http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1401509.stm

See!? another good reason why some of us think helmets are a good idea:D (I never wear one )

Ow, sounds nasty! Shades of 'The Birds.'

I have robins and blackbirds shadow me occasionally, but I think they're more interested in target practice than physical assault...

The magpie season is just drawing to a close here in Queensland (I hope I haven't said that too soon!). On one particular ride, I had about 10 of the *******s attack me at various times (thankfully not all at once). One of them missed my helmet completely and got my ear, and drew blood! At least I squirted him with my water bottle.

There is a solution to this problem, however. It involves two riders, a tandem and a squash racquet. :eek:

While cycling down a busy residential street I happened to cross the path of a low flying bluejay. He promptly told me I was invading his space as flew next to me and pecked at my face for half a block. It happened so fast I never thought about stopping to fight.

Maybe her hair looks like a buzzard nest and the bird is trying to grab the mobile home.

This happened to me. When I was a teenager growing up in Illinois, my brother, friends and I used to spend our summers doing day-long bike rides. We were pedalling along around DeKalb in the middle of nowhere when my brother flatted and unfortunately we were not smart enough to have carried spare tubes during that ride. We tried to persuade him to stuff grass in his tyres and proceed to the closest bike shop which was about 5 miles away but he refused and instead opted to try and patch the tube on the spot. Just as my brother was applying the glue, a flock of crows decided to swoop down upon us. I figured they might have been attracted to our helmets. One flew away with my lycra helmet cover. As my friends and I were busy swatting at the crows with our pumps, I happened to glance over and notice my brother frantically tearing off clumps of grass and stuffing them into his tyre. We beat a hasty retreat followed by a string of birds.

I've had a bee fly alongside me for a while, apparently trying to land on my face. They're kind of like birds with stingers. Flies also seem to be able to fly backwards while buzzing in the face of a biker going 20 mph. I don't know how either one can pull off the aerodynamics of that.

Originally posted by Chris L
The magpie season is just drawing to a close here in Queensland (I hope I haven't said that too soon!). On one particular ride, I had about 10 of the *******s attack me at various times (thankfully not all at once). One of them missed my helmet completely and got my ear, and drew blood! At least I squirted him with my water bottle.

There is a solution to this problem, however. It involves two riders, a tandem and a squash racquet. :eek:

Hey Chris is there something about you and Magpies?
Why do you attract them?
Could it be a sexual thing?
Maybe its the Magpie matting season! :p

Speaking of birds, I was on a 100+ mile ride in the middle of Nebraska and it was hot as hell. When we stoped for a lunch and a break about 60 miles is, we looked up and saw a bunch of vultures circling just overhead, and then they followed us. First thought was "I think those birds know something that we don't." Fortunately our fine feathered friends cannot predict the future, and missed out the oppturnity to dine on some riders.

There are a fewbuzzards nesting in the trees near our house (loads of rabbits), maybe I should keep my head down when cycling past them.

never used to see raptors very much but Scotland's heaving with them now. Stunning to watch. A sparrowhawk was sitting on the roof of our bird table the other day.

Originally posted by Chris L


There is a solution to this problem, however. It involves two riders, a tandem and a squash racquet. :eek:

Neat new sport Chris! What do you call it?

Joe
:beer:

Lots of red-tailed hawks in this area (near Portland, OR) and you can't help but wonder if they ever want to try nailing one of those shiny turtles that sits atop a bicycling human.

Originally posted by Chris L
The magpie season is just drawing to a close here in Queensland (I hope I haven't said that too soon!). On one particular ride, I had about 10 of the *******s attack me at various times (thankfully not all at once). One of them missed my helmet completely and got my ear, and drew blood! At least I squirted him with my water bottle.

There is a solution to this problem, however. It involves two riders, a tandem and a squash racquet. :eek:

Yes, Magpies are definitely a hazard! When I was a young BMX hoon I remember being attacked by a particularily vicious Maggie that used to guard our home-made BMX track. It's viciousness (is that a word?) was probably due in large to myself and a few friends antagonising it. We used to ride with motorcross full face helmets but without visors and the bird would still try and peck our eyes out. We used to try various things like painting faces on back of the helmet and waving sticks above our heads but this bird was rather intelligent and saw straight through all these tricks.

Lately when I've been out riding and a Magpie swoops I just ignore it and keep pedalling. It usually gets sick of swooping after 3 or 4 goes.

Substitute Cricket or Baseball bat for Squash racket I reckon...

:fight: