CCW When you Ride... Paranoia?
- Thread starter jesus5150
- Start date
and guns in the woods are a good thing.... LOLCarrying on my motorcycle is, among other things, a significant reason for my plan to get a CHL. I plan to keep it in my tank bag along with the GPS, duct tape, phone, etc. It's typical for me to be on a highway or farm-market road in the middle of nowhere - whichever direction the ride takes me. If something were to happen out there they might not find me for weeks, if ever. My bike will outrun everything but a radio, but I have to stop for gas sometime. The nice thing is that my riding gloves fit the grip and trigger guard of my .40 M&P perfectly. 
But trouble's gotta catch me first:
But trouble's gotta catch me first:
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Wow, pretty bike! Love to hear from my Kawasaki Brethren! Ok so, I'm on a dirtbike with riding pants, gloves, big heavy helmet and goggles, and a chest plate. My options are pretty much only to have it in my backpack. But if I were to need it, could I get to it in time? I don't have a belt so i'm not sure where else to put it... Any other cool ideas?
You can't see it very well, but that's what it looks like, no packs or zipper slots lol.
(Ignore my Beater winter truck and the ugly horse stable.)
You can't see it very well, but that's what it looks like, no packs or zipper slots lol.
(Ignore my Beater winter truck and the ugly horse stable.)
Attachments
This is a no-brainer, IMO.
If you have a carry permit, you want to carry as much as legally allowed. If it were me, my biggest worry would be finding a way to affix it to the dirtbike or my person where it won't come out, fall off, or otherwise separate from me. Carrying on my person is fine on a motorcycle... but NOT a dirt bike or 4-wheeler when tearing up trails. Trail riding means that you might get tossed. You aren't riding hard if there's no chance for you to get tossed, it's part of the game. You don't want to land on it, and you don't want it to fall off your person and you don't want it to have a chance to somehow discharge or get damaged.
I'd find a secure way to attach it to the bike.
I wouldn't be worried about any kind of an animal while on a dirt bike. The noise would keep most of them away. The speed and power will get you away from the threat. Unless you are off taking a leak, I just don't see animals being a problem. Drunks or crazy hill-jacks, perhaps, but even then, your best bet is to flee. Any decent dirt bike makes you *GONE* in seconds. Not much on earth that can catch one through the woods.
My final bit: The biggest reason I'd want the carry gun with me while out trail riding is because I want it with me when I'm away from my home, and there's few things in this world I hate as much as leaving a handgun in my car. A handgun in the car is a potential stolen handgun. There's a very few people who have a serious safe that's through-bolt mounted to the frame, but most folks simply have the little metal box with the cable. It'll stop the smash & grab teenage punk who steals CDs, stereos and change from the ashtray, but anyone with a couple of tools is going to take that box. Hell, if they SEE that box, they are going to REALLY want that box. And if your car or truck is sitting next to the woods out in the sticks, they really have the time and space to make sure that little metal box leaves with them.
If you have a carry permit, you want to carry as much as legally allowed. If it were me, my biggest worry would be finding a way to affix it to the dirtbike or my person where it won't come out, fall off, or otherwise separate from me. Carrying on my person is fine on a motorcycle... but NOT a dirt bike or 4-wheeler when tearing up trails. Trail riding means that you might get tossed. You aren't riding hard if there's no chance for you to get tossed, it's part of the game. You don't want to land on it, and you don't want it to fall off your person and you don't want it to have a chance to somehow discharge or get damaged.
I'd find a secure way to attach it to the bike.
I wouldn't be worried about any kind of an animal while on a dirt bike. The noise would keep most of them away. The speed and power will get you away from the threat. Unless you are off taking a leak, I just don't see animals being a problem. Drunks or crazy hill-jacks, perhaps, but even then, your best bet is to flee. Any decent dirt bike makes you *GONE* in seconds. Not much on earth that can catch one through the woods.
My final bit: The biggest reason I'd want the carry gun with me while out trail riding is because I want it with me when I'm away from my home, and there's few things in this world I hate as much as leaving a handgun in my car. A handgun in the car is a potential stolen handgun. There's a very few people who have a serious safe that's through-bolt mounted to the frame, but most folks simply have the little metal box with the cable. It'll stop the smash & grab teenage punk who steals CDs, stereos and change from the ashtray, but anyone with a couple of tools is going to take that box. Hell, if they SEE that box, they are going to REALLY want that box. And if your car or truck is sitting next to the woods out in the sticks, they really have the time and space to make sure that little metal box leaves with them.
vox rationis
New member
Personally, if I was out biking in the back woods, I'd carry, most probably concealed in a fanny pack, but if it was real back woods with little chance of other people to be around I'd probably open carry. Anyway, better to have and not need, then to need and not have type of thing as far as I'm concerned. Especially since you'll be pretty much on your own.
Paranoid...yes, but...
...I think being armed is a way of life, or a mindset. So, yes, I would carry.
Some comments:
- Only carry if it is legal for you to do so;
- When you carry, your own behavior must be above reproach. Obviously, no drinking, drugs, fighting, etc.
- You mention "tearing up some State land...". That doesn't sound too responsible. I would not carry if I was going to engage in any illegal activity, and there are plenty of rules to follow when riding.
Finally, it always makes me smile when I read about the hardy outdoorsmen needing to get strapped when going into the boonies. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! The further you get from the parking lot, the safer you are.
I think the main threat is still the two-legged critters. Grizzly country might change the equation, but I think any weapon one would reasonably carry for self-defense would be adequate. Not for hunting, mind you, just for saving your life.
Can anyone cite a case where a person was killed by an animal after defensively using a handgun, any handgun?
Leave the poor snakes alone...
...I think being armed is a way of life, or a mindset. So, yes, I would carry.
Some comments:
- Only carry if it is legal for you to do so;
- When you carry, your own behavior must be above reproach. Obviously, no drinking, drugs, fighting, etc.
- You mention "tearing up some State land...". That doesn't sound too responsible. I would not carry if I was going to engage in any illegal activity, and there are plenty of rules to follow when riding.
Finally, it always makes me smile when I read about the hardy outdoorsmen needing to get strapped when going into the boonies. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! The further you get from the parking lot, the safer you are.
I think the main threat is still the two-legged critters. Grizzly country might change the equation, but I think any weapon one would reasonably carry for self-defense would be adequate. Not for hunting, mind you, just for saving your life.
Can anyone cite a case where a person was killed by an animal after defensively using a handgun, any handgun?
Leave the poor snakes alone...
There may be a way you secure a leather bag or something similar on your handlebars, maybe. Carrying on a bike presents some unique problems; in your case you bounce off a tree, in my case I slide 100' down the road or off into a ditch. Either way, carrying a gun on your person can be a bad thing if you go down. A fanny pack or backpack would probably be two reasonable solutions, but quick access is a problem.
... for some reason I'm thinking of that biker in Raising Arizona - now THAT's a way to carry!
... for some reason I'm thinking of that biker in Raising Arizona - now THAT's a way to carry!
Tracks in Washington State http://www.hometownmotocross.com/htmxtrackdata/statetracklist/watracklist.html
http://www.toesmxp.com/
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/getaways/35284_cycles16.shtml
Basically if you can't find a place to ride your bike in Washington you aren't looking
Don't people google anymore?
If you see a bear, or any other animal, while out on a motor bike I'll be very surprised.
I have yet to have seen a bear in the wild and I've hunted (Not for bear) and hiked all over Washington.
As far as bad guys, I don't think they're waiting in the wild to jack you and your bike.
http://www.toesmxp.com/
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/getaways/35284_cycles16.shtml
Basically if you can't find a place to ride your bike in Washington you aren't looking
Don't people google anymore?
If you see a bear, or any other animal, while out on a motor bike I'll be very surprised.
I have yet to have seen a bear in the wild and I've hunted (Not for bear) and hiked all over Washington.
As far as bad guys, I don't think they're waiting in the wild to jack you and your bike.
when i say tear up state land, i mean that figuratively. Dad wanted to go somewhere without a beaten down motocross trail. Somewhere i'll have to work around downed trees and creeks. It's totally legal where we go.
But i think i'll try to find an easy way to attach it to the bike, or just put it in the camel pack and make it readily avail.
But i think i'll try to find an easy way to attach it to the bike, or just put it in the camel pack and make it readily avail.
Stevie-Ray
New member
This is pretty much why I carry a 10mm in the Hiawatha National Forest. The "roads" from the main drag to where my relatives are are all pretty much 12 miles of winding dirt and gravel, not much better than a two-track. I figure I could have 6-8 miles of walking in a worst-case scenario, as cell phones are questionable at best in this area. And I've been vacationing there since long before cell phones. The mountains of Tennessee are another favorite vacation area with the same problems, though last time I noticed decent cell-phone reception. I always carried my Colt Delta Elite, but will now switch to the smaller and more carry-friendly Glock 29 that I got for Christmas. You're not paranoid, just cautious. Just brush off any naysayers, telling them they can do whatever they want.
troy_mclure
New member
jesus5150, i ride dirt and street too, i used to just keep my xd in my camelbak, but a guy i ride with has a nifty pouch attached to his chest protector, he carries sigma in it. he is even wreckier than me(thats alot!), and has never been injured by it, or had it come out/off. it also Velcro's onto his tank bag for his street bike.
Willie Lowman
New member
If you carry a gun when you ride, carry it where you can draw it.
If it is in a tight fitting camel pack sorta thing your gun is going to be 5 seconds to late.
I ride mountain bikes (sometimes) in places where the city folk don't lurk. One day I stopped on the trail to relieve myself, only to find (with the wrong gun in hand) that I was standing about 6 feet from a timber rattler. The snake and I made and unspoken agreement not to bite each other and we went our separate ways. I realized that my gun being in that little pouch on my back was worth ****all when the pack wasn't off my back and in my hand.
If it is in a tight fitting camel pack sorta thing your gun is going to be 5 seconds to late.
I ride mountain bikes (sometimes) in places where the city folk don't lurk. One day I stopped on the trail to relieve myself, only to find (with the wrong gun in hand) that I was standing about 6 feet from a timber rattler. The snake and I made and unspoken agreement not to bite each other and we went our separate ways. I realized that my gun being in that little pouch on my back was worth ****all when the pack wasn't off my back and in my hand.
Whiteboy67
New member
Hehe, not going to lie I never even thought about carrying while in the woods. It doesn't seem THAT paranoid because the woods where I ride with friends on my KX250F is pretty, uh, sketchy. It's a forest land, but there are some houses near the entrance to the forest and since they're in the middle of nowhere I'm assuming they don't like people all that much. Also we've seen some scary people up there...one guy was balls deep in the woods walking around by himself. We saw him and just went the other figuring it wouldn't be smart to mess with someone in the middle of the woods walking by himself. If I did carry, I'd put a small handgun into my camelback where I shove my handheld GPS/food/knife/small rope.
Paranoia
My favorite motto is."It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it." If you can legally CCW, then go ahead and do it. Every day, as often as you can. You never know when the Bad Guy is going to show up. Caliber, make and model are NOT important.
My favorite motto is."It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it." If you can legally CCW, then go ahead and do it. Every day, as often as you can. You never know when the Bad Guy is going to show up. Caliber, make and model are NOT important.
"Paranoia is a thought process characterized by excessive anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion."
If you want to CC b/c you want to be prepared in case the need to defend yourself arises or because there are a bunch of zombies, aliens or madmen out to get you?
If you want to CC b/c you want to be prepared in case the need to defend yourself arises or because there are a bunch of zombies, aliens or madmen out to get you?