MTBc, mrbaker and 3 others 6
cat-i Posted June 11, 2013 Posted June 11, 2013 Today I decided that if another moron in a luxury german car pulls out in front of me on my commute when he's at stop street and I have right of way, I WILL bury my 29er ZTR Flow in his car bodywork, my spd's will eat his paint and I will take photos and post them on theHub. Damn motorists! I commute alone and MTB with pals. if you ride like you would if you were totally invisible their behaviour won't affect your mood so badly
MTBc Posted June 11, 2013 Author Posted June 11, 2013 Today I decided that if another moron in a luxury german car pulls out in front of me on my commute when he's at stop street and I have right of way, I WILL bury my 29er ZTR Flow in his car bodywork, my spd's will eat his paint and I will take photos and post them on theHub. Damn motorists! I commute alone and MTB with pals. I've only had issues with the taxis in fourways area, had a couple of times were I've nearly taken their rear view mirror off cos they just pull over to load / offload with me between them and the curb (on the occassional on-road segment).
divernick Posted June 11, 2013 Posted June 11, 2013 if you ride like you would if you were totally invisible their behaviour won't affect your mood so badly  haha, I have a bright front light and dress in visible clothing, the chop this morning shoulda seen me! BTW it doesn't affect my mood, I am a happy chappy after my commute. I'll be in a really good mood once I have taught that careless motorist that not being observant is an expensive exercise.
divernick Posted June 11, 2013 Posted June 11, 2013 I've only had issues with the taxis in fourways area, had a couple of times were I've nearly taken their rear view mirror off cos they just pull over to load / offload with me between them and the curb (on the occassional on-road segment). I avoid the taxis like the plague - give em a WIDE berth or they'll squash you. Getting aggro with them seldom works in your favour.... MTBc 1
Roneblack46 Posted June 11, 2013 Posted June 11, 2013 I think I should get the missus some pepper spray. I've heard that a tazer isn't the most effective for self-defence, pepper spray is more effective. You want to keep some distance between yourself and a would be bike jacker. Once he has you you need to get away. Pepper spray is good for neutralizing a threat from a distance and close quarters. Tazer only helpful in close quarters. If you get pepper spray, get 2. You need to use one as practice to see the effectiveness of the spray pattern and distance.  No good trying to spray someone that's 5m away and the spray only is effective to 3m.  MTBc and RichieT 2
MTBc Posted June 12, 2013 Author Posted June 12, 2013 If you get pepper spray, get 2. You need to use one as practice to see the effectiveness of the spray pattern and distance. No good trying to spray someone that's 5m away and the spray only is effective to 3m. Precautionary measures taken. Friday is ride day Â
Roneblack46 Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013  My riding partners. Just got back from the shooting range actually. All in working order. MTBc, Weight Weenie, Warthog whisperer and 2 others 5
MTBc Posted June 12, 2013 Author Posted June 12, 2013 ya... i think I'd need a bit of training before i started carrying around one of those. at the moment, if I was in a situation, I'm not sure I'd be without hesitation. Â Not crazy about fire power in general
VicanZA Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 Just get out there and ride don't let the minority of criminal element in the country tell u how to live. Most urban open MTB routes have a peak time, lets call it 8am winter and 7am summer ride in those times and u will e fine.  Don't believe in guns as the stats prove u have a 60% chance of it being used against u. If u do get jacked let them have the bike, it's just a bike! in ur life if things go well u will own many... MTBc 1
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