Posted: 3/20/2005 12:31:41 PM EDT
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Anyone have any ideas for CCW options for cyclists? I have a USP9, but it's just too big to conceal in my biking clothes. Right now, I'm mulling a Glock 26 or a Kahr MK9 in a pocket holster. I've even tooled around with a Makarov, but I'd like to stick with a 9mm. I'll probably wearing some padded, heavier-weight cycling shorts a t-shirt, and a camelbak. Any thoughts? |
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There's a company out there making holsters specifically for runners and cyclist but for the life of me I can't remember where I saw it or the name of the company. You may be able to do a search on one of the mountain biking websites and find out. If you had something really small, like a NAA 22 minirevolver, you could get one of those little pouches that hooks onto your Camelbak straps for cell phones or GPS. That might work for something like a Seacamp or Keltec.32 also. I’ve tried a couple options and wasn’t really happy with any of them- they either get in the way, mess with your balance, would be dangerous in a crash, are too heavy, you can’t get to them if you needed it, etc. I thought about one of those frame bags but then you have the gun on the bike and not in your control if you get off the bike- you’d have to transfer it to your person and then folks might see it. |
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This is the best bet and no one will think it's a gun inside. www.blackhawkindustries.com/product_detail.asp?product_id=2097&d= |
Thanks for all the input! How secure are those chest rigs? I have been known to take a spill now and then, and I would be concerned about revealing that I am carrying.
The majority of my riding is mountain biking over flat terrain averaging 20-30 miles per ride. At present, it's an issue with humans. I ride a lot, at varying times, in a state park where there's a lot of visitors (not to mention occasional crime). The only animal encounter I might have is a stray dog--although that does get me thinking. I'm planning a move soon, which will likely take me to AZ, so other dangerous animals might be an issue. I also do some shorter, more anaerobic rides over hilly, more "technical" terrain, which count for 15% of my rides. I ride in inclement weather. How nasty does the smartcarry if you're working out? Does it stand up to regular washing? |
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The chest rig like the BHI I linked above is the best option. I tried wearing a fanny pack turned to the rear but after wearing holes in three pairs of Pearl Izumi shorts I gave up. A friend showed me his BHI rig and I was sold. I also have a Wilderness Safepacker that I attach to the waist belt on my pack when my wife and I are out hiking. Once again, no one thinks there is a pistol inside yet I can still have it out in under 2 seconds. I've lived in AZ all my life. Loose dogs and humans are the only dangerous game you have to worry about. I've seen tons of coyote, javelina and bobcats out biking within 20 miles of my house. They are all very scared and run away from cyclists. I did however almost get stomped by a horse. I came around a bend and there were thre horses with riders on the trail. I stopped about ten feet in front of them and pulled my bike off the trail. One of the horses started bucking and charged my bike. He kept jumping acting like he was going to stomp it. The rider started punching him in the neck and he stopped. thewilderness.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/2/products_id/18?osCsid=72842f0bb748399d8f7d489058846fb7 |
That looks like an awesome idea, at least with a baggy shirt |
Anyone try this option for carry? |
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It is very secure, but don't expect holster speed trying to get out your pistol. I do mostly technical mtn biking, have had my (un)fair share of falls, and I wouldn't think twice about the security of it. It's held on top of the ribs by adjustable x-straps around your back, with a third adj waist strap. It would hold a fair amount of stuff, its rugged, and too bulky to go unnoticed under a shirt IMO. For an external pouch, it would be fine. For biking I'm thinking that a CCW buttpack maybe a better option for some, but its less secure... |
| I might have to get that. Every fitness ride, some jerkoff nearly runs me off the trail (every so often succeeding) so I need something pretty secure. I almost made short work of someone's Golden Retriever today. Around here, you're supposed to give an audible notice that you're passing. I'm hauling ass so I shout, "Passing on your left." The dogs owner goes right (correctly), her kid goes left (incorrectly), and the dog and its leash is stretched out between. I come to a sloppy, skidding stop just short of squishing the puppie and stumble out of my clipless pedals. She was pretty apologetic, so I just said no worries and carried on. Al Pacino said, "You can get killed walking yo'doggie!" But I usually nearly get killed by someone walking their doggie. haha |
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I have experimented for 100's of hours with bike carry options. My first choice is a holster strapped to the hip/shoulder belt attachment point on a camel bak, strong side. Open carry, but pretty discrete, in Alaska that was the only way to go. I even rode beside other cyclists that never noticed the gun. (they were probably too busy laughing at my tight pants) I live in a more populated/less gun friendly area now, so a wilderness safe packer (or similar) in the same location is good. Robert's chest holster from survivalsheath.com is a good concealment option. Ask him to make it with 4 straps so the slide is horizontal. But under your jersey you have to either unzip or reach under. The gun gets sweaty as hell too. Its ok comfort wise, but really better for an upright activity like walking or skiing. I have used a pocket holster in a jersey pocket. It only works for lightweight guns and a fabric that isn't too elastic. Fanny packs and belly bands are torture for me, I have to have them so tight I can't breathe or they feel way too loose. |
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Stash it in a bag attached to your bike! In my youth I rode bicycle a lot. Had a back pack on, a car suddenly stopped in front of me, I hit the bumper and did a 1 1/2 gainer! I was injured more seriously from landing on the back pack (due to it's contents... a battery operated am/fm radio) than any other part of the accident. I was doing about 30 mph... screwed up hitting the car. I was banged up badly. Head and face swollen, could not raise one arm above my belt level for about a week or so. Nothing broken... but beat to crap! I now ride motorcycle. I will not have anything on me and no more than a wallet in my pockets. No keys, no cell phone, no pager... nothing else. Landing on that kind of stuff can multiply an injury. When I biked, I had a bag on the handle bars which held my pistol. On my motorcycle I have a tank bag to carry my pistol. Bike or motorcycle... remember this. there are two types of bikers... those that have fallen... and those that will fall. Every body falls down!!! Please not on your person. Much safer crashwise off person carry. |
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Not something I've really felt necessary to do, but if taken to task I'd run a micro sized Glock in my camelbak. The way riders are around here anything the least bit out of place or odd would be tagged immediately. General_Tso, if you don't move before this summer you should do some riding in MI. The best local trail is only ~26 miles 
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Resq47, I really want to do that Ore to Shore Race, but I might have to move as soon as June 1st!  In fact, a little sooner than that. I haven't been biking much yet, but I'm a little impatient with getting into shape again. The soul is willing, the legs are weak. My usual fitness ride is 30 miles, but I'll be damned if I can do it yet! And my recovery has been slow. Oh, well.Resq47 makes a good point. I don't think people (around here at least) would be too suspicious of one of those chest pouches, but it's still a good point. The good thing about the pouch is it would give me a place to stash my phone and my gps, which I use as a cycling computer. I doubt I'd have room for my wallet and a Glock in my camelbak. (The classic's compartment is really small and thin, but I'll try it.) As for me, I'd rather have the gun on my person rather than in a bag on the bike. Say someone knocked me over to mug me and I was still clipped in, I'd have hard time getting to a bag under the top tube. Plus, you can't assume you'll have time to dismount if you have to defend yourself. I understand the worry about injury, though. So long as something isn't on either of my hips, because when I fall it seems I land on one of hips more often than not. And I fall often. I'm still mulling holsters. Not sure what I'll get. |
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I'll sometimes stash a 9 in the camelback, especially if I'm going to be out in the boonies. If I'm just riding around the general area, I slip a P32 in my pocket. I wear normal shorts, so that's not an issue. Sometimes I'll do both anyway. I did do the fanny pack backwards thing for a while. I switched 'cause the water bladder in that pack is smaller. Don't have an issue with the current fanny pack. |
I 'raced' the O2S (48mi ?) in 2003. Hardest thing I've ever done in one day, and I went to school there so I had an idea what we were in for. 6+ hours on the bike was about 3 too many  My local favorite trail is the Poto, and it's enough to clear your head pretty well for an LP ride. I really wouldn't be able to do a chest pouch of any sort. If the ammo didn't soak through, the pouch would be a soggy mess pretty quickly. I guess I'm riding in different areas than the rest of you, but I'm more comfortable the farther out I am. There aren't any natural predators I'm concerned with in this state, and I'm more dangerous to my own well being than the other riders / hikers I run into. I'd rather have something onboard when I'm doing road rides, and it would have to be readily accessible or the weapon would be useless to me. Even then it would be a definite freak incident that would leave me legally able to engage. I'd have to have grievous injuries and pending ICU time to pull on a car travelling away from me after running me down... Now a jersey emblazoned with 'RIDER MAY BE ARMED' could be fun 
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I use a spec-ops brand "frontal assault" pocket attached to the front lower left of my camelback (which provides a very quick cross-draw). I put my PM9 in a pocket holster inside, and put a couple of folded up bandanas on the frontside of the pouch as padding in case of a fall. The beauty of this solution is that it looks like part of the camelback, nothing like a gun, and you can also use it to store other riding stuff (Gu, GPS, etc..) when not carrying. |
Excellent idea azrobo! I have wondered if those pouches are any good. |
| I'm kind of in the same boat here. I need a carry system for running with my G30. I've been looking at fanny packs but I'm afraid they'll bounce too much. Everything else mentioned here seems too slow for drawing or not applical for someone not wearing a backpack. |
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You know what would be nice? A small pack (like a Camel-Bak) that has a compartment between the padding and the bladder, just at it's base. It would be accessible from either side and large enough to fit most handguns. It would be comfortable and similar to a small of the back holster. You could always sew a new compartment into your current pack and set it up as needed... Or pay a sew shop to do it. |
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I picked up an Original Tommy's Gun Pack® at a gun show a week ago. So far it's working out fine for biking. I've tried it with my G23 and Ruger SP101 - both work well in the pack. I wear it on my left hip. It's a little too large/bulky to wear while shopping at the mall but blends in well with my biking shorts which are black. It doesn't scream "GUN" in this situation. It looks similar to non-gun packs I've worn previously with tools, ID, etc. Since I'm usually in motion, I don't think anyone is going to get more than a passing glance at the bag anyway. I stopped to talk to a neighbor. He didn't seem to take notice of the pack - and he's the type who would have a coronary if he saw anything related to a gun. The pack doesn't interfere with my biking - once I get going, I forget that it's there. I ride on a paved trail and on city streets - approximately 10 miles per day. Those of you who are more serious about biking may be more critical of the pack but it works fine for me. |