Concealed carry on a bicycle

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gbclarkson

New member
I am looking for a concealed carry, frame and/or handle bar mounted, holster or pack for a bicycle. I would like to avoid a fanny pack-type system as they become uncomfortable on long trail rides. Any advice on manufacturers? Any experience?
 
I haven't seen anything specific to being mounted on a bike.

My recommendation would be something small carried securely on-body in a tight holster. Something like thunderwear with an M&P Shield, PM9, Bodyguard, LCP, etc.

The UnderTech Coolux shirt might be a good option for you as well.
 
In a holster is always the best place to carry. I carry in my camelback in a side pocket that is easy to get to. Not as good as on your side but still pretty accessible (I tell myself it's better then nothing). The risk is if you get blindsided it's to far away. Colion Noir posted a holster recently mounted on his bike. It was a road bike though. Not sure I would want it on my mountain bike.
 
I know you said you don't like fanny packs, but that seems to be the only thing that works for me. I can easily carry my 340PD or if I'm riding in a rural area I carry a Mod 60 3" 357. My normal ride is usually less than an hour and I don't really feel any discomfort. If you figure out a better idea I'd love to hear about it. As others have said I want my gun on my person, and not on the bike.
 
I just use a small MOLLE pouch snapped around my handle bars.

Not the best system, but I've never found anything on the body that was comfortable when riding seriously.


I remember once I was riding with my then young son, he was in front of me and we were moving pretty good I heard a car and glanced behind, and then back just in time to hit my sons back tire, throwing him over an embankment and I went sliding down the road. My 9c come out of it's holster and under my shirt around my chest area. Jumped up to get out of the road before I realized it had come out, I caught it under the shirt without thinking. That was my last trip with anything but my LCP, and my last ride with a hip holster. We were just out goofing off on a family ride (wife and daughter were leading)

Safety first, shooting yourself while trying to catch a falling gun after a bike crash later. :o::rolleyes:
 
I'm thinking along the line of a cycling shirt with a zipped pocket and keeping it in there inside of a holster. I'm concern about it printing.
 
My vote is for anything other than off body carry. A "bicycle t-shirt" with the zippered pocket sounds the best. The more I hear from trainers and people in the know the more I agree with them about off body carry being a poor choice.
 
I take my SR9 in a Orignal Alien Gear IWB holster. Never had a problem, holds tight on the trail and its the same holster I wear everyday. The Alien Gear is great for a 4-5 o'clock carry and doesn't bother your movement.
 
Don't take this the wrong way but I'm trying to figure out why anyone would want to carry on the handlebars of a bike? What strikes me first is that if you have a situation to draw your weapon, you'll have enough trouble staying on your bike. Second, if you have time enough to reach down and unzip a pouch or holder of some sort, you have time enough to keep riding and get away from the threat (in most cases and I'm sure that will be brought up in the civil trial that will result).

In the scenario of someone attacking you on your bike, if they were close enough to push you off balance, you are not going to be able to react to that and retrieve your weapon in the seconds that follow.

In the scenario of just carrying your handgun and using the bike for travel - then stopping and doing some shooting - that may be one thing - but technically in many states, if others are around - especially if they don't like guns - withdrawing your handgun from the holder on your handle bars could be interpreted as "brandishing". If you stop and get off your bike - to get off your bike and leave it there is not a fantastic idea. To pull it out and put it in a pocket and walk into a store to get a cold drink or other item is also not a good idea. You are responsible for your handgun and knowing where it is at all times - in my mind - carrying on your person is the "best" scenario of all. If on your body, you have access to it if needed.

A person could argue that carrying in a car is similar - that not having your weapon on your body but "handy" makes sense. But a car is a whole lot different than a bicycle. If you stop to go in a place where firearms are prohibited, it can be locked securely in your car.

But, everyone is different so you have to assess your own situation and do what's best for you
 
I'm thinking along the line of a cycling shirt with a zipped pocket and keeping it in there inside of a holster. I'm concern about it printing.
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Id be more concerned about sweat. My bike shirts are soaked, and in short order. You would need a good, water proof holster to keep what ever you were carrying separated from it.

The other issue I have with the pockets on the bike shirts is, anything with even a little weight, tends to rub me badly. A gun would be a killer.

What strikes me first is that if you have a situation to draw your weapon, you'll have enough trouble staying on your bike.
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I think in most cases, its best to use your bike to just get out of there (like a car), rather than to try and draw and fight, especially while still on a moving bike.

Things generally happen so fast, you dont have time to react. I once got hit broadside by a German Shorthaired Pointer while riding in a group. I saw the dog coming, charging actually, but I was in the middle of the pack, and had nowhere to go. The dog hit the macadam, thought better of it, panicked, tried to put on the brakes, and started to slide, and slid right into me, and pretty hard. I dont know how I stayed upright, but I did. If I had gone down, it wouldnt have been fun, and the thought of a gun in my shirt, or even a holster, against my body, rolling around on the macadam, isnt a pleasant one. At least in my CamelBak, Ive got padding between me an the gun, and the gun has padding, between it and the ground.

This is one of those cases where you need to adjust your carry mentality, and have a slightly different strategy on what you might do. For me, critters (for the most part), are less of a threat, as I can usually power out of them, if Im paying attention. Even if they are close, a little messing with their timing/ooda loop (dogs have them too, if you didnt know :D), and you can usually get by them before they can recover enough to get to you. If not, put the bike between them and me and we have a talk. So far, the only one that got teeth on me, was some little lap terrier, who I thought was "all bark", and he got a hold of my shoe, and was going around with it as I pedaled. I was laughiung harder than I was worried.

People are really not much different, unless youre somehow pinned in, oor knocked down. In either case, my basic plan is to "run away", and create distance, while unlimbering my shooter from my CamelBak, which is really a lot asier and more natural than it might sound. A little practice, and I think you;ll understand what I mean.
 
I think in most cases, its best to use your bike to just get out of there (like a car), rather than to try and draw and fight, especially while still on a moving bike.
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Two problems with that thinking. First with the two leg threat, you may not be able to ride away if they pull you off the bike or throw a stick in your wheel and I honestly dont think you can out ride a bullet. I know I cant.

As for the four leg threats, your definitely not going to race away from them. Where I live a lot of the trails and connecting trails run through flood control wash areas and the big cats and other predators hunt and travel thru them. See the tracks all the time.
 
Two problems with that thinking. First with the two leg threat, you may not be able to ride away if they pull you off the bike or throw a stick in your wheel and I honestly dont think you can out ride a bullet. I know I cant.
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Youre never going to solve all problems in the same way. I still think if you see trouble coming, you have options, and getting out of dodge, is still the best recourse, if you see a way out. Very often, just blasting on by, will give you that. If you need to do something else, then you had best be somewhat ready for option 2, 3, 4, whatever.

As for the four leg threats, your definitely not going to race away from them.
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I have done it on numerous occasions where I ride (normally rural roads and trails), and most all of the critters doing the chasing were dogs. Other than that collision and that one little dog, none have yet caught me.

Since this is a gun board, and like most things "gun" related, the gun, is usually the answer/solution to all the problems, which in reality, it isnt, "always". Ive always carried a handgun with me when I ride, and in 20+ years of doing so, have never had to draw it. Ive ridden everywhere from inner city to the mountains too.

If you dont practice evasion, both on the bike and on foot (which can be quite an issue, if youre wearing road bike shoes, as opposed to mountain bike shoes, depending on your binding system), as well as deploying your gun when on foot and the tactics associated with that, which will probably be different than your norm, youre likely going to be in for a shock, if you need to act reactively.

I realize to, while we may be on a bike, not all of us are in top shape either, and that may have a definite bearing on how your plans are made and go. If your bike rides are all leisurely, you may not be able to blast off at a fast pace, and/or hold it, so again, you will need to adapt things to your fitness level.
 
Unless I missed it, the post was HOW TO carry and WERE to carry.

Of course its always best not to get into a self defence situation. But there is nothing wrong with WHAT IF planning. As everyone should do as they keep aware of whats going on around them.

As for dogs im sure you can out pace a little dog but sorry a bigger dog is going to chase you down and wipe you out. If you got a Bob cat or other your not going to lose it. they do come down, especially thru the drainage and wash areas. One was caged a few years ago well in the city limits as they can go unnoticed thru the flood canals. Plus thats where a lot of the trails used or cut thru.

All it takes to stop you on a bike is someone throwing a stick into you wheel as your running off. The point is NOW WHAT? I completely agree get away if you can but you need to be ready for the time you can't. Its the same if your walking to your car from a movie theater or riding through the back country.
 
As for dogs im sure you can out pace a little dog but sorry a bigger dog is going to chase you down and wipe you out.
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Hasnt yet, and Ive done it enough to know, on both road and mountain bikes. Dont have big cats here, or at least I havent seen any, so I havent had to deal with that.

As far as throwing a stick through the spokes, maybe, maybe not. Ive seen people "try" and do it when we were kids, with less success than failure. Ive had small critters try to run through them as I rode by, and they didnt get through, nor did they break any spokes, or stop my bike. I did have a squirrel do it, and get flipped up onto my thigh once, that was interesting. :)

Not saying it couldnt or wouldnt happen, but chances are pretty good, the odds are more in your favor, than they are against, especially if youre moving quickly by at 25 to 35 K.

The point is NOW WHAT?
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Well, of course, then its onto plan B. I just think, if things allow, plan A should be "go".

If youre into plan B, youre most likely, already behind the curve, and its going to be a much harder row to how. Chances are, you'll also be leaving your means of escape, to deal with who knows what, and where.
 
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