Road Cycling - I crush dogs for a living.

Sunday afternoon, 3-ish, beautiful blue skies, the kind that are so deep they almost hurt to look at, perfect temps, everything is right with the world.

So the girl and I head out to Arnoldsville, just outta Athens, to catch some afternoon sun, get some exercise, climb some hills, and enjoy eachothers winded, panting company. Park the car, unrack the bikes; she clips in, I just push my foot into the toe clips - blast the need for commuting and being too broke for two sets of pedals. C'est la vie. It starts off perfect, pedalling strong, pushing great, definitely feeling the results of pulling the 7-ish mile commute every day. We CRUSH some hills, fly downhill, all the while pulling deep draughts of Georgia farm air, early spring plants mixing pheremones with manured fields.

We're on the final stretch, 4 or 5 miles left out of a little under 30, and we make the final left turn. All of a sudden, roars and barks. Two massive blonde vikings of dogs pull along side, barking, hunting formation. I figure we can lose them if we hit about 30, and I yell PULL! kick the gears, and press it out hard. I'm ahead of her a little, and even with the faster of the dogs, when it decides I might get away, and leaps like mad for my front tire. Brakes are too slow, and it wouldn't have mattered anyway. I hit the dog going 27 and take the big spill.

By the time I'm aware of my surroundings again, the dog is running like hell, and the BAM! I hit the dog, the girl hits me. Neat parallelism of action. She goes sliding along, aiming at an oncoming truck. I put my fists up, thinking maybe I'm going to fight canines and pickups and whatever else my adrenaline-addled brain can concoct for the moment.

Then it's calm. The truck has stopped; it's a solid distance away from the girl, who is sniffling but mostly unhurt. I disentangle myself from the toe clips and limp up to her, checking to be sure she's still mobile and has skin. She's set straight on both counts. Looking down, I see that my right calf is meat, and my left isn't a whole lot better. The girl is as unbloodied as I am gory. My shoulder drips a little trail, a treasure map down my bicep towards the skinned elbow, and my lower back, unseen, feels stung and wet.

The kind gent in the truck offers us a ride, looking amazed that we're up and moving. I'm equally amazed, but to buzzed to notice. Still flying high, and checking with the girl first, I decline.

I want to finish.

Off we go, climbing a long, slow hill with steady strokes, and then, crossing the highway, there's the car again. The adrenaline rush leaves my memory as a time lapse phot sequence, with a Gang Starr track bumping in the background: I've suffered, just so I could return harder.

Rappers and cyclists have some things in common, I guess.



I love the road.

Sunday, 2/22 '04
Stephen Tyndall, sore, alive, and grinning

Sounds like a cool ride. I hate road rash though. There is a HUGE Great Dane (I think Great Dane, it's the one who used to dig people out of avalanches and carried a tin of whiskey under his collar) that lives on one of our regular routes, it's always a chess game to see which one of us ends up inside and to the rear when we go by his house. Today I was almost disappointed that he either was not home or taking a nap when we went by. I was way out front, or, the one who wakes him up :)

Equalise those dogs , by means fair or foul !

1. Sue. Call the Animal Control Department.

2. Great Danes are on the Atlanta Center for Disease Control and Accidental Death (not sure) dangerous dog list. Don't mess around with that dog. Call the authorities. I had an experience with Great Danes that was extremely bad.

3. **** whistle. It's so loud it hurts their ears. They stop or retreat.

4. Pepper spray. So far it has been 100% successful, though the range is only eight feet for the stuff I use. In one case they figured out I carry it after just one treatment and they go after everybody else. This was not my preferred outcome. The second time the whistle got them and we haven't gone back yet.

Don't shoot the pepper spray upwind, and don't use it on the front of the pack.

The best way to handle the dogs is to put the fast guy on the back. He either draws them and then outsprints them, or he hoses them with the pepper spray. I aim for the center of the triangle of the eyes and mouth/nose. I'm bound to get some in a sensitive spot, and so far, that's stopped them within 1/2 second.

Some of my friends try to hit them in the face with a shoe/pedal or get their noses with the spokes.

I ride out that way sometimes. Where are these dogs? What road and nearest proximity to a landmark?

I'd like to meet these beasts for a test sprint and perhaps a showdown. I like mean dogs, they are the most fun to hurt or kill.

I ride out that way sometimes. Where are these dogs? What road and nearest proximity to a landmark?

I'd like to meet these beasts for a test sprint and perhaps a showdown. I like mean dogs, they are the most fun to hurt or kill.

i like tough guys. they are the most fun to . . .

: one of those little smillie guys w/ the rolling eyes inserted here :

I knew Great Dane didn't sound right, it was actually a St. Bernard. I bet that big dude weighs 200 or more. And there's no animal control people out in this area, it's waaaay out in the bo-jacks. It's become a tradition for us to jockey for position for the mile or so up to where he lives heheh. The other day I ended up in the back and the big brute ran along beside me growling and causing a fuss, I had to laugh when I looked over and his big, ugly head was at the same level as mine and he was within reach. I threw a sucker-punch his way and made him flinch, but that just made him mad (then I started to worry :( ). So far he hasn't caused anything but a bunch of sprints and all of us getting a big laugh at whoever was closest to him...

I ride out that way sometimes. Where are these dogs? What road and nearest proximity to a landmark?

I'd like to meet these beasts for a test sprint and perhaps a showdown. I like mean dogs, they are the most fun to hurt or kill.

I was riding the Double Wolf Loop de Loop route, from the Nitty Gritty Bike Group (http://bikeathens.com/nittygritty)'s web site. We had just made the turn from Wolfskin road onto Old Edwards. I hit the dog and wiped maybe 300 yards past the left turn.

As for giving those dogs a race, I have doubts that they'll chase bikes again. I hit that thing HARD.

A long time ago a dog came after me and I couldnt outrun it. When it had caught up with me, I braked suddenly so it got just in front of me. I then swung my foot hard between his rear legs, lifting them off the ground. The word got around the dog world, because I havent been chased by a dog since.

Loose dogs are all to common here in AL. If you're sure you can outsprint them, fine, but many dogs here seem to be able to run 25 mph for at least 50 yards. I'm not a sprinter, so I usually only try this technique downhill.

If the dog is already in the road, riding straight at them and yelling when you're close seems to scare them off. They seem to sense when they are in danger from something larger and agressive....I hope so anyway.

Today's close encounter was with a fox. He was just starting to cross the road when he saw me, then did a quick turn and ran back into the woods.

Phoolish - Glad to hear no one was "seriously" hurt. Any damage to the bike?

Your story reminds me of the weirdest experience I ever had on a bike. If your interested, it's here:

www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=44621

One difference though - your a much better storyteller. I could envision your experience through every word. Good job.

55/Rad

Phoolish - Glad to hear no one was "seriously" hurt. Any damage to the bike?

Your story reminds me of the weirdest experience I ever had on a bike. If your interested, it's here:

www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=44621

One difference though - your a much better storyteller. I could envision your experience through every word. Good job.

55/Rad

A DEER? Holy crap, dude! As far as accidents go, that's hella proud.

And the bike is a little torn up, alas alas. My poor old baby (a Cannondale R4000 from '97) took a bit of a beating. The rear wheel is desperate for truing, I popped a rail out of the saddle, tore the saddle fabric (I needed a new one anyway; this one survived another epic crash on another bike and was already pretty ripped up), I bent my left shift/brake lever more than it was already (STI seems so beautiful until you crash it. Shimano 600s, too, pre-Ultegra Ultegra), and I cracked the back of my helmet (better a 40 dollar Giro architecture piece than my skull, neh?).


Worst of all, I ripped my ultra-swank RAINBOW bar tape. I have no idea where I'm going to match it. I'm weeping big fat tears of manly loss as I contemplate having to trade it out for something that doesn't say quite so clearly "I'm extremely comfortable with my sexuality."

It'll cost me some, but most of the items are things I needed to get repaired or replaced anyway.

Thanks for the concern.

steffanzo

p.s. The poor girl was sniffling, nearly crying, because she thought she'd killed me when she hit me. Now she's mad at me for making her hit me and worry so much. It's terribly cute.

p.p.s. If you ever meet her, DO NOT TELL HER I SAID THAT. Should you do so, I'd be unceremoniously strangled, my anonymous corpse dropped on a roadside, ironically food for dogs.

I was accosted by a couple dogs this afternoon also. There were two of them (Lab mixes) and one was on either side of me. I passed the first one and the second one intercepted me a few yards up the road. I passed him but he caught up and I felt his nose on my calf. I don't know if he was going to bite but before he got a chance to his owners had yelled at him enough that he went back to them. I was starting to get worried because this was a dead end street and the end was in about 50 feet.

If a dog is going to be vicious will they tipically bite your leg, or the bike or whatever they get to first?

Then it's calm. The truck has stopped; it's a solid distance away from the girl, who is sniffling but mostly unhurt. I disentangle myself from the toe clips and limp up to her, checking to be sure she's still mobile and has skin. She's set straight on both counts. Looking down, I see that my right calf is meat, and my left isn't a whole lot better. The girl is as unbloodied as I am gory. My shoulder drips a little trail, a treasure map down my bicep towards the skinned elbow, and my lower back, unseen, feels stung and wet.

You need to post some pics of this carnage. ;)

Master the side kick. It's a little harder to do on a road bike but still doable. When the dog gets close, lift the weight off the rear wheel and swing the rear of the bike to the side where the dog is. It should give him a good whack and allow you to get away. (It may anger him, to be ready for a good sprint :D )

that was a nice read....thanks....im glad ure ok of course too..

Why not go down there with a car next time and see who wins :)

Seriously the owner of the dog should be held accountable and pay for your bike and or medical bills imo

And seriously go down there with a car :)

sadistic bunck of ****ers, aren't you? big strong men.

Worst of all, I ripped my ultra-swank RAINBOW bar tape. I have no idea where I'm going to match it. I'm weeping big fat tears of manly loss as I contemplate having to trade it out for something that doesn't say quite so clearly "I'm extremely comfortable with my sexuality.


HAHAHA WERD!!!

My LBS can match my old tape perfectly. I'll get the levers fixed and then be even brighter and manlier than before!

I'm psyched.

I've discovered the ultimate anti-dog tool. I carry a 36 inch length of #12, three-conductor wire wrapped around my waist like a belt. It's stiff enough to hold that position. Attacking dogs usually approach from the rear, so as soon as they're within range I hit them in the head with the wire, similar to the way a jockey whips a horse in the Kentucky derby. It seems to make a lasting impression. In subsequent trips by their yards, they bark from a distance. Pepper spray is very hard to use from a moving bike.

I live in Appling Ga, about an hour from Athens. I usually have to outsprint a dog or two every time I go out. I know where they live and wait for the bastards to come chasing. I then sprint like hell and leave them behind. I then clench my fists together and pump them in the air like I just won a stage of the tour de france. its fun, and i do this for every dog i encounter. I have yet to meet a dog i couldn't beat. I ride with my mp3 player so if a new dog moves in I could be surprised. But i think i could still beat the dog. I mean come on, as of now I have over 300 "tour de france" victories. He He

sadistic bunck of ****ers, aren't you? big strong men.

huh...that's just what I was thinking.

...as of now I have over 300 "tour de france" victories. He He


:D

I was wondering if I was the only one who did that...

You guys who try to out sprint dogs are just asking for it. Dogs love to chase, and your training them that it's ok. If your regular course has bad dogs, big or small that chase bikers, you need to be responsible and change the dogs and their owners thinking. If you hit a dog enough times with pepper spray it will finally realize that bike chasing is not something that he should do. And your doing a good service for all bikers that also use the same route. But that is not enough. The truth is, dogs put bikers in hospitals every year. Kicking at the dog makes it even more fun for him, your more of a challenge, but can cause you to loose your balance and go down. But please think about this. A mother and her 9 year son can't out run a dog, and it can change their thoughts abought biking. Thoughts such as " it's just not worth the risk we take to bike." That mom is not going to knowingly put her child in harms way. Well, you can do something about it. It's not fun. It disrupts your whole ride, you lose your rhythm, your time is out the window, if your riding with group, most will leave you. But sometimes being responsible is not fun. So, what to do what to do! First thing, slow down, with pepper spray in hand let him have it or let them have. Now the uncomfortable part. If possible, go find the owner. With spray still in hand, ( I know your thinking, this guy is going to tell us to spray the owner of the dog.) NO. The spray is for dogs. ( and your protection)
If you find the owner explain that their dog almost caused an accident that they would have been responsible for, and that they must stop the dog from chasing people, that you often ride your bike in this area, and the dog problem must be taken care of. Now please understand that you don't personally have to go to the owner. In some cases you shouldn't. Call the police, call the pound, call 911, call Bubba. Just make sure the measage is received by the dogs owner. And then make sure it is taken care of. Yes, thats a lot of trouble, but do it. Do it for your bike community. Make your route enjoyable for anyone to ride it. Just do something other than sprint a race with the dog. Look at a bigger picture.

You guys who try to out sprint dogs are just asking for it. Dogs love to chase, and your training them that it's ok. If your regular course has bad dogs, big or small that chase bikers, you need to be responsible and change the dogs and their owners thinking. If you hit

Well said. I had a couple of Rotties that use to lay in wait for me. This was way out in the boondoogles, corn fields and two lane roads. Lil bastards would usually hit me right at the bottom of a steep hill, before another hill, a Catch-22. To much speed on the descent and I might lose it when they popped out in front of me. To little speed and they'd nail me on the climb. They weren't trying to bite, but they wanted to play rough.

After a couple weeks, I got sick of em. Decided enough was enough. The next time they came out to play, I rode just fast enough to keep out of thier clutches. Lead em all the way back to thier house (wasn't tough, only one for miles). Rode up and down the drive till the owner came out. He stood there and watched for a minute, called them off.

Next time I rode by, they were on leads. Have been ever since. And the guy makes a point of waving to me when ever he sees me.

Cats, I hate cats. Bastards sprint out from the bushes at the most inappropriate time.

And those big damn turtles.........that will throw the wheel out.

lol very good story.

my girl and i just got back from costa rica, where we had some pretty harrowing experiences with dogs. we underestimated the length of a ride - well, the severity of the road, really - and ended up riding a ridiculously steep jeep road by the light of the moon for 7 hours. and when they say "jeep road" in costa rica, they really mean "a canoe would be useful" - we were crossing rivers in the middle of the night, waist deep, keeping a watchful eye for the crocodiles that hang out in them waiting for prey just like us. in the last of these we had to cross (and there were at least 10 of them), we spent 15 minutes or more in the water looking for the road we knew must have been cut into the thick brush on the far bank.

fortunately, we never saw a croc. but we did see dogs - tons of them. every time we came to a town or a group of houses we were ambushed. mostly they were little yappy things ... but by moonlight, and in packs of 10 or more, they became fierce little demons, all teeth and fur and hatred. they would surround us, barking, showing teeth, and one at a time (sometimes more) they would dart in to nip at a leg. at every town we would dismount, tired, sore, caked in mud, low on blood sugar and dehydrated, to try to fight them off.

there's no animal control in costa rican cities, much less in the backcountry. and evidently none of the dogs' owners were going to come out to help the crazy gringos riding past their houses in the dark. so we began carrying rocks in our pockets. it became a primal thing - they'd attack, we'd yell, as loudly as possible, and throw things at them. we'd try to keep them occupied and scared long enough to get away. and the character of everything changed as the night wore on; a part of me began to enjoy the confrontations, and when they snarled at me, i began to snarl back. when we came upon the battered body of a dog run over by a car towards the end of the night, i (a self-professed dog lover) felt a surge of satisfaction: it served the little ****er right for chasing. my sweet (but very tough) girlfriend actually cheered!

though it seemed it would never happen, we finally reached the last descent and dropped into the little seaside town where her parents were staying at 1 am. it had taken us 11 hours of riding, and we had been surviving for the last 16 miles/3 hours on the last few sips in a bottle of coca cola. we told our story several times, ate whatever junk food we could find in their hotel room, and eventually dropped off to sleep.

incredibly, a month later, the dehydration, the bonking, the potential for attack by crocodiles, the crashes we took because we couldn't see obstacles in the road, beng lost in the backcountry in a place we didn't speak the language ... none of these things somehow added up to the memory of those damn dogs.

so i feel your pain. glad you made it through!

I've been chased by a pig. That was certainly odd.

Phoolish, sorry to hear about your injuries and your swanky bar tape, but I haven't heard anything about what happened to the dog. He probably wasn't supposed to be out and chasing you, no doubt, but it sounds like a serious accident. I hope you didn't just leave him lying in the road or something.

I used to ride with a guy that welded a couple of nails to a strip of rounded metal that he then attached to the end of his pump. He would then wait for the dog to get into range and then wack the bastard on the head. One wack no more dog problem.

Phoolish, sorry to hear about your injuries and your swanky bar tape, but I haven't heard anything about what happened to the dog. He probably wasn't supposed to be out and chasing you, no doubt, but it sounds like a serious accident. I hope you didn't just leave him lying in the road or something.


The dog ran off as soon as he managed to get up. By the time I was aware my surroundings again, he was pretty much out of sight. I couldn't tell whether I hurt it or not.

Poor dog. It sounds like he/she has idiotic owners who let it run loose. Some people shouldn't own dogs, but these people probably also have kids, who knows what they let them do.

Poolish, you should write books for a living!

This last summer I encountered a Doberman who chased me for 11 or 12 blocks. I had no trouble staying ahead of it except when the lights turned red! then the dog would catch up so I had to come to fast stop check for traffic and then go thru the light or else Fifi would have leg steak. The dumb dog would not even check for traffic it would just run thru the lights, and I could hear cars honking and slamming on breaks to prevent hitting the dog. Well poor Fifi ran the 3rd traffic light and was greeted by a pickup truck that was going 40 or so and the dog went sailing thru the air and slammed into a fence and would never again to chase another cyclist.