Best not to run over any loose items on the road.

Don't care if it's a frog, squirrel, snake... Bad for the animal and could be bad for you.

I've heard someone hit a german shepard and the person lost control of her bike and crashed into a tree and broke her pelvis.

I also remember during Coors Classic where a Russian rider picked up a stick in his front wheel on a down hill. Lets just say that he was airlifted to a hospital with serious injury. 198?

Sometimes it happens so fast and you weren't expecting it... squirrels scare me because they come out onto the road. look at you. Turn around and go back from where they darted out and then turn around again and run right into your wheel at the last second. ugh!!!

I also hated to ride underneath tree canopy with dancing light on the ground. You can't see loose rocks, pot holes... In one event, I had to place my faith into the riders in front of me as we careened down a narrow winding mountain road. Didn't know if the turn up ahead was just a bend or a full on 180 degree hairpin turn. I figured one of them knew the road. If they went in hot from the outside, then I went in hot from the outside taking the same line. And if they slowed down, then I slowed down...