AZ:Strange Encounter with an Armed? Cyclist

Gun Watch ^ | 14 March, 2014 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Pistol and holster rig Author was wearing.  Clothes were as described in story

I was out running this morning with my usual rig when I am exercising: a Glock 17 in a Fobus paddle holster.  After experimenting with a number of combinations, this is the one I usually use.  In the last 15 years I have worn out two of the holsters and am working on the third.

I was headed south on the right hand sidewalk alongside a moderately busy four lane boulevard.  I was wearing a mostly white t-shirt with a nondescript design on it, and light tan shorts.  The Glock was over the right rear hip, the Fobus is a dark green (unusual, I know, I got a good deal on several a decade ago) , so it had very good contrast with the shirt and shorts.

A cyclist on a bicycle passed me in the near lane, traveling about 10-12 mph faster than me.

This is not unusual... until I noticed the cyclist had what appeared to be a truncated 1911 type handgun in his left hand, not pointing it anywhere but down, and tucked it into the large, rear cargo pocket of the florescent orange safety vest that he was wearing, as I watched.

The color scheme of the pistol gave me pause to wonder if it was an authentic firearm, a squirt gun, or a toy.  The grips appeared to be an off white, and the frame and slide were roughly the color of oxidized aluminum with a slight bluish tint.   I did not see an orange tip on the pistol.   That is about all I was able to gather in the few seconds the pistol was visible, at distances from 15 to 60 feet from me.

Presuming that the cyclist saw that I was openly carrying a pistol, what was the purpose of having what appeared to be a pistol in his left hand when he passed me?   Was he trying to acknowledge support for open carry?    Was the pistol some kind of facsimile, perhaps a squirt gun filled with something for defense against dogs?  Did he just happen to be repositioning the pistol to a more secure location when he passed me?

The cyclist appeared to be male, a couple of skin shades darker than me, slender, average height, wearing short sleeves, shorts, safety vest and helmet.  He was riding a derailure type bike that appeared to be more than a Walmart special.

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[marktwain]

The entire event only last a few seconds. Not much time to get a good picture of the pistol. Another reason to wear a camera, I guess.

[Uncle Miltie]

That’s nothing. I saw a hot young chick on a mountain bike in downtown Medford, OR (pop. ~200,000) with a pink stocked AR-15 slung over her shoulder.

:-)

[SJSAMPLE]

Fobus paddle.
Recipe for disaster.

[discostu]

I’d say he just happened to be repositioning. Or maybe something else on the trail bugged him. The only stuff I’ve ever wanted to shoot on the trail wasn’t human.

[RoosterRedux]

Was the pistol some kind of facsimile, perhaps a squirt gun filled with something for defense against dogs?

Ah yes, the old squirt gun defense. Works every time.;-)

[dinodino]

What’s wrong with the Fobus?

[Talisker]

Sounds like he was getting ready to bicycle-jack you, rode up behind you, saw that you were armed, and replaced his gun as he passed, deciding to find a safer victim.

The fact that he was armed means he really didn’t want to use his weapon, let alone risk getting shot himself even though he had the jump on you. Threatening someone is different than cold-blooded murder from behind, and that would have been his only safe attack once he saw your gun.

And of course, it could have been a fake gun, in which case he really, really didn’t want to screw with you.

[KC Burke]

As he approached you from behind he would have seen the holstered pistol from the rear. If he was holding it in his right hand as he came even with you he could have been shifting it from a ready cross draw position to placing it back in a rear vest pocket area.

Who knows why it was in the front accessible area or in his hand. Approaching with bad intent, mearly shifting it by coincidence or sdjusting its placement for comfort.

Here in AZ concealed or open carry is so common, I hardly notice it anymore.

[Boogieman]

“The cyclist appeared to be male, a couple of skin shades darker than me...”

Racist!

[SJSAMPLE]

Even as a paddle Fobus fails.
It’s a lousy substitute for a IWB/OWB belt-mounted hoster.
I have two Fobus holsters for my Glock 22 and 23 and they’ve been in a junk box since I went to IWB and OWB belt hosters from Raven, G-Code, among others.

Basically, they flop around and while they may be convenient if you’re constantly mounting and dismounting your sidearm, they’re not very secure.

[marktwain]

It has worked very well for me. Flops less than other holsters I have tried, easy on off in and out of places that “check” your firearm for you, though those are decreasing in number, easy to change position for car carry so the seat belt does not interfere with access.

But, I have found holsters to be very much a thing of individual body shape, taste, habits, and usage, and the Fobus works well for me.

[Fai Mao]

It may very well have been a water pistol. Some cyclist carry one that is filled with a mixture of water and ammonia to repel large dogs.

[Sherman Logan]

Ah yes, the old squirt gun defense. Works every time.;-)

Filled with ammonia, does a spectacular job. Even rubbing alcohol will usually send a dog running if you hit him anywhere near the head.

Don't ask how I know any of this.

[Sherman Logan]

Sorry, didn’t read all the way down before posting.