It was quite clear that the dogs meant to get me off my bike and do alot of damage. I agree - the water bottle/strong words definitely would not have worked in this instance.

I did get a bottle of pepper spray and am told by a friend who rides that it was very effective on a very aggressive pit bull he encountered a couple of times. I have also chosen another route to work. The dogs supposedly (according to animal control) have been confiscated and will be put down because they actually bit (mauled) another rider earlier in the year. They also went after a child while I was speaking to animal control after my incident.

I know the people who had these dogs will just find more, so pit bulls will always be a problem in this particular block. I am horrifically worried about the kids that get off the bus in that neighborhood, though. THis city is very slow to act about this kind of thing and these people are going to cause a child to be maimed or worse. I have to appear in court sometime in August over this matter - maybe I can get something done then. Till then, I'll never be without my pepper spray.