Wow, quite the interesting topic…
I ride in an area that’s suburban/agricultural for the most part, and one thing that scares me is making a wrong turn and sumbling on a meth lab. They’re common in secluded areas that aren’t far from cities, which fits just about all the places I ride. Our local law enforcement has reported busting them within 15 miles of my favorite single-track. Meth labs are scary not only because their occupants are typically armed, and typically quite averse to having their lab discovered, but also because the chemicals used and gases produced can be serious health/explosion hazards.
I take self-defense seriously, and have taken courses in handgun defense and defensive folding knife skills. Whatever your chosen tools in self-defense – whether it be your hands/feet, a knife of some fashion, or a firearm – it’s absolutely your responsibility to get trained and keep your skills sharp.
When on my bike, I carry two Spyderco Delica 4 folding knives, one on each side of my waistband.
As for pepper sprays or bear sprays? Aside from the fact that they’re of widely-varied effectiveness against people and wildlife, they carry a much higher chance of affecting their bearer. A person with adequate training can effectively prevent the use of a knife or handgun against themselves in most situations, but catching a dose of your own pepper spray is almost assured. I read one article about a hunter in Montana who unloaded a mini-fire-extinguisher sized can of bear spray at an attacking grizzly, which only served to piss it off more – it proceeded to maul him, and only stopped when the group’s guide shot it several times with a large-caliber handgun.
Of course, the cases we read about are as varied as the people’s circumstances on this thread. In the end, it’s all about doing what you feel comfortable and confident with, and staying alert to what’s going on around you.
Ride safe,
medicdave
PS – and for those that mentioned carrying a long gun? I give you the FMG9. The quote at the end of the video is priceless…