Quote Originally Posted by songlady View Post
I hadn't gotten off my bike when he bit. I stopped pedaling (to slow down) and he bit my ankle. I then came to a complete stop, put my bike between us and yelled at him to "go home". If I had not stopped pedaling I would not have been bit. I should have known better because I have been chased by this dog before and he never attempted anything like this. All I want to say is that stopping is not ALWAYS the answer to dealing with these dogs!
Every situation is of course different, but to say that stopping and getting off your bike and behind it when a dog chases you is a "BAD idea!!!" is perhaps not the best thing to tell people. It's a method that has worked well for many people, including myself.
You were bitten you as you were still riding your bike and he was still chasing you, right? Most of the dogs that come running to chase me, I just know there's no way I would be able to pick up speed and outrace them anyway. They seem to get more excited and more aggressive when you are racing away from them like prey. A guy I know had his calf ripped open as he was pedaling trying to outrun a big dog. It's scary, I know.