Commuting - target speed to "outrun" dogs and humans

Curious:

Anyone know the kind of speed required on the bike to outrun the average dog and the average human? Not just speed on the flats, but uphill/downhill too.

There are a couple of squirrely looking dogs in my neighborhood and I'm wondering lately when I pass them if they aren't eyeing me.

As for humans, just curious. Never know who might come charging out of the bushes.

thx

Regarding humans, a good male sprinter runs 100 meters in less than 10 seconds. Calculating from that he runs >36km/h on average, and due to the standing start he'll have to max closer to 40km/h towards the end to achieve the average.

Assuming your average weirdos are not quite world class sprinters, I'd say anywhere above 30km/h should be enough. Or even less, if your weirdo agrees to take a standing start. Dunno about their dogs, though.

--J

Using my car, I have clocked my Golden Labreador (sp?) Retriever at 25MPH a few times. She used to meet us at the road and run beside us up the driveway.

I'm sure that there are a few breeds faster than the labs.

Racing dogs can reach speeds of 60+ kph, but most dogs are probably in the 30-40kph range. I'm quite sure that even my parent's short-legged West highland white terrier can reach 30kph.

/Csson

For those of us who think in mph:

As a kid we would ride motorcycles on my cousins' farm. We clocked their german shepard over 30 mph one day...... Not for a lond distance though.

Unless the conditions are right, I would say outrunning a fit large dog would be hard.

John

It depends on the dog, but there are some things you can do to change the equation slightly. A good squirt of the water bottle can be effective. Holding up your arm as though you're about to throw a rock usually works.

Can I just ask what sort of humans you are trying to outrun?

Originally posted by Chris L
It depends on the dog, but there are some things you can do to change the equation slightly.

Or you can carry dog treats in your pocket. And hope that you have a dog that can be distracted by food. But don't depend on it.....

Ever seen Greyhound racing ? They maintain over 40mph for half a mile at a time (or for those that think in metric about 70kph for nearly one kilometer)

The worrying part of this thread,is "out running humans",i ride a recumbent and after you ride a recumbent you find out that most people have got less brains than your average dog.When riding a recumbent you get more problems from humans coming after you than you do dogs.However with my backside so close to the floor
I hope i never get chased by a dog.:beer:

Re: the types of humans I'm trying to outrun, no one type comes to mind, just looking for tips in case the need should arise.

thx

Regarding the human element I once knew a guy who put water in one of his cages and in the other a ketchup squeeze bottle filled with a mixture of spicy mustard, tobasco and something else that hurts your eyes, to squirt people with. He said he actually got to use it once on a couple of guys in a pickup that tried to get him one night. I guess I haven't been commuting long enough to get that paranoid (he also lived in a much worse section of town than I do). Interestingly enough it wasn't the human element that finally got him but an unfortunate accident on a sailboat.

Now you have just hit on a interesting point.Its not usually the thing that you think might get you ,its the unexpected that is the most dangerous.

If I had a reason to be concerned about both humans and dogs, I think I'd look more at a route change than my speed.

That kind of worry would certainly diminish the pleasure and benefit of riding for me.

Carl

I see Dwight Whathisname the 100m sprinter hit the tape at over 27mph last night, haveing run a sub 10 second 100m race.

So the answer to the question of the speed required to outrun digs and humans means you have to maintain above 30mph on your bike to be safe.

Originally posted by Brains
I see Dwight Whathisname the 100m sprinter hit the tape at over 27mph last night, haveing run a sub 10 second 100m race.

Dwaine Chambers.

Its a scary concept to think that my fastest on a cycle on the flat would be keeping pace with him!

Stew