Dogs

[Sparrow]

Originally posted by Kim
Right now our big worry is ratttlesnakes as they give birth here in Texas in August and you simply can't see the little critters until you are right up on and over one. Thus far I've not run over one, but probably would swerve into an eighteen wheeler preferring that over a snake any day.

A bit off-topic but I had to share this one with you, Kim -- one of the worst moments thus far of my (short) cycling career was last fall ... I was about fifteen miles out, decided to rest for a moment and catch my breath, coasted to a stop on the shoulder of the road, started to put my foot down, looked down to the ground where I was dropping my foot ... the look on that rattlesnake's face was probably similar to my own: sheer horror! I'm pretty sure that's the fastest I've ever pedaled.

[spazzdog]

We could change the thread to:

Dogs, Snakes and Other Critters...
or
Critters and Speed...
or
I Love Animals, But Can I Tell You About the Time...


Ain't cycling fun!!

[jobob]

I could tell you about the time I got surrounded by a herd of goats ....

and then there are the crazy squirrels that like to dart out in front of me ....

and then there are the really nasty hissing geese ...

it's a freakin' jungle out there !

- Jobob, crazed animal magnet

[pedalfaster]

Originally posted by spazzdog
We could change the thread to:

Dogs, Snakes and Other Critters...
or
Critters and Speed...
or
I Love Animals, But Can I Tell You About the Time...

Oh yeah, even after my dog-incident the animals I fear most are....drumroll please....DEER. Yes, as in Bambi. I see so many, and feel that it is only by luck that we have avoided colliding so far!

I've seen what the poor beasts do to cars and can only imagine what bike/deer interface would look like

[Veronica]

I hit a squirrel going up Diablo the weekend of the Riv trip. Stupid thing darted in front of me, I weaved to go around it. It darted back the other way. The guy behind me said that it limped off the road. I HOPE he didn't say that just to make me feel better.

V.

[snapdragen]

Random thoughts....

First - ladies, be proud of yourselves. You've taken what could have turned in to an ugly thread, and found reason and calm. Dare I say, if this was anywhere else, the flame wars would be horrifying! Cheers and Huzzah!

Next - jobob, we'll talk about dogs on day 4 for academy

Critters - I've never had much trouble with dogs, though I was on a ride going through Fremont, our ride leader almost got taken out by a Bambi!

Squirrels - well, we already know they have a plot.....................

[Sparrow]

Originally posted by jobob
it's a freakin' jungle out there !
- Jobob, crazed animal magnet

LOL!

My current favorite is the herd (too many to be just a flock) of geese on the bike path who stop dead in the middle of the path and look up at oncoming cyclists with the most hysterical myopic-bemused look on their faces. All we can do is slow to an almost-halt and weave through them ... 'scuse me, pardon me, watch yer toes, comin' through, do I need to get a bell? Whoops, mind the tail feathers, madam!

[Veronica]

Squirrels - well, we already know they have a plot.....................

Too true. Especially if you believe the car insurance ads.

How about mountain biking with a herd of cows? They don't like to move.

V.

[pedalfaster]

Originally posted by Veronica
How about mountain biking with a herd of cows? They don't like to move.

V.

I got chased by a bull once on a moutain bike ride. Talk about working on your sprint!

[caligurl]

Originally posted by pedalfaster
I got chased by a bull once on a moutain bike ride. Talk about working on your sprint!

OH MY GAWD! i would have totally FREAKED!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KkAllez]

The thing about geese is sort of frightening. Those things can be mean but worst of all is what they leave behind. Since I road bike I'm thinking geese mess and slick tires are a recipe for disaster!

BTW, did any of you catch that moment in TdF this year when they had to ride carefully behind the cattle? It was pretty funny and the guys were all laughing. I guess a cowpie would be waaaaaay worse than goose pudding. Just imagine that stuff being slung up on the back of your jersey!

[Veronica]

How about bison turd? On our Yellowstone tour one of the riders collected some fresh bison scat to give to one of the guides since he was the king of BSing. It was hilarious and so appropriate, but kind of gross too.

V.

[Deanna]

Oh yeah, even after my dog-incident the animals I fear most are....drumroll please....DEER. Yes, as in Bambi. I see so many, and feel that it is only by luck that we have avoided colliding so far!

Phew. You don't know how relieved I am to know I'm not the only one with this fear. I ride on some roads that run next to wooded hillsides and when I hear critters rustling around I start wondering when a deer is going to come crashing out through the shrubs and landing on me.

[Biking Chick]

It must be THAT time of the year

Last week while out biking on a heavily wooded area of our local nature/fitness trail that runs along the Wisconsin River I was very startled to hear the sound of Sandhill Cranes ... really REALLY close. A check of my (Third Eye) mirror showed two cranes flying right behind me. Quickly unclipping and pulling over into some brush they flew by - one was so close I had to duck my head in order to avoid being brushed by its wing. Gives a new meaning to 'honking' ...

Over the week-end out biking on the roads near our vacation home and had two HUGE Timber Wolves run out of the woods and across the road about a half-mile in front of us. They continued loping across the field ... Al and I stopped to watch them as they stopped to look back at us. All though we've seen wolves occasionally this is the first time that we've ever encountered wolves on our rides. Frightening and awesome at the same time

Cindy
Ride Like A Girl!

[spazzdog]

Biking Chick wrote:

one was so close I had to duck my head in order to avoid being brushed by its wing. Gives a new meaning to 'honking' ...

I'm thinking they was just saying "on your left... on your left"

and misjudged. They probably weren't wearing their prescription Oakleys .

spazz