Re: [CR] Bikes being stolen at gun / knife point

Hello Vintage Cycling Enthusiasts,

I hope this email finds you well. It seems that the more that our society gets into a jam, the more people struggle to make ends meet, and many I am referring to are in this email are people who have just basic needs to survive and include both honest and dishonest people. After having grown up in a large southwestern US city, we learned that everywhere we go and everything we do we lock our possessions up, including our homes, cars and last, but not least our bikes. Most of these desperado's in today's society don't just steal to get a case of beer, or a better bike, like in the 60's in the United States, but it is in many times than not desperation to fulfill their drug addictions and other self induced wants that they have driven them selves to. What are we to do? I read an email recently that pepper spray is not safe for the cyclist or someone trying to protect themselves in their home or car, but wasp spray is much more effective. Several of my friends in law enforcement have informed me that if I sprayed wasp spray in the face of a perpetrator will blind them resulting in me facing criminal charges for assault and being sued for blinding the villain. The criminal seemingly has more rights than the innocent, but after having lived in the rural country now for close to 30 years my friends have me to now believe the adage that "I would rather be tried by twelve than carried off by six"! The dog is not the problem, but the owner. When a fellow puts a knife or a 9mm handgun in my face demanding my bike so he/she can get away or get another methamphetamine or crack cocaine fix is quite alarming. We should ride in only safe and secure places and ride only at daytime. My, what a different generation we live in. I wish you all many safe and relaxing cycling trips and cycle safe by cycling smart!

Best Regards,
John Proch
La Grange, Texas