WWBT do?

open carry is legal here in VA and it's always slightly awkward for me - but that's only because i'm personally uncomfortable with guns. 

i don't think that the way he's dressed or that he's drinking gatorade are weird.  if anything, that makes him even LESS sketchy.  what thug that wants to shoot up a bike trail is rocking a polo shirt and pink gatorade?

Nothing is a ultimate trump card. If you can't take care of yourself, a gun is pretty useless. If you want something to make you "feel" better, it does not mean you are any safer.

Why you feel anything for a person going about their business lawfully is a head scratcher. Many gun owners do not open carry because it causes more problems that it solves. If you ever find your self in a bad situation... then you just put a target on you. Yet open carry is legal, and I have no idea why "seeing" a gun is such a problem.

Anything is better than nothing. Knife, pepper spray, tazer, set of keys. But you need to know how to use them. And if you want to carry a gun, then not only do you need to know how to use it, but you need to be ready for the responsibility and liability that brings. But as far as the rider, you have no idea what so ever what is reasons for doing what he is lawfully doing. He could easily be an off duty police officer. He could have a hit on him, he could like how people give him a wide berth... who knows.

You know, I think it is the right of any citizen to carry a gun, and I will defend it vehemently.......but I'd stop WAAAAAAAY short of calling it an improvement in life.  Just some more for you to think about.

This is what I was thinking... I ride through sprawling farmlands on every ride and feel more safe than I do in the city.

I'm much more leery of a farm dog running out of the fields and getting caught in my wheel than a murderer. I could probably out-ride a murderer, but farm dogs? Those guys are FAST, even the little ones. 

I understand what you are saying OP.

I recently saw a guy in camo pants, black tshirt, mullet and hat at the grocery store. He also had a huge 1911 .45 hanging off his belt.

I live in Idaho, grew up around guns, have guns, like guns, have no problem with people carrying guns. 

But when I saw his gun it still gave me pause. Mostly because you just don't see average joe citizen carrying a gun very often in today's society. It is just out of the ordinary so yes it can make you stop and think, absolutely nothing wrong with that IMO.

When I saw it I thought at first, what the heck? Then I thought, why was that my reaction? Then I thought, that was a nice looking gun!

As far as you carrying a gun... You need to learn about them, do a lot of thinking about yourself and what you are comfortable with and then if you decide to get one get some good training and practice with it.

I personally do carry when I ride by myself. I ride in the country so aggressive dogs can be an issue, but also aggressive drivers. I have had someone repeatedly try to run me off the road then surged ahead and got out of their car and came at me. I was able to get enough speed to swerve around and avoid them and eventually get away but it was just me and the driver out there, no one to help me.

Just the other day my wife was almost clipped by a driver who then pulled over and jumped out of his car in an attempt to physically and verbally confront her. She sped away and luckily there was a cop right around the next corner so she was able to stop and get help, in another situation and with an aggressive enough person she may not have been as lucky.

I don't advocate shooting someone for buzzing you or even pulling over and trying to confront you. But if they manage to get you stopped and then attempt to do grievous bodily harm to you then I have no problem with the cyclist having a method of self defense. I just make sure not to use the gun as a crutch to be a tough guy and confront drivers. I ignore them and try to get away just as I would if I was not carrying.  

Have you seen what your shoe can do to a car hood?  I don't know how I know, I just do.  Imagining someone's head on the other end of that shoe is too much for me to even bear. 

My bad, originally you said this:

As a female riding alone I have to say I was pretty intimidated and am now questioning my safety - as I probably should have done prior. Although I live in a pretty darn safe place riding through cornfields is a little intimidating (Thanks Children of the Corn.) Maybe I should get a scythe.

And I took that to mean you were intimidated about the gun. Sure, just noticing things...yes. And now that you explained why you were interested... so be it. And if someon was open carrying... absolutely, I would notice it, then look at what it was and see what he carried. Just like a scarf.

Obviously the gun thing has been round and round lately... but you do not have to start there. If you think to yourself what woul dmake you safer when you are all by yourself.... well there are a lot of less than lethal options. Self defense classes, mace, perpper, loud things, knives... And then yes, a gun. Even myself... out training on a run or a ride... really, I need to bring a gun? Well I might need it, but so far in all my years I never have. But if you are going to carry for that "ONE" time... then ya, you need to carry 24/7 becuase you will never know when that "one" time will be. Then the whole logistics thing or where and how is it going to work... it's kind of a lot of work. Not at all saying don't, but it isn't exactly a small dispenser of pepper spray on your key chain.

But by all means, if you want to take charge of your safety, then do what you feel best. And when the police are only 15 minutes away... well, you are on your own.

Best advice yet is to take a basic hand gun course. They breech the subject and get you to look at these things. Even if you never purchase, or decide this is not the route for you, then you have made a decsision and can go from there. Not all are the same, but in mine they made it perfectly clear what it was about, and there is never anything wrong with just learning about things.

Ya... no.

A gun in and of it's self is no reason to be concerned for me period. In fact, I would be fine if every single citizen was armed. Then it would not look so out of place.

If a guy is DOING something to give me pause, then fine, but a guy riding a bike with a gun on his hip... is not doing ANYTHING that would cause me concern.

A guy with a flat tire is a concern, because we all nknow they are not suppose to be flat. I would offer any assistance I could before moving on... but "suspicious", no.