Hit a Dog Today

[BroDeal]

I was cruising--trudging might be a better word, I was tired--up a slight hill, minding my own business, and a medium sized black dog made a bee line from the side right for me. I unclipped the foot facing the dog, and managed to kick it without going down. The dog pulled back a little, perhaps stunned a little, then growled and lunged at me. I kicked it again. At that point the owner started yelling at it, and I rode off.

This is why I am a cat person.

 

[gingerwallaceafro]

Dogs are a hassle, we get quite a few strays here in Portugal, bad enough trying to avoid them last minute without them attacking you.. It always seems to happen when you're almost cross eyed with exhaustion!

 

[Steel4Ever]

Dogs are a hassle...bad enough trying to avoid them last minute without them attacking you.

Pedestrians here are worse than any dog.

Funny this thread, because I just clipped 2 peds on the way home from work today! Yes, on purpose.

It was my green light and I was haulin' a$$ (not Boonen 72km/hr a$$ haulin' but I was fresh outta coke), and these two hippie too-cool wannabe's started strolling across the road like they were invincible. I looked at them and kept on haulin', they looked at me at kept on strolling...into my lane. So...I made a slight adjustment to my line a la "The Tashkent Terror" and -- OH MY! -- if they both didn't get a little taste of fast moving elbow! Oops!

The pedestrians here are either 1) completely and utterly unaware of anything around them or 2) a$$h0le pr!cks who think the world should stop for them because they are wearing a cool ipod or a brand new hemp necklace.

I guess now those 2 hippietards know what happens when you walk out into traffic.

On an animal note...years ago I was out riding in the country and a coyote ran across the road about 10 feet in front of me and onto a little dirt path on the other side. So, like any good moron, I decided to follow it (on a road bike!)! We (me and the coyote) went about 15 seconds down this trail when Mr. Wild Animal stopped and turned around to face me. oh my. I don't care who you are, when a beast of nature with FANGS! turns around and stares you down, you get the hell outta there! And I did!

That was my only dog-like encounter.

 

[usedtobefast]

you can stare down coyotes. they jump when you say boo. better to let them have their space, just because they deserve it. but i digress. saw 2 splatted possums in very different locations. not so good.

 

[jmax22]

Pedestrians here are worse than any dog.

Funny this thread, because I just clipped 2 peds on the way home from work today! Yes, on purpose.

It was my green light and I was haulin' a$$ (not Boonen 72km/hr a$$ haulin' but I was fresh outta coke), and these two hippie too-cool wannabe's started strolling across the road like they were invincible. I looked at them and kept on haulin', they looked at me at kept on strolling...into my lane. So...I made a slight adjustment to my line a la "The Tashkent Terror" and -- OH MY! -- if they both didn't get a little taste of fast moving elbow! Oops!

The pedestrians here are either 1) completely and utterly unaware of anything around them or 2) a$$h0le pr!cks who think the world should stop for them because they are wearing a cool ipod or a brand new hemp necklace.

I guess now those 2 hippietards know what happens when you walk out into traffic.

On an animal note...years ago I was out riding in the country and a coyote ran across the road about 10 feet in front of me and onto a little dirt path on the other side. So, like any good moron, I decided to follow it (on a road bike!)! We (me and the coyote) went about 15 seconds down this trail when Mr. Wild Animal stopped and turned around to face me. oh my. I don't care who you are, when a beast of nature with FANGS! turns around and stares you down, you get the hell outta there! And I did!

That was my only dog-like encounter.

Ahhh, so you're the reason most people think cyclists are arrogant assholes.

 

[amp300]

I was doing a triathlon in mexico a few years back, and a random dog wandered into the transition area and made camp on someones transition towel. I can't imagine the amount of fur and stench that the dog left in that person's shoe's and supplies, but it was not pretty.

 

[brianf7]

Nice doggy they are a great training tool the teach you how to sprint.

Keep alert and out sprint the little ******.

Kangeroos are much harder they always stay out front and the move along fast Very fast I chased one for 20 killometers

 

[Steel4Ever]

Ahhh, so you're the reason most people think cyclists are arrogant assholes.

Probably not.
But I am the reason I think most pedestrians in this town are arrogant sheep with a huge undeserved sense of entitlement.

Walk out into traffic, expect to get hit. The end.

 

[Wallace]

Years ago, on an early morning training ride out in Dover MA (one of Boston's wealthier suburbs) an enormous thorough-bred trotted out of the woods and ran alongside me for about half a mile--I was terrified the horse was going to kick me if I got behind it--before veering off into a field and disappearing. Then a pick-up truck with a bunch of people with ropes and tackle, very clearly looking for a lost horse, also almost ran me off the road.

 

[buckwheat]

Probably not.
But I am the reason I think most pedestrians in this town are arrogant sheep with a huge undeserved sense of entitlement.

Walk out into traffic, expect to get hit. The end.

Just some plain advice.

You shouldn't go out of your way looking for trouble. You should try to avoid it. Unfortunately there are times you may have to fight. This was not one of them.

 

[Steel4Ever]

Just some plain advice.

You shouldn't go out of your way looking for trouble. You should try to avoid it. Unfortunately there are times you may have to fight. This was not one of them.

Just some insight...I went "out of my way" about 1 inch.
Pedestrians here would last about 4 seconds in any other city and about 1 second in any other country.

Just like the OP -- he felt an imminent threat to his person, took his foot out and kicked the encroaching dog; I felt an equal imminent thread to my person and I stuck my elbow out. Four legs bad, two legs worse.

 

[Anonymous]

I have been hit by a dog (pit bull, didn't go down, but the guy behind me did), but the scariest was when I startled a deer (a buck, not some wimpy doe) on my right, who jumped across the road in front of me about 20 yards ahead, realized there was a massive fence on the other side, and darted back across the road...I don't know how close he was on his cross back, but I had to check myself for ticks and fecal material when I calmed down enough to think about it.

 

[elapid]

I have not hit a dog or actually even had too many close calls with dogs. I had a bird fly through the spokes of my front wheel once, but nothing happened thankfully. I've had squirrels do their zig-zag and get mighty close. I have come close to hitting red sliders and snapping tortoises, and risked my fingers trying to save snapping tortoises in the middle of the road. I was riding with a guy last year whose friend had hit a deer on two different occasions coming down the Camp Fortune hill in the Gatineau Hills. Ouch. Although not close, my girlfriend saw a black bear in the distance in Gatineau Park. That is one animal I would not want to see close up and personal.

 

[BroDeal]

I clipped a deer once on a mountain descent. Deer are dangerous. They stand still as you approach and then unpredictably bolt one way or another.

 

[elapid]

I clipped a deer once on a mountain descent. Deer are dangerous. They stand still as you approach and then unpredictably bolt one way or another.

I am not sure what they are like on a bike, but kangaroos do the same thing when driving. The hop alongside the road and then just as you are getting close, something twigs in their brain and they unpredictably start to zig zag, usually in front of your car. Unlike deer, where deer usually die because of the impact, the kangaroo just hops off apparently uninjured and leaves your car written off and you stranded in the middle of nowhere!

 

[cotterpin]

Dog bite

I got bit by a stinking chihuahua ; Why did I not out run it? I was at the to top of a super steep looonng climb. Their were 2 dogs , the german sheperd stopped at the edge of the yard,but not the little terror.

 

[Tangled Tango]

I was cruising--trudging might be a better word, I was tired--up a slight hill, minding my own business, and a medium sized black dog made a bee line from the side right for me. I unclipped the foot facing the dog, and managed to kick it without going down. The dog pulled back a little, perhaps stunned a little, then growled and lunged at me. I kicked it again. At that point the owner started yelling at it, and I rode off.

This is why I am a cat person.

Some old timer gave me this trick: next time a dog comes at you grab your water bottle and give them a squirt in the face. Even if it's just water, they'll usually stop long enough for you to get some distance and be clear. It's worked every time I've done it.

 

[BroDeal]

Some old timer gave me this trick: next time a dog comes at you grab your water bottle and give them a squirt in the face. Even if it's just water, they'll usually stop long enough for you to get some distance and be clear. It's worked every time I've done it.

Someone please explain how this is supposed to work. I hear this all the time: Just squirt the dog with your water bottle. Maybe my experience is different; but I have rarely encountered a dog where I had time to take my water bottle out of its cage, pop the valve-thingy with my teeth, take aim, and squirt a dog, all done while riding one handed and hoping the dog does not run under my front wheel or I need to stop with more control than what is provided by one hand and one brake.

 

[Anonymous]

Amen

Someone please explain how this is supposed to work. I hear this all the time: Just squirt the dog with your water bottle. Maybe my experience is different; but I have rarely encountered a dog where I had time to take my water bottle out of its cage, pop the valve-thingy with my teeth, take aim, and squirt a dog, all done while riding one handed and hoping the dog does not run under my front wheel or I need to stop with more control than what is provided by one hand and one brake.

You forgot to include what happens when more than one dog gives chase, or its not a home pet but a viscious guard dog. A few years ago I was having lots of problems so I got of of these

115db blast of sound works like a charm. I've stopped many dogs, deer running along side the road, cattle in the middle of the road, a flock of turkeys, a cat or two and even pedestrians. Its pretty obnoxious so I wouldn't advise using while in a group. I hit a squirrel once. It darted between my from and rear wheels and felt like a littel speed bump. I'd a beena gonner if I'd hit it with my front wheel at 25 mph. The last kangaroo we've had around this part of Wisconsin was back in 2005 so they're pretty rare and not a prblem.

"The meanest dogs are at the top of the longest hills."

 

[jhnsdlk]

Someone please explain how this is supposed to work. I hear this all the time: Just squirt the dog with your water bottle. Maybe my experience is different; but I have rarely encountered a dog where I had time to take my water bottle out of its cage, pop the valve-thingy with my teeth, take aim, and squirt a dog, all done while riding one handed and hoping the dog does not run under my front wheel or I need to stop with more control than what is provided by one hand and one brake.

This only works if you see the dog coming from a bit away I guess. I ride in farm country and lots of houses just let their dogs out in the yard without any kind of fence or leash, you can usually see/hear these dogs coming so you have time to get ready. Bottles also work well because you can hit the dog from a distance, although in my experience it takes 2-3 sprays before they get the idea. Sometimes its just fun to race them if its flat though, I've had a farm dog chase me for at least 1k while going about 30 kph.

 

[Steel4Ever]

Long time ago when I was doing a Cat. 4 race, the Cat 1/2s on the course had a visit from Mother Nature in the form of a Canadian Goose! I guess it lost its flock or something, and from above their peleton looked like a good place to draft...so it did! Swooped down right into the middle of them and flew along for a few seconds before deciding maybe it wasn't such a hot idea! No idea who won that race.

 

[usedtobefast]

This only works if you see the dog coming from a bit away I guess. I ride in farm country and lots of houses just let their dogs out in the yard without any kind of fence or leash, you can usually see/hear these dogs coming so you have time to get ready. Bottles also work well because you can hit the dog from a distance, although in my experience it takes 2-3 sprays before they get the idea. Sometimes its just fun to race them if its flat though, I've had a farm dog chase me for at least 1k while going about 30 kph.

that is some good endurance on that pup. could be fun if the dog is just digging the run.

 

[Carboncrank]

This only works if you see the dog coming from a bit away I guess. I ride in farm country and lots of houses just let their dogs out in the yard without any kind of fence or leash, you can usually see/hear these dogs coming so you have time to get ready. Bottles also work well because you can hit the dog from a distance, although in my experience it takes 2-3 sprays before they get the idea. Sometimes its just fun to race them if its flat though, I've had a farm dog chase me for at least 1k while going about 30 kph.

I had a persistent problem with one dog in California long time ago. I put some of this in a spray bottle and made a good little doggy out him.

 

[Carboncrank]

Episode 1. Riding on a paved trail along a river. A couple with a dog was coming up the the trail, I was flying, I looked at the guy with the leash and clearly had eye contact and he stopped, but he had the dog on about 20 feet of leash. I broadsided his golden retriever. For some reason at the last second when I could see it was unavoidable, I came up out of the seat, unloaded my weight from the bike and let it kind of disappear out from under me. I got my arms out in front of me to break my fall and broke my right forearm in the process. I got up and the retriever was wagging his tail, grinning the way they do as though this was all great fun. Not harmed.

Episode 2. Same trail about 10 miles south a year later. I hadn't intended for it to be a hard ride but came across some guys I know and the next thing your know we're hard at it. I didn't have a helmet on. Riding hard on a curve a big black dog came running on a 90 degree collision course at me, I braked, skidded, got high sided and they tell me I was out cold for several minutes. I had landed head first. Chicks love a good scar.

 

[42x16ss]

When I was living in Townsville a few years ago we had a kangaroo jump into the middle of the bunch during a training ride on a quiet country road. Luckily only two people were taken out by it because we were going uphill.

One guy tacoed his front wheel and the other cracked his helmet and lost some skin. Kangaroos can make training on country roads dangerous.

Bush Turkeys are pretty bad as well - a friend of mine had one run straight into his front wheel. The explosion of feathers was spectacular to put it mildly!