Carrying while cycling

[betaboy]

I guess it’s best we leave all weapons at home, unless its made of carbon with titanium bolts 🤭

[M L]

Would be interesting to know how our comments have aged..especially in the Western Cape.

There have been a few developments:

1. It's increasingly common for robbers to attempt to kill on the spot using pangas, knives, guns - either because they don't value life or they are drugged.
2. There have been multiple cyclist/jogger kidnapping or attempted kidnapping cases, just in the Western Cape.

It's becoming more and more difficult to simply hand over all belongings and just walk away. We seem to struggle to understand that some people simply don't value life like the rest of humanity. 

 

https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/three-cyclists-attacked-in-less-than-48-hours-over-the-weekend-7ca55981-56a3-46de-8ffa-1708684470b2#google_vignette

https://www.2oceansvibe.com/2024/06/19/the-weekend-saw-two-separate-attacks-on-cyclists-in-less-than-48-hours/

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/crime/manhunt-for-two-suspects-after-cyclist-shot-dead-in-n1-attack/

https://x.com/Netcare911_sa/status/1444629044516032514/photo/4

https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=49722

Edited Thursday at 06:58 AM by M L

[Scott roy]

1 hour ago, M L said:

Would be interesting to know how our comments have aged..especially in the Western Cape.

There have been a few developments:

1. It's increasingly common for robbers to attempt to kill on the spot using pangas, knives, guns - either because they don't value life or they are drugged.
2. There have been multiple cyclist/jogger kidnapping or attempted kidnapping cases, just in the Western Cape.

It's becoming more and more difficult to simply hand over all belongings and just walk away. We seem to struggle to understand that some people simply don't value life like the rest of humanity. 

 

https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/three-cyclists-attacked-in-less-than-48-hours-over-the-weekend-7ca55981-56a3-46de-8ffa-1708684470b2#google_vignette

https://www.2oceansvibe.com/2024/06/19/the-weekend-saw-two-separate-attacks-on-cyclists-in-less-than-48-hours/

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/crime/manhunt-for-two-suspects-after-cyclist-shot-dead-in-n1-attack/

https://x.com/Netcare911_sa/status/1444629044516032514/photo/4

https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=49722

There is no doubt about it, cycling is rapidly becoming very unsafe in SA. In November I was riding to wolvespruit at about 6:30 am, I turned off of Atterbury onto January masilela and slowed down for the first robot after the dip. Luckily it went green because as I accelerated again I heard a gunshot in close proximity as well as the bullet flying right past me. Gave me a proper fright and I sprinted away rapidly while looking around, there wasn’t any cars or people in sight so it must have come from the uncut grass on the left. This is a civilised residential area right by Menlyn main and not where you’d think you should worry. 

[M L]

12 hours ago, Scott roy said:

There is no doubt about it, cycling is rapidly becoming very unsafe in SA. In November I was riding to wolvespruit at about 6:30 am, I turned off of Atterbury onto January masilela and slowed down for the first robot after the dip. Luckily it went green because as I accelerated again I heard a gunshot in close proximity as well as the bullet flying right past me. Gave me a proper fright and I sprinted away rapidly while looking around, there wasn’t any cars or people in sight so it must have come from the uncut grass on the left. This is a civilised residential area right by Menlyn main and not where you’d think you should worry. 

That's hectic.. Feels like things have seriously escalated the past 2 years. Scary stuff.

[Scott roy]

7 hours ago, M L said:

That's hectic.. Feels like things have seriously escalated the past 2 years. Scary stuff.

Agreed, this should it have been successful would have been me shot off my bike without even encountering someone, no weapon would be have been able to help me. 

 

I have done advanced and tactical handgun training and I recon I would need to be significantly better before carrying a firearm on the bike. Carrying while cycling is something I am in support of if done properly but it’s risky. 70% of the time I recon it will be completely useless to the cyclist with how sudden the attacks are, in those attacks no matter if you’re armed or not things are going south. The remaining 30% you could probably save yourself and your bike if you have the correct training for your weapon. The biggest issue is that the criminals wind up with another weapon in the majority of times in my hypothetical scenario here, not that they can’t get elsewhere easily enough I guess. When still in SA I cycled in “safe” areas and mostly with other riders. 

[SamTaylor]

I have often wondered about the practicalities of carrying a handgun while cycling. 
 

I am surprised to read how successful some here have found carrying at 6 o clock or 4 o’clock on a belt. I have always thought the only feasible way to carry would be a pretty tight fitting tactical chest rig, especially when mountain biking, but this is pretty much impossible to conceal. The thing with bike jackings is they tend to ambush and tackle you from the bike. Meaning your going to be pretty bewildered/confused for a while while getting your bearings, and if they notice the firearm, this would be a perfect time for them to take it off you and use it against you. 

[scubes]

On 11/11/2024 at 8:44 AM, Bl4d3 said:

As a licensed firearm holder, having encountered several moments where I was all most knocked off intentionally, grabbed, forced off the road by a taxi driver, etc. Carrying a firearm is a big no for me.

First of all, printing, no way to conceal a firearm effectively UNLESS you are commuting and can put it in your backpack. Even then, this is a massive risk. If you get knocked over and unconscious, we live in a society where nobody will stop and help while your possessions get ransacked, therefore, you will lose your firearm.

Secondly, should you decide to use a firearm designed holster for cyclists, thats just a massive ad and screams "LOOK, I GOT A GUN", which paints a moerse target on you for would be opportunists. Granted, carrying like this is legal, however extremely stupid.

On a bike, you're an easy target, 1 swerve from a car and its game over. I want to lower my chances as much as possible of getting hit.

If safety is a concern, change routes and insure your gear. Most thieves just want the bike, computer and cellphone. If they get caught, its a light slap on the wrist and they'll be free due to how congested the courts are. They dont want to murder you, thats a long jail sentence and they dont want that.

well how do you know they do not wanna murder you? they do not care- they will kill you for your bike- the long sentence? you just said courts are full and they get a wrist slap so what long sentence?

[scubes]

On 5/16/2024 at 4:20 PM, ewep said:

I am most defenitely not a pro! But I practised enough to be quite comfortable with handling my FA while in the house, in the bakkie and working.  I was fortunate enough to work for a gentleman who had the patience to "walk" me through quite a few scenarios where we could practice with both live ammunition and Snap Caps.  He went as far as to give me loaded magazines with a snap cap on round 10 of a 16 round magazine.  (I'll get to the point now)

 

So luister my uit.  I carry my FA.  I ride a gravel bike.  I'm riding on a gravel road in the Vrystaat.  There are quite a lot of people walking on the gravel roads.  People going to town, farm workers walking back from a far-away cattle camp people going to visit or walking back home.  Who knows, die man dra 'n overall en het sy hoed op sy kop.  I have my head on a swivel and I try to avoid such a person.  As I get close the person draws back his arm to throw a klip at me. I'm only riding at 15km/h (ek is dik en stadig).  *RED LIGHTS*  Option 1, draw while riding.  Errrrrm, dis SINKPLAAT pad die!  Ek gaat my ant Tillie los val!  Option 2, slam on the brakes, unclip, foot down when you're at a standstill, drag shirt up (onthou daar's stront in daai sakke, dis gels en sleutels en 'n foun)) then try to get your FA out of the Kydex holster.  You have to use a bit of force to do that but wait, that Kydex is on a nice Assos lycra bib, so daai ding broek rek en daai holster wil nie laat los nie!  Only after all of this can you point the FA (let's hope you carry one up!) and defend yourself.  Daai bra het jou lankal HARD geslaat met 'n klip en met 'n thipa gesteek teen die tyd.  As the boss explained to me "jy kan nie sê nee, wag eers 'n bietjie nie".  And I don't even want to THINK about the process on a TT bike!

 

So, even though I was quite comfortable carrying a FA daily, I just can't see myself carrying on any bicycle.  The mechanics to get to the point where your sight picture is there just has too many danger points.  Hier's hy, vat die ding en my foun and then run like I've never run before!

ya for me its if you have been knocked off the bike and they take it- it is insured= then still come for you then you need the f/arm for self defence. these okes can be cruel drugged violent etc not everyone thinks the same or has same morals. not all cultures are equal tha'ts bs far left theory being proved wrong in europe daily. anyway. 

[Mike Dewing]

Times are getting tougher and more desperate.. violent crime is on the rise everyday.. we need guns more than ever..  that being said and also the fact that I created this thread, I NO LONGER CARRY FIREARMS everyday due to current life situations having a detrimental effect on my mental health.. my guns we’re in safe storage at a friends shop and I’ve actually cancelled the licences since. As vulnerable as it’s left me feeling, the overwhelming sense that something bad was going to happen left me with no choice.. still love guns🤣🤣

[ChrisF]

26 minutes ago, scubes said:

ya for me its if you have been knocked off the bike and they take it- it is insured= then still come for you then you need the f/arm for self defence. these okes can be cruel drugged violent etc not everyone thinks the same or has same morals. not all cultures are equal tha'ts bs far left theory being proved wrong in europe daily. anyway. 

 

Have YOU been in a bike-jacking ?  Or have you been in a situation where you had barely a few seconds to react to an attempted bike jacking ?

 

Unfortunately I have been in an attempted bike-jacking.  The first signs were no more than two "pedestrians" acting strange, you cant draw a gun on every second pedestrian .... by the time the attempted bike-jacking started, it was all over in two seconds !!  Taking my hands off the bars to reach for any sort of weapon at that stage would have been impossible.

 

The real issue .... you never look at any "pedestrian" the same ...

 

In a Rambo situation it would be nice to permanently take out this scum .... in real life it does NOT work like that.

[scubes]

43 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

Have YOU been in a bike-jacking ?  Or have you been in a situation where you had barely a few seconds to react to an attempted bike jacking ?

 

Unfortunately I have been in an attempted bike-jacking.  The first signs were no more than two "pedestrians" acting strange, you cant draw a gun on every second pedestrian .... by the time the attempted bike-jacking started, it was all over in two seconds !!  Taking my hands off the bars to reach for any sort of weapon at that stage would have been impossible.

 

The real issue .... you never look at any "pedestrian" the same ...

 

In a Rambo situation it would be nice to permanently take out this scum .... in real life it does NOT work like that.

why would you say Rambo? are you Rambo? no i haven't been bike jacked and don't hope to be. i have been mugged though at magnolia dell in pta in daylight by a few locals. i got out of that. On the bike the difference is the speed involved and where the hands are. society is becoming increasingly violent and brazen and this is the concern. 

 

also i mentioned once one is off the mtb when you have control of your hands and things have slowed down if they're still coming for you that's my point which you chose to  ignore and went on your macho rant about shooting every pedestrian. 

Edited Friday at 01:28 PM by scubes

[ChrisF]

11 minutes ago, scubes said:

why would you say Rambo? are you Rambo? no i haven't been bike jacked and don't hope to be. i have been mugged though at magnolia dell in pta in daylight by a few locals. i got out of that. On the bike the difference is the speed involved and where the hands are. society is becoming increasingly violent and brazen and this is the concern. 

 

also i mentioned once one is off the mtb when you have control of your hands and things have slowed down if they're still coming for you that's my point which you chose to  ignore and went on your macho rant about shooting every pedestrian. 

 

NOPE, you are deluded if you think you are ever in control of that situation.

 

READ the accounts of those that have been bike-jacked.  Even some seriously big gents that can handle themselves.

 

I am not ignoring your point.  Simply stating outright that you are WRONG.

[Robbie Stewart]

My take on this for what it's worth. Should you decide to carry, whether on or off a bike, just make sure that you are 100% committed and capable to getting rounds down range, onto the target, as soon as you draw your firearm. The same goes for if you carry a knife, the difference being you had better be ready, willing and very able to stab your opponent until they stop moving, or else you are the one who will pay the price in blood.

Now, place yourself in that frame of mind while riding a bicycle and then ask yourself if it's even feasible, and if so, must you carry? 

If you can answer yes, then my next question relates to your proficiency with said firearm. How often do you practice using it? Once a week, once a month, once a year? Less than that? If you are not firing that gun at least weekly you are merely bluffing yourself and placing anyone in close vicinity to you in grave danger. If you haven't fired your gun in the last 12 months, what do you have it for? Safety? How long do you need to find the keys to the safe and open it, then to unholster the firearm and get a round in the chamber, and fire off some needed shots before you're in trouble? Hopefully at least you have it unholstered with one in the chamber already but people are known for doing dumber things.

But I digress. Good luck to anyone who thinks cycling with a firearm is a good idea.

And in saying all that, I agree that crime in SA has gotten even more out of hand, but carrying a firearm while cycling just doesn't strike me as being very smart.

[Danger Dassie]

Guys, take a breather. Not everyone will encounter the same scenario and perspectives will differ. 
At the end of the day, it comes down to the individual's prerogative. 

[Mike Dewing]

16 hours ago, Robbie Stewart said:

My take on this for what it's worth. Should you decide to carry, whether on or off a bike, just make sure that you are 100% committed and capable to getting rounds down range, onto the target, as soon as you draw your firearm. The same goes for if you carry a knife, the difference being you had better be ready, willing and very able to stab your opponent until they stop moving, or else you are the one who will pay the price in blood.

Now, place yourself in that frame of mind while riding a bicycle and then ask yourself if it's even feasible, and if so, must you carry? 

If you can answer yes, then my next question relates to your proficiency with said firearm. How often do you practice using it? Once a week, once a month, once a year? Less than that? If you are not firing that gun at least weekly you are merely bluffing yourself and placing anyone in close vicinity to you in grave danger. If you haven't fired your gun in the last 12 months, what do you have it for? Safety? How long do you need to find the keys to the safe and open it, then to unholster the firearm and get a round in the chamber, and fire off some needed shots before you're in trouble? Hopefully at least you have it unholstered with one in the chamber already but people are known for doing dumber things.

But I digress. Good luck to anyone who thinks cycling with a firearm is a good idea.

And in saying all that, I agree that crime in SA has gotten even more out of hand, but carrying a firearm while cycling just doesn't strike me as being very smart.

I was putting +-500 rounds a week down range and in various training scenarios, anti hijacking courses, clearing buildings etc, and even with that I decided cycling was not a place for carrying.

ive met a guy who claimed he took out three bike jackers in the cradle a couple years back, basically with his bare hands but couldn’t find any reporting on a situation like that..

On a slow mountain bike ride with a chest rig to carry I might consider it.. in the roadie position that chest rig is no good.. 

Chest rig is the only off body carry I condone, please don’t put it in a bag attached to your bike.!!

and yes, rule of thumb here, you draw your firearm, you better use it, and you shoot to kill.. two sides of the story could cause problems for you..

 

[Mike Dewing]

18 hours ago, ChrisF said:

 

NOPE, you are deluded if you think you are ever in control of that situation.

 

READ the accounts of those that have been bike-jacked.  Even some seriously big gents that can handle themselves.

 

I am not ignoring your point.  Simply stating outright that you are WRONG.        
 

 

 

 

 

 

properly trained people will control that situation quite well actually.. it takes decades of training with a firearm and in addition a martial art, some form of close quarter hand to hand skills will be needed.. remember if a man is stood within arms reach your gun is pretty useless..
 

now thinking everyday civilians could ever control that situation, is absolutely delusional..