looking for a knife to take Mt bike riding

J

jsigone

Joined
Dec 18, 2006
Messages
10
Just picked up a Mini Pika for my borther for Xmas, I almost bought another for myself for my MTB rides. I got it from Turners, they didn't have a huge selection of small folders.

My buddy carries a fixed blade on the straps of his camelbak for a quick release, just in case he needs it. We have a few mt lions on our trails, so he's a lil worried. He started carrying it after a gal was attacked and killed on a local trail near his house. I always thought it was a good idea but never got one for myself.

I'm looking for something about 3-4" blade, light weight, fixed blade but incased is something that won't come out easy and is secure enough if I crash, I won't stab myself. It will probably hang on the shoulder straps too. Budget is $75 max
 
The old SRKW HR are close to your budget, I carried it as my mountain biking edc. Try eddie of Shadow knives, he got the best custom small edc you can afford!
 
I think that carrying a knife as a defence against mountain lions is more likely to lead you into dangerous complacency than it is to defend you.

If you're looking for a knife to go MTB riding, then I'd suggest the Wenger Pocket Mountain Bike at an RRP of $62.95:

16855.jpg


5 implements / 11 functions:

2.5" Blade
Chain rivet setter, removable 5mm Allen wrench
Removable tool for adjusting spokes, 10mm hexagonal key for nuts, screwdriver for slotted and Phillips® head screws
Phillips® head screwdriver
Patented locking screwdriver, cap lifter, can opener
Actual Size: 3.25"
Weight: 3.7 oz
Limited lifetime warranty
Made in Switzerland

http://www.wengerna.com/browse/product.jsp?prod_id=14&cat_id=1&cat_name=Knives&sub_cat_id=21

As an alternative, try a multitool such as a Gerber or Leatherman with an appropriate range of tools.

maximus "Road Biker" otter
 
the mt lion attack i read about while a man was biking in which he was killed, the lion more than likely attacked from the rear and he never even knew the cat was there. the moving away of the bike would have triggered the cat to give chase. as they are prone to lie in wait for prey and not be seen until its would be too late to defend against such a fast powerful attack. these cats are very quiet and fast the rush of an attack would not take long at all and if the cat hit you from behind i believe he'd have his fangs in your neck very swiftly. using a knife or even a pistol from the position of riding a mt. bike would be highly unlikely. the weapon may just give you at best a sense of security. these cats are spreading and even here in ky. there's been reports of them and a cow was killed, plus a tied pit bull close to a home. tracks where found as well as there had been sightings of a mt. lion in the areas before hand. if i was biking or hiking where they was more common i would carry a pistol and a knife but I'd still feel like my best protection would be a dog which would alert me to the cat. not very easy to have a dog along while mt. biking i know. hope you never run into a cat that wants to make a meal of you! odds are you will not but if it should happen that hardly helps.
 
I agree with maximus otter and jill jackson.

But, if you still want a fixed blade, check out the Benchmade Fixed Griptillian. It falls in your budget and specifics.
 
As Jill noted, a knife would be of questionable value given the mode in which cats tend to attack. These are incredibly strong, nimble, and efficient predators, they are not very likely to present you with an ideal mode to defend yourself. As you have noted, a fixed blade could actually become a hazard in the event of a tumble- considering the odds of either event happening, the knife could end up becoming more of a problem than a cat. You'd have to give some real thought as to how it would be carried securely enough to be safe, yet available for the kind of quick access such an attack would require. Another alternative might be some sort of tool offering blunt trauma- even a large stick or club offers distinct advantages over a knife in fending off predators of the four and two legged variety; not exactly something you can carry on a bike though. Your objective at any rate would not so much be to kill the cat as it would be to fend off the attack. A lightweight hatchet is another possibility, the Ranger Entry Tool that just sold on this forum comes to mind. Just throwing out some thoughts and ideas.

With all that said, there is seldom a time I don't have a knife, so I'm right there with you- I'd rather have one than not. There are tons of fixed blades to choose from, but I would lean towards a good, strong folder such as a BM 710- picked up a used hssr model a couple days ago for $75. Saw a used Al Mar SERE go for $63 very recently on a well known auction site. Fixed blade is superior for this type of purpose, but I would not feel "under-knived" with either one of these folders. If my rides regulary took me into areas that are known to hold large cats, my carry of choice would be an uncle mike's holster filled with Ruger Super Blackhawk or GP-100;) . Just remember your greatest survival tool is your brain- know your adversary, and be vigilent :)

Just some stuff to consider, my ten-cents worth.

chris
 
I always preferred either my Salt 1 from Spyderco in the rust proof H1 steel or my David Boye folder in the rust proof dendritic cobalt alloy for long term sweaty or water sports activity. These are both worry free trustworthy knives. Two different price classes though but both are pretty great little folders.

STR
 
Maybe think about pepper spray for mountain lions? It's not much, but I would rather use it than a knife against an animal like that.

Bear mace?
 
Get yourself a RAT3, you wont regret it. The sheath and size are perfect for what you want.
 
if you can get it in the cats face i believe he'd turn and go. i ride road bikes and have turned many aggressive dogs with less than the 10% bear pepper spray. mace is poor against a dog i had a German shepherd almost eat a whole can once. the pepper spray really burns a dog up. I've heard of a few cases of a mt. lion or even a pair of mt.lions stalking a person and the person saw them and managed to discourage them by climbing a tree and kicking them in the face when they came up after them. another guy used his mt bike for a weapon and escaped with his life. if the cat is uncertain enough about attacking you in the first place as to allow you to see it it seems you do have a good chance of imtimadating them. after all they are a predator and they don't want to be hurt while trying to kill prey. if they get hurt too badly to hunt they'd die.
 
Knife recommendation: Al Mar Eagle Ultralight. Just $5 more than your budget. It's light, has a 4" blade, and it's nice looking to boot.

Mountain Lion recommendation: While a dog might be better than nothing, I think it's a false sense of security as well. I know a guy that went horseback riding in the local mountains with his pit bull running along with him. A mountain lion literally swooped in, grabbed the pit bull, and took off. He said it happened so fast that neither he nor the dog had a chance to react.

Then again, come to think of it, I guess having a dog is good advice. They work great as bait.
 
Wildwinds said:
Knife recommendation: Al Mar Eagle Ultralight. Just $5 more than your budget. It's light, has a 4" blade, and it's nice looking to boot.

Mountain Lion recommendation: While a dog might be better than nothing, I think it's a false sense of security as well. I know a guy that went horseback riding in the local mountains with his pit bull running along with him. A mountain lion literally swooped in, grabbed the pit bull, and took off. He said it happened so fast that neither he nor the dog had a chance to react.

Then again, come to think of it, I guess having a dog is good advice. They work great as bait.
Click to expand...

i did mean to alert you to the mt lion. as most dogs would smell it if it was close. i didn't mean the dog would defeat it. if i was hiking in mt lion country and was worried about it, I'd have a 9" blade bowie sticker, a ruger sp101 357 mag and a aggressive dog on a 26 foot retractable lead, then I'd at least feel very safe.
 
Think of things you are actually likely to use a knife for while mountain biking, and buy a knife suitable for those real everyday situations.

Carrying a knife to defend from mountain lion attacks is on par with carrying a knife to defend from lightning strikes.

Just my two cents...
-Bob
 
Try a Leatherman E307. CM154 blade Screwdriver & torqx set Small enough to be stashed in an underseat bag or a hydration backpack! I EDC mine alot.
 
thanks for all the great replies!!!

I understand that IF there was an attack by a cat, it would be from the back. But having a fixed blade strapping inverted on the shoulder straps offer the quick release needed foir defense. I guess it's not just only for cats or defense. If I'm 25-30 miles out in the sticks, with no ranger or anyone is sight, I'd just like the peace of mind I have more of a defensive tool other then my bike as a shield and my muiltitool I have in my camelbak

I was browsing benchmade's site last night and ran across this
http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=10536

weight was 2.34oz, that about .4oz heavier then the mini pika I picked up for my brother. So it's light weight enough and has the blade range I'm looking for. Any comments on this one???
 
Bob W said:
Think of things you are actually likely to use a knife for while mountain biking, and buy a knife suitable for those real everyday situations.

Carrying a knife to defend from mountain lion attacks is on par with carrying a knife to defend from lightning strikes.
Click to expand...

Given the frequency of mountain lion attacks, worrying about such attacks is on par with worrying about lightning strikes.

There are some very nifty bike oriented multi tools out there, some of which even have a knife blade!
 
Maybe construct a framed in chicken wire contraption around your bike and yourself to remove all doubt of a potential attack.
This would be less than $75.00, but probably wouldn't look real stud :D :D
 
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