Commuting - I goosed a goose on my new Tourmalet

Today was the first day I commuted on my new bike a Lemond Tourmalet. First of all this bike is very light and responsive. She climbs like a mountain goat. And she corners like an antelope. This was also my first day running clipless which was interesting. It definitely helped for climbing. Anyway I was riding on the MUP when I came upon a miniflock of Canadian geese (worst Canadian export barring Alanis Morissette). They started their honking and what not leaving me a bit befudled. But I held my line. Then all of the sudden one decides to flap himself right across my path (only a male could pull a move this bone headed) and my front wheel and leg smacked his wing. Honk Honk Pedal Pedal.

Just wait after the eggs hatch. Then the real fun begins.

Just wait after the eggs hatch. Then the real fun begins.

They've started here. Frigging things will flat out chase you when goslings are involved.

We are almost there. I had a couple hiss Monday.

Just wait after the eggs hatch. Then the real fun begins.

What I want to know is how to say, in any language a goose will understand: "coming through! move fast or stay where you are!" Suggestions would be appreciated.

What I know, from first hand experience: when they're serious, geese attack from the air. That adds a whole new dimension to the experience.

One time a goose slammed into me from the side; fortunately he chose my thigh as the point of impact, so he basically just bounced off. Had he got his neck mixed up in the spokes, things could have gone ugly.

I have a lot of experience with geese, most of it not pleasant. They continue to surprise me.

That time of year. Goose poop and mud!

Today was the first day I commuted on my new bike a Lemond Tourmalet. First of all this bike is very light and responsive. She climbs like a mountain goat. And she corners like an antelope. This was also my first day running clipless which was interesting. It definitely helped for climbing. Anyway I was riding on the MUP when I came upon a miniflock of Canadian geese (worst Canadian export barring Alanis Morissette). They started their honking and what not leaving me a bit befudled. But I held my line. Then all of the sudden one decides to flap himself right across my path (only a male could pull a move this bone headed) and my front wheel and leg smacked his wing. Honk Honk Pedal Pedal.

Rememeber! Those things have brought down an Airliner! :twitchy:

That time of year. Goose poop and mud!

...thats not mud.

Next time you see that goose kick him extra for me. I can't stand those damn things. Swans are nasty too.

I have found that barking at deer will get them to move a lot quicker than human sounding yelling. I wonder if the same would hold true for a goose?

...thats not mud.

Next time you see that goose kick him extra for me. I can't stand those damn things. Swans are nasty too.

Rather grab a goose, wring it's neck then barbecue it. Cooked right they taste just like Sirloin steak. :love:

Airzounds. May not do any good but it might be fun.

I'll try the barking

12 gauge? :innocent:

of course, riding with a shotgun would cause a different ruckus all together...... :roflmao2:

Just wait after the eggs hatch. Then the real fun begins.

The OP merely goosed him... nothing more.

Update: I came around the bend again today to see the geese again and they've got goslings. A nice brood too. So Mr. Goose puts his head back spreads his wins and starts approaching in attack mode. I didn't have time to think(or I would have tried the barking) so I just shouted HEY!!. Mr. Goose seemed quite taken aback or at least he backed off. I respect the fact that he is trying to protect his kids but come on don't keep them right next to the MUP.

Hissing also works. They get a bit confused when a human loudly hisses at them

4/17 Rats With Feathers!

Got my first goose, down by the river today.

He decided to challenge me as I was riding by, ran right in front of me .

It was like riding over a rotten log.......

Only 14,000,000,000,000 to go!

There should be some happy racoons tonight.

ew

@wanderer what do you ride?

Anyway I was riding on the MUP when I came upon a miniflock of Canadian geese (worst Canadian export barring Alanis Morissette).

Actually, they are Canada geese. If the goose is from Canada, then it would be a Canadian Canada goose.:) The ones I see around my neighborhood are Hoosier Canada geese.

@wanderer what do you ride?

Specialized Crosstrail, with 35mm and 40mm Schwalbe Marathon Supremes.

Good tires for "Goose Crossings," just stand, lighten up on the bars and pedals, and sail right over them...

I rode over a goose once, damn near wrecked me but I managed to stay upright. They're so stupid, they vigorously defend a certain amount of personal space for nest/young but choose the most high-traffic public locations they can find. The ones that pull this b.s. near my home or work soon learn to fear cyclists. They are pretty good at emulating human behaviour: they leave their **** everywhere and make way too much noise.

some really funny replies here - on different tangents too. ones I liked: worst Canadian export, that's not mud and he only goosed it.

OT just got back from my 3rd MTB ride - 2 hours and 45 minutes!!! I am wiped. I'm very fortunate that I met some really nice people on my first ride from the Boston chapter of NEMBA. happy friday

Rather grab a goose, wring it's neck then barbecue it. Cooked right they taste just like Sirloin steak. :love:

Agreed. I'd make a beeline towards them. That's dinner! :D

Actually, they are Canada geese. If the goose is from Canada, then it would be a Canadian Canada goose.:) The ones I see around my neighborhood are Hoosier Canada geese.

So when you ride by them, do you hiss or yell "Hoosier Daddy"?!

Sorry... couldn't help myself..

I yell "Hoosier cabinet?" Really annoys them.

I always figured that it was a good thing that they didn't fear humans anymore. When the riots/war/end of the world or whatever apocalyptic catastrophe awaiting us interrupts the food supply, I figure I can eat pretty well for a few weeks untill they are gone or figure out we aren't harmless anymore. And I won't even have to expend any ammo.

I posted this in another thread awhile back, but it seems to fit in here so......





Riding down the lake front path in chicago on a nice summer day.
The cyclist in front of me encounters a whole bunch of geese in the path. I slow. He doesn't.
I have no idea what he was thinking.
He had some of kind of super fancy road bike and was all decked out in your standard 'I spent as much money as I possibly could on this **&$ equipment' type of cyclist gear. (Which I am not against in any way.......unless you are a complete cycling idiot.)

So, a whole lot of geese. A cyclist.
What do you do?
This guy guns it.
Stands up and CRANKS.
Straight into a whole pile of geese....
The funny part, and I swear this is all true,.....

He manages to have one of them, as they quack, flee, and chaoticly run in every direction, thrust its head into his spokes. He goes as$ over elbows in a flailing, screaming goose explosion. He is hurt. Bad. He doesn't get up immediately.

I have stopped at this point, and I will never forget what happens next.
Roughly 30 geese brutally and viciously attack this moron. He is laying there in a heap of still clipped in bicycle/goose butchery. He is yelling and flailing his arms around. They are flying into the melee just to get a crack at this guy. Honking, quacking, wings flapping and the pecking........my god the pecking.

I had no idea of the amount of carnage that a few geese are able to unleash upon something.
A couple seconds later, I am ringing my bell and yelling while slowly riding up into this.
They all scatter, but as they do, a couple of them take a few final sucker punches at his face.

"Are you alright man?!"
"Yeah, leave me the *&%$ alone"
His face was covered with tiny gashes, bleeding pretty good. I think the ensuing onslought did quite a bit more damage than the endo.
He scrambled up onto his bike and rode off, trying to straighten his seat by punching it as he rode.

DON'T f&%# with geese.
The one that he hit was nearly decapitated.
And the rest of them were REALLY, really angry about it

Next time you see that goose kick him extra for me.

Hello PETA, there's this guy on a bike............

Crazy anecdote crawdad! I just ride slowly when dealing with flocks of geese - so far I have not hit or been hit.

I'm surprised that there are nests near an MUP - don't people walk dogs there?

Airzounds. May not do any good but it might be fun.

There's lots of geese along the recreational trails here and I always like to honk at them when I'm on the bike that has the airzound. It's amusing. To me, at least but you're right that it doesn't really do anything.