Road Cycling - Killed a dog on my commute today.

Small black mutt stepped out in front of me, I was going about 15 MPH. Did a major endo, with helmet digging into gravel. My face is covered in gashes, blood just poured out of me, but I will be OK. Dog was rolling on ground wimpering, when he got up his head and tail were not in a straight line anymore. After work I found a large pool of blood where he went, but he was gone.

I'm very sorry to hear about the dog and I'm glad you're ok. Unfortunately, these things are unavoidable.
We had an incident a couple years back where a small dog ran right into the path of our training ride and brought down about 20 riders. We were going about 25mph. I don't think the dog was even hit.....it ran away unscathed.

George

We are sorry for you accident and its effects. Killing a dog would have me bumbed for quite awhile. Glad you are ok.
Out here in the west, we hear reports of cyclists crashing into coyotes. That accident is sometimes worse on the cyclist than the animal...

Sorry to hear that..glad you weren't hurt too bad. I've been chased by more than my share riding in the country. I've been bit climbing a hill (it approached me friendly). I know several who've taken similar spills - broken ribs, collar bones, etc. I would appreciate pet owners taking responsibility for their dogs like parents should be responsible for their kids - My love of dogs severely declines when I'm riding...

On the other hand..Just last week, myself and cycling friend were out on a ride..Stopped under orange tree, and in past had always heard dogs barking..Thought were enemies to cylcists...
Well, Pat petted the dog at our orange break..It's barking, all it wanted to do is be petted and lick the hands of those passing cyclists... That dog not our enemy...

just hafta pipe in my condolences, too. unless you hate dogs like some sickos ...... :)............ then i'm sure it's tough on yer psyche to accidentally hurt one. but it's good that you're OK. and what could ya do? These things happen.

maybe there was something in the ether today, because I myself had an experience that was a First and a Not Good one. I was riding in town minding my own business NOT hogging the road, when some a-hole went out of his way to brush me with his truck. nooooo one in the other lane, crowding him over, or anything. just wanted to introduce me to his right rearview mirror, I guess.

i was too flustered to get his license plate number.

-Lo

No I don't hate dogs, I just hate roaming dogs. Last my annother roamer jumped out at me and took a chunk of my left thigh with him. But I at least got compensated fairly for that. I am not sorry that I hurt someones pet, they clearly don't care about it.

dogs bite

Sorry to hear of your accident but I'm glad your OK.

Your event portrays one of the problems with dogs that many new cyclist don't consider. Yes dogs bite, but I don't worry about getting bitten, my concern is that the dog (animal) will cause me to go down. Dogs often chase a bike in a group of riders attacking from the side with an angle of trajectory that causes them to miss the target bike but puts them square in the path of following cyclist.

I have seen a squirrel throw a 200 lb cyclist on a $3000 bike. Not a pretty sight.

I almost hit a squirrel while snowboarding the other day. Does that count?

No I don't hate dogs, I just hate roaming dogs.

My sentiments exactly. Loose dogs will attack and/or harrass MY dog when I am walking him. Loose dogs chase me when I am out riding. Loose dogs kill my chickens. So I keep Animal Control on speed dial and every time I see a loose dog I have it picked up (unless the dog is on my property- then I shoot it and save the tax payers a little money).

I had a guy in front of me in a group ride run into a suicidal squirrel. Ran right into the rear wheel spokes. Squirrel splatter ALL over me and the riders behind me. (actually, mine wasn't too bad, but the guy behind me tasted it). Quite a scene, about 6 guys all covered in blood standing on the side of the road. Someone ended up calling the paramedics because they thought someone had been hit.

No injuries to us, but one back wheel and one squirrel was TOAST!

YUCK!

The only close call I have had with something running out in front of me was a 13-14 year old kid. I was on fixed so no quick stop. locked the wheel, got sideways, then almost tossed over the bars. Thank goodness those parents are more responsible with their kids than a dog owner is with his dog.

Dogs have a behaviour, like chasing, because they are dogs. People have a behaviour because they are stupid and then pass it on to their children.

Sad story ... glad u'r ok, I hope someone saved the doggie, unlikely as it may have been. :(

If Al Qaeda threatened the destruction to our songbirds and small rodents that cats inflict, the middle east would be scorched black. Cats: wildlife terrorists.

One of my worst cycling memories is of the day when a dog, fixated on chasing me, was hit by a pickup and slowly died. It took a while to get over it. The sad thing is that it isn't the dog's fault, nor the bicyclist's. It is the owner's fault for failing to restrain the animal.

Woof, you ever see Steve Irwin go after feral cats on the Crocodile Hunter? He does not like them eating the natives.