Not Such a Good Bike Run Today

[Python]

One of those days I think. Went on the cycle paths to our supermarket. To get to the cycle path there is about 3/4 mile on the road first. First thing, idiot car driver comes right out in front of me at a junction (I had right of way). I vaguely know her and she is, well, a bit thick. Still, 30 odd years on the road, some of that as a professional driver and you look out for such things happening. The brakes on my bike are good

Second thing was on the cycle path. Saw this blooming great dog bounding towards me. Owner calls it back. Dog ignores owner. I'm not afraid of dogs as I have a GSD. This was a very large Rottweiller Second emergency stop of the day Owner catches up with said dog, apologises, says the dog is only a baby (about 112 lbs of dog you may care!) then proceeds to tell me it's a bit nervous about people on bikes as there is a girl near where they live who rides a bike and hits the dog with a stick. So why is the dog running loose on a cycle path without a lead if it doesn't like people on bikes? I noticed the chap didn't have a lead for the dog either Some people are sooooo stupid.

Never mind. Tomorrow is another day.

[Bad JuJu]

Yes, I know some of those people without dog leashes--one of my neighbors calls it the "verbal leash" --puh-lease! I prefer dogs on non-verbal leashes. I hasten to add that I am a certifiable dog lover, have always had my own dogs, and spoil them mercilessly, BUT I keep them physically controlled, esp. when cyclists are about.

[SouthernBelle]

Our local park/bike path has banned dogs altogether due to folks like that.

[Mimosa]

Had also 'a moment' tonight. I rode through a blind narrow 'S' bend. And some idiot rode his big wheel loader at full speed through that narrow passage with the sharp edge of the shovel sticking out at head level. I heard something *BIG* coming so I turned the bike of the road to get out of the way. Only then he saw me and he hit the brakers but by then he would have been to late if I had taken my normal line through the S-curve.

[Python]

I often think that some people possess nothing between their ears Or they're so selfish, they don't think of other people.

[ClockworkOrange]

Hi Python

Sorry to hear about your bad day, let's hope tomorrow is better, well, it could not be any worse.

I often wonder about these people who are supposed to be animal lovers, if they cared that much, they would at least attempt to call their dog back, I guess ignorance is bliss to many of them.

I apparently did an 'endo' yesterday, not intentionally, I think the rear wheel only came off the road by a few inches but enough to spook me.

Sally

[pooks]

So why is the dog running loose on a cycle path without a lead if it doesn't like people on bikes? .

Did you mention to him in a friendly way that perhaps he shouldn't? What an idiot!

Pooks

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well, it could have been way worse a day- somebody could have gotten hurt!
You are lucky!

Right of way is fine and dandy, but....always, always assume the car driver does NOT see you, and assume that they are going to do the WRONG thing.

[Python]

Yes Lisa. Absolutely! When I learned to drive back in 1974/75, my instructor drummed into me from the word go "THINK BIKE!!!" When I'm driving, even to this day, that has stayed with me. Unfortunately, I think the standard of driving here has gone down and people, especially younger people, are not having that drummed into them. There are a lot of people on the road that, frankly, I wonder how they ever managed to pass a driving test!

Doesn't look like I'll be going far on the bike, if at all today. It's been hammering down with rain and there's a howling wind to go with it

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Python,

A week ago, I went for a ride that included a stretch along a major four lane highway for a while. But I was not nervous because this road has PLENTY of visibility in all directions and it has a nice wide shoulder as well.
So, I'm going along this LONG stretch of downhill, and there is like no traffic to speak of. I zoom along, picking up speed because I know there is a long long slow hill ahead and I hope to get up some of it on momentum.
Well of course there is a small road up ahead of me that crosses the highway to the other side, and cars have to stop for all clear before they cross the highway.
Some lady was sitting there in her big car waiting to cross. There is plenty of space and time. By this time I am going about 35 mph, wearing brilliant orange jacket and bright blue bike. I say to myself- this person is going to decide to pull out right in front of me as I get there. So, counting on that, before I get too close I check all sides and I check behind me....no cars anywhere in sight.
Sure enough, just as I'm zooming towards the intersection (and having MAJOR right of way of course), she slowly starts pulling out onto the highway. She totally does not see me coming. Happily, because I assumed she was going to do this, I knew there were no cars anywhere behind me or around me, so I merely swerved left onto the leftmost lane and went around behind her as she crossed the highway.
I shook my fist at her, but of course she did not see that either.
I just KNEW she was going to do that!!!

[telegirl]

I feel your pain.....

[Duck on Wheels]

Geez Louise! Could it be that the kid on the bike carries a big stick because the big galumphing off-leash dog chases her? A dog owner with a brain might be asking himself who first made who nervous here. And even if we let bygones be bygones and concentrate on looking forward, letting the dog run loose on the bike path is hardly a solution to the problem!

[Python]

If it happens again, I'll report it to the police because large dogs are supposed to be kept under control by law. In the past month, Rottweillers have had very bad publicity here. Two of them savaged a baby to death - I wondered what the parents were thinking about leaving a little baby alone with two dogs anyway and the dogs had been trained to be aggressive guard-dogs (bad ownership) and another boy was badly bitten and scarred for life in another incident. People forget that these large dogs, if not trained properly, can be lethal. What is a cute puppy can turn out to be a dangerous adult in the wrong hands. I have a GSD and any time I am out walking her, I only let her off the lead if it is safe to do so. If I see anyone, be it a cyclist, someone walking or other people with a dog, I'll call her back and clip the lead on. Better safe than sorry.

As for Rottweillers, unfortunately, they do have a reputation of being unpredictable, and that particular dog I met struck me as ruling his owner, not the other way round. Not good.