[jatx]

TR, no offense taken.

Cycling is a dangerous sport, mostly because it increases the number of bad apples that you come into random contact with. But the incidents I described all occured over a 15 year period, they aren't frequest occurences. Ironically, though, the only times I have been hit have been when I was riding unusually far to the right. This causes cars to think that they can "squeeze" past you. I was once clipped in the back of the head by a large truck's mirror this way - resulting in my nose nearly being severed from my face by a broken bottle in the ditch. So now I ride 2-3 feet from the right, obeying all traffic laws, but making sure that I am seen and that drivers are not tempted to pass within the lane.

You're also right to point out that most of the indignities I described wouldn't warrant the use of deadly force. I take that very seriously. However, I am more vulnerable when out on my bike than any other time during the day. My own experience shows me that, sooner or later, I am likely to be assaulted again. Multiply that probability by the likelihood of an incident escalating or taking a bad turn, and it is an eventuality worth preparing for, same as the decision to carry anywhere else.