Bicycles and Critters
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Portland, Maine USA
Posts: 779
Bikes: Trek 850 Antelope
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Bicycles and Critters
I've spent much of my life living in the country and have had several bicycle-related incidents with various critters. My most current incident occurred while Fall has come upon us. While preparing to set out on a ride, I gathered some cycling gear and accessories to take with me until I needed them. When I went out to my bicycle, I noticed that I had forgotten to close the zipper on my rack trunk that I carry my gear in from the last ride I took. When I opened the main compartment, I discovered that some pesky squirrel decided to use it to store its vast cache of acorns until it returned to survive on them through the winter! I removed my rack trunk, dumped out the acorns in a nearby place, fastened the rack trunk on my bicycle, put my gear inside it, and went on my ride.
Have any of you had bicycle-related incidents with critters?
Have any of you had bicycle-related incidents with critters?
Last edited by powerhouse; 09-29-08 at 06:42 PM.
#2
Dropped myself
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 397
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I never have, but I've gotten to watch riding buddies have some encounters of the critter kind.
Better to have a squirrel in your trunk bag than in your fork... that's all I have to say.
Better to have a squirrel in your trunk bag than in your fork... that's all I have to say.
#3
Senior Member
This time of year I'm often out biking around dusk. Deer are a scary sight when you're flying down a hill at 30 mph.
#4
CAT4
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Posts: 1,681
Bikes: 2009 Cervélo S1, 2009 Felt F75, 2010 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 5, 2011 Cannondale CAADx, 2011 Specialized Transition Elite
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A few weeks ago I had a deer pop out of some brush on me and a friend on a trail. We were not going quite 30mph, but it was closer than I liked. Last year, a large buck sprung up from a ditch and crossed the road right in front of me and scared the crap out of me. Does anyone know of anyone colliding with a deer on a bike?
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Portland, Maine USA
Posts: 779
Bikes: Trek 850 Antelope
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
While riding on the carriage paths of Mount Desert Island in Maine, I once had to come to an abrupt stop on the trail for a parade of turtles making their way toward a lake. Because I hardly ever saw this in my travels, I had no interest in running them down.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Hollister, CA
Posts: 455
Bikes: Bianchi San Jose, Mercian King of Mercia
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
This time of year tarantulas are common on the roads, as they roam around looking to mate. One friend in a predawn fast training ride hit a deer. Knocked him cold and destroyed his bike. Another came around a turn in a fast downhill, with his line set, he saw a large rattlesnake across the road. He hit it like a speed bump, thinking the whole time that it would get tangled in his spokes and bite him in the a**. Another time a rider in our group asked if any of us had ever hit the suicidal groundsquirrels that seem to be everywhere. Before her question could be answered, she hit one.
Seen on rides from my own front door: badger, lots of deer, coyotes, bobcats, bald and golden eagles, otters, harbor seals and sea lions all are memorable. I play a game with myself: try to get home with one bird species per mile ridden.
Seen on rides from my own front door: badger, lots of deer, coyotes, bobcats, bald and golden eagles, otters, harbor seals and sea lions all are memorable. I play a game with myself: try to get home with one bird species per mile ridden.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 1,143
Bikes: Many. Ralieigh sports`s, Raleigh Superbe, sears Spaceliner, Firestone supercruisers, many vintage mountain bikes, random cruisers, and other unique bikes.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
.
Well I hate to say it but, I hit a rabbit with my bike... how that actualy happened I don't know, they usaly run away, but it was around the ben on the bike path, anyway, Thats my think that happened, that and my bike was used to make a nest for some mice in winter, they used fabric from the bags lol
#8
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
226 Posts
Sad to say, most of the wildlife I see while cycling is "sleeping" on the road pavement and by the side of the road. Lots and lots of raccoons lately.
#9
Conservative Hippie
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Wakulla Co. FL
Posts: 4,271
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
In addition to the usually menagerie of critters, this morning I saw a baby red fox. Smaller than a housecat, it was off to my right as I circled part of the golf course, near where we know a mama fox has a den.
#10
Crank Crushing Redneck
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: A van down by the river.
Posts: 2,600
Bikes: Bikes are environmentally damaging
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I had a bird build a nest in my helmet in the garage. Could not bear to dump it and the eggs out so we watched the lil buggers hatch and grow up.
Admittedly it was an old spare helmet but still funny.
Admittedly it was an old spare helmet but still funny.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 2,794
Bikes: litespeed, cannondale
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I stayed at Jekyl Island, GA once. I figured I would get in some exercise by a predawn ride. So out I go. I had one of those really bright HID headlights. I am glad I did. You don't see them during the day. But that place is swarming with deer. I saw dozens in my ride around the island. And did you know something? They don't have reflectors so you don't see them until they are close. And they stop and stare at you like deer in the headlights!
#12
Fax Transport Specialist
seems like a perfect opportunity for a bunny hop... I've had to slow down for a group of deer crossing the path, no collisions yet.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 811
Bikes: '08 Trek 7.3FX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Why do the squirrels always run across the trail when they're already off to the side? Just stay where you are you little *******s and I wont hit you!