Flash

No...in my case. Recipe for disaster:

-- shakedown cruise on my new speedplay zeros
-- cleat-to-pedal connection very tight as expected with the new gear
-- 10 minutes into the ride, quiet cruise around the neighborhood, belgian sheep dog breaks off leash and goes right for me. apparently I spooked it when I appeared suddenly and the dog was just doing the instinctual thing: herding sheep
-- first reaction is to try and dismount quickly, lifting left leg over top tube so I can get the bike between me and dog
-- naturally I lift my left leg straight up and fall to the right, fully clipped-in, on my arse. Dog takes chunk out of left calf as I free myself from bike and initiate self defense sequence

Dog checks out OK, shots up-do-date

quick trip to ER, missed the french open final, but clearly didn't miss much ;-)

back on the bike today, love the speedplays!

cheers

njm

Another option, I guess, would be to start going faster and just race away from the dog. How long can a sheepdog manage 25 mph?

Sorry to hear about the bite... hope it heals quickly!

Gotcha38

Did you beat the dog to death with your bicycle? I would've been the last thing he ever tasted.

Flash

it all happened so fast, I was literally gliding down the road at approx 4mph, probably looking down at my shoes and checking the positioning etc. she came out of nowhere

Flash

I felt extreme anger at first. I had dogs as a kid, but as I've gotten older I'm not much of a dog person. However, by the time I got all the info from the owner and cleared the ER, I had put it behind me.

The larger question: what's the best defense in such a situation where one is surprised by a charging dog and it is clear one will not be able to get away in time? pepper spray within easy reach?

Hida Yanra

Yeah, I've had that... well, mine was a wild/tame mix that lives on the indian reservations around here ("Rez dog" is the official term.)
He missed with the bite on the first pass, and I managed to keep away from the follow-up. It was a hard piece of work as I was going up a pretty good grade (up a mesa) at the time.

AEO

don't underestimate the dog... faster and stronger than your average bike rider. Heck, even stronger than wheels on cars in some cases.

Gotcha38

Like someone else pointed out, you could try to outrun the dog, but that isn't really an option for me. I'd try to keep the bike between me and the dog.

A good full volume NO! has worked well for me in the past.

Frame pump beatdown is also an option.

Treefox

Lawsuit.

You Americans need to tie your dogs up. I've never been chased by a dog here - people are legally required to keep them restrained.

unhookt

Recently, I was riding on a country road past a cattle ranch and watched in awe as a herd dog climbed vertically over a chain-link fence then proceeded to haul ***** in my direction. I was in shock at how fast the sucker accelerated. At first, I thought he would simply annoy me for a few dozen yards as he worked the "herding instinct" out of his system. Then the nipping and more "serious" sounding barking began.

That's when the bike pump came out. In what would have been completely hysterical to bystanders, if there had been any, I began flailing wildly. The dog was undeterred by my shouting and swinging, until I struck him soundly on the snout with the handle. That stopped him dead in his tracks.

As a dog owner, I don't condone cruelty to animals. After I heard the dog's yelp and saw the shocked look on his face, I felt genuine guilt. Still, there's no way I'm letting a strange dog take a chunk out of my arse.

Sixty Fiver

Trying to outrun a dog is a bad idea as in most cases, they are going to be faster than you are and if they aren't aiming to bite you and want to chase / play they can get in front of you or in the case of small dogs, under you.

I always slow down when I approach dogs to see if they are under control and to check their intentions and if they come after me I'll be getting off the bike pdq.

This is often enough the throw the dog off as then you become a biped and not some strange wheeled beast...

Yelling works really well as most dogs are conditioned to know that certain tones equal punishment of some kind and one can always grab whatever is at hand to throw at them as they don't handle projectile weapons very well.

Squirting them with the water bottle is also good.

I have also laid a beating on a few dogs that did not respond well to any of the above.

Herding dogs can be really bad as their instincts are often so strong they cannot resist the urge to control anything that moves and they do this by chasing, cutting you off, and nipping.

Dobermans and German Sheppards are evil fast as as your generic mid sized mutts.

My Shih Tzu would get winded in short order or end up as a little ball of fur spinning around your spokes and I have no fear whatsoever from Basset hounds except that if they do catch you, it will take you all day to wipe off all the drool.

Sixty Fiver

I should note that I love dogs and most animals and there is a difference between cruelty and protecting oneself from being injured.

Banzai

Amen.

People are legally required to keep them restrained here, too. The owner is liable for your medical expenses, and is vulnerable to lawsuit, should you choose. He can't win that one.

What the frak is up with all the loose dogs lately?

Banzai

Of course, I got chased by three Chihuahua's the other day...which was really more humorous and sad than anything else. I went just slow enough to give them hope of catching me...eventually the 105 degree day got the better of them, and they went panting back to their house.

I hate those little dogs.

Flash

according to the owner (during phone call after the fact), the dog broke the leash. Unfortunately I did not have enough of my wits about me to check the extendo-leash I handed back to him at the time of the attack. This is more for the sake of curiosity. The police did inform me of my right to fill out an affidavit.

twopoint7

It is all to common here in Va. At least once a week. People out in the country just let there dogs run around.


If the firm loud " NO" doesn't work then I usually spray it in the face with water, most dogs hate to be sprayed in the face with water.

thechemist

check out my thread in commuting..should still be on page 1

Banzai

That excuse still won't absolve him. It is the owner's responsibility to buy a leash that is rated for the weight and strength of the dog he owns. I.e. my 70lb German Shepherd has a much more robust leash than my 35lb mutt. It is also the owner's responsibility to check the condition of the leash.

My Shepherd once frayed a section in the middle of his leash when he chewed on it momentarily. I replaced it immediately...even though the leash seemed to still be intact and strong, you never know. And I knew I would need to accept responsibility if my dog escaped my control and harmed anyone.

If the dog's owner isn't strong enough to control his dog, then he shouldn't be walking it around people. Mrs Banzai doesn't walk our Shepherd because she knows he could overpower her and slip her control if he wanted to. He could probably dislocate my shoulder, but he can't get free of me. (Not that this has been an issue...he's well trained...but, again, just in case.)

It doesn't matter what excuse the owner gives you. He is responsible for his dog. His dog came loose of his control, and BIT you.

Even if my Shepherd slipped my control, I'm 99% certain he wouldn't BITE you. He'd just knock you over and I'd still be paying your medical bills and whatever damages I owed you for the bike. And no excuse I gave you could change that.

Talk to the police. Fill out the statement. Hold the owner responsible to properly restrain and train his dog...and make him take responsibility for himself and his pet.

Flash

thanks Banzai for the advice. I believe filling out the affidavit will result in him being issued a citation.

redfooj

stiff soles and cleats serve more than 1 purpose

Phantasie

There are some truely epic quotes in this thread - classic!

" apparently I spooked it when I appeared suddenly and the dog was just doing the instinctual thing: herding sheep "

"How long can a sheepdog manage 25 mph?"

"Did you beat the dog to death with your bicycle? I would've been the last thing he ever tasted. "

"He missed with the bite on the first pass, and I managed to keep away from the follow-up"

"Frame pump beatdown is also an option. "

"I watched in awe as a herd dog climbed vertically over a chain-link fence then proceeded to haul ***** in my direction. I was in shock at how fast the sucker accelerated"

redirekib

A bite like that could result in a new high end bike without even going to court and then their insurance company opts not renew them - sweet....

Flash

I was just thinking the same thing. My favorite is frame pump beatdown

milchad

+1

Last weekend, one of my fellow roadies was threatened by an angry dog and unclipped one shoe, then his shoe connected with the dog's head with a nice thud. The dog quickly tucked tail and rain away.

Flash

but then what would I do with my Bridgestone ;-)