My parents got a seasonal campsite at a campground in the NJ pines when I was 12 because we couldn't travel anymore (dad had quadruple bypass in 1981). My mom was a teacher, so we had all summer to ride.

My biggest concern was gas money and scraping up enough change for premix. This is where I learned very early on that pushing your bike home in sugar sand just plain sucks! We rode with loose chains, extremely worn sprockets, bald tires, etc... My parents weren't rich and I was lucky just to have a bike. The campground owners son was my best friend and so his Dad would pay us a friggin quarter for every bag of trash we picked up around the camp. cheap bastard. We also bundled wood and got like a dime a bundle I think.

Over the years and since then, the only people I ever came across were other riders who either waved or rode with us for awhile and people hanging out by the various streams and rivers drinking beer and smoking weed all day. If you go riding in the fall, you get some nasty looks from the hunters who are baiting their areas for deer...what BS that is. They can kiss my a**. How hard is it to get a deer if you're baiting your area for two months before deer season?

I got closelined one year almost took my head off, but one end of the cable tore out of the tree and I only got lacerations on my neck...Mom freaked. I think a hunter did that. (I'm not anti hunter, anti NRA or anything like that) I didn't even see the cable, it was rusty and blended in with trees. So, now I ride with that in the back of my mind and I hate it.

 

Scared? Are youscared of hurting your head so that is why you wear a helmet? If you arescared you should stop wearing one I suppose using your logic. Or do you wear one because it makes sense?
I have a greater chance of being assaulted by a meth freak or a bunch of drunk idiots than I do of falling off my bike. And when you are 50 miles from the nearest State Police barracks you need to take care of yourself.
We have a different mindset when it comes to personal protection in the States.

 

[sm=bangbang.gif]

 

those roos look dangerous.....lol

 

people who conceal carry take their guns just about everywhere they are allowed. 99.99% of the time they never need it. but that other .01% would possibly be dead if they hadn't had it.

heck police carry their guns into elementary schools, you think they are really worried about being attack there?

 

there is a difference between being scared and being prepared.

 

wow this thread was very usefull,, I carry just my smokes my weed my pipe and my camera and water,, and ive already been stranded in the woods 10 miles from home with a flat, its good to know fix a flat will work

 

Err logic???
I am "scared" "concerned" about hitting my head, so I where a helmet.
I am not "scared" "concerned" about being attacked by a "meth freak", so I don't carry a gun.
That's my point.

 

Neil,

How available are hand guns in AU? I know they are harder to come by in Canada thean the US. Anyway, I feel to each his own with respect to carrying a firearm while riding. I own hand guns but haven't carried while riding more due to California's law situation rather than concern for personal safety.I rate my saftey risk as low where I normally ride. I do however, plan to carry as condition warrant while going to different areas.

 

Hand guns are are very very difficult to get legally here.
I'm sure some criminals do get them but it's nothing like the states.
I don't know anyone with one and have only seen them on policemen and security guards.
Even sports shooters have very strict controls placed on them.

For sure each to their own but my point is unambiguous and nothing to do with the right tocarry arms.
That's a whole debate in it's self and not for this forum.

I'm glad I live in a place were I do not feel the need to carry a gun.
It's a statement about my state of mind, not anyone elses.