Defence against attackers/ animals

Hey. Do you carry some form of defence with you an your travels? I don't want a weapon! But something like a really LOUD alarm or pepper spray or similar. I'm not aiming to hurt anyone it's just if i need to get out of a situation! Any experiences or advice?

...my experience said that you don't need any mortal divice or similar stuff...just slow down....and try to not make eye contatc with this famous dogs....they like ugly looks and speeding moviles.....that's simple

We met Herve, a nice French guy who has cycled for the past three years from France to Southeast Asia by wasy of Northern China. He has a good "dog stick" mounted on his handlebars. It looks much like a walking stick.

His Web Site

Almost all dogs I've encountered will quit chasing you as soon as you stop and get off your bike. Pepper spray works ok on some dogs, but most rarely spray accurately more than 4 or 5 feet despite the manufacturer's claims. Once they've been used the first time, they lose distance each time after that too, making them basically useless against a truly viscious animal. I bought an electronic dog repeller off ebay last year, and that thing was a total waste of money. Our own dog rarely even acknowledges it, let alone become "timid and paralyzed" by it.

I know you said no weapons, but taurus makes a lightweight titanium .357 revolver, 2" barrel, 7 shot. The trigger pull is horrendous, but other than a hand grenade, you won't find anything more powerful for the size and weight. Plus, there's no reliability issues like an automatic, just pull the trigger (it's double action) and it fires. I've yet to fire mine in self-defense, and I don't carry it on tour or around towns because of the amount of police and civillians who freak out on others who choose to excersise their right to bear arms. I do however carry it on blm and logging roads in areas where I've seen black bears and mountain lions.

I've found that slowing down and shouting or growling at the dog works in India and Thailand - wouldn't recommend it against a real tough dog though. A basket full of small kittens - throw one out to distract chasing dog - can also be effective!

One question - monkeys and dogs - I was told that you should never stare at one, but should (ie it was good) at the other. I thought it was stare at dogs, not at monkeys. Any views from you animal phsycologists?

#3, a titanium pistol? Spoken like a true lover of pimpy bike kit! Does it come with a carbon fibre grip option? Can I get one with a Campagnolo sticker?

Dervla Murphy travelled with a .22 pistol, which she said proved useful against over amorous Persian truck drivers and wild dogs. But I think these days if you are crossing borders its not exactly a sensible option!

There are quite a few threads about dog attacks if you do a search - there doesn't seem to be any concensus, but a few stones to hand seem to be the simplest and most effective. I've toyed with the idea of rigging up a little holder on my fork or handlbar for a light whippy cane, or one of those flexi horse whips you get in riding suppliers and... ermm.. exotic shops. A strike across the face with one of those would sure surprise a persistent dog or other attacker. But i reckon it would be stolen very quickly off the bike so its probably not worth the effort.

As for defence against human attackers, i could imagine that a rape alarm would be useful when alone in dodgy guesthouses, but in other circumstances I don't think it would be much use. Plenty of bike tools could double up as weapons if you were entering a potentially dangerous situation - unlikely, but worth bearing in mind. The split half of a multitool can fit neatly into your hand and cause a nasty wound if you really had to use it. Also, its a good idea to have a lock with you that can be used to secure a guesthouse door as well as your bike (now that i think of it, a u-lock is a hell of a useful weapon). Even just leaving your bike up against a door so it will fall if anyone attempts to enter when you are asleep is a good security device.

But that said... perhaps the female regulars here would have a different perspective, but i think you'd have to be very unlucky to need a defensive weapon. Your best tool of all for safety is your bike - unlike backpackers or other solo travellers, if you don't like the look of a town, you can easily just keep on moving until you find somewhere safer, and you can avoid those really dangerous parts of towns, like around bus stations. The best defence is common sense.

"civillians who freak out on others who choose to excersise their right to bear arms"

Fortunately few places outside the US consider this a right. Personally I think my right not to get shot is more important.

Having said that the only time I've ever wanted a gun was to use on dogs when I'm out cycling.

I have yet to test it on a tour and don't know if I'd bring it on a tour but around town my airhorn works wonders on dogs. Dogs just freeze when they hear that thing. I almost look forward to bad dogs.