ilpirata87

Yesterday there was an informal unsanctioned road race out on some fairly rural roads near Chapel Hill NC. I rode out there with a pal who ended up getting dropped so I dropped off too. We were sitting around at the finish line chatting and watched the pack go by for the bell lap. The line was at the top of a small rise and then the road went downhill for about 300 yards. At the bottom of the hill was a house, where a family with little kids was playing with their dogs in the yard. As the riders passed the house doing upwards of 30 mph, a little white blur shot through the field. Our hearts were in our throats (although I am sure we were less scared than the racers) as we expected a massive pile up. Shockingly (and also as a testament to bike handling skills) no one went down. But the dog ran back toward the house yelping horribly. But we couldn't tell it had been hurt at all and spent the next few minutes cursing the negligence of the owners and saying how lucky it was no one was hurt. Then one of the racers, who had stopped and turned back, rode up to us and informed us that the dog had died about 5 minutes afterward: apparently someone had just run straight over its abdomen. The little kids were obviously heartbroken, but at least the parents realized it was their fault and felt angry at themselves rather than the cyclists.

In all it was a sad experience, and the first (hopefully only) death I've seen at a bike race.

LowCel 

That is terrible. I'm glad that no person was hurt but I hate that the kids dog was killed. I still believe that the dogs that chase us aren't bad dogs, they just belong to bad owners.

jfmckenna

After reading the title and thinking of some of the serious crashes that resulted in serious injuries and death especially in NC to actual PEOPLE it makes me want to say **** the damn dog. I'm glad the guy rode over the dog rather then get taken out and breaking a collar bone or risking a head injury or worse. I hate seeing dogs in races and my first inclination is in self defence then anger at the freekin owners.

But having a heart for animals in any event it's a sad story and the poor little creature suffered horribly at the ineptitude of its masters.

ratebeer

Well said.

RockyMtnMerlin

Yes, people need to me more careful when they are out with their dogs. Our dog will normally stay with us, but on occasion he gets it in his head to take off. Now he only goes outside the yard (surrounded by chain link fence), with a leash on.

Racer Ex 

During my race yesterday we came across the remnants of a Cat3 crash caused by a deer. A few laps before we had a deer cross in front of us on the climb and stop dead in the middle of the road...can't think of what might have happened had it crossed on one of the 40+ MPH descents.

UT_Dude

I hit a dog in the nose yesterday on my MTB. Actually, it hit me really. I was down on a local trail, and some moron was letting his two dogs chase each other at spring speed. Stupid thing came out of nowhere and ran straight into my wheel.

I feel bad, but there's nothing I could have done.

Snuffleupagus

Yikes. Thats horrible. I'm glad nobody got hurt on the bike, but what a terrible way for the critter to go.

I really wish people would lock up their dogs. It's not such a worry while I'm out riding for me, but I see more dog corpses than anything else out there.

patentcad

Nothing brings forth stupidity in humans quite as dramatically as dog ownership.

2manybikes

Internet forums are a close second.




The owners really let the dog down. He was looking to them for restrictions on his activity. Stupid owners.

patentcad

Correct.

2manybikes

kesa101

well, if you're out on an MTB on trails, surely a dog off the leash is something you should be on the look-out for? i have a dog, and i'm not going to keep it leashed up, off-country, in the middle of nowhere just in case an MTBer comes along.

then again, if it's a well-used trail for MTBs i would keep him leashed...

operator

+5 billion

gmason

Operator - you really need to change your signature.

RockyMtnMerlin

Cyclist was killed in a collision with a deer when i lived in Colorado Springs some years ago and two out of the last three years we have had MOOSE on the course of the the Road Race portion of the Dead Dog Classic (which is named for a golden retriever that used to hang around local racers until it was struck by a car and killed).

gmason

We have a lot of moose here, but have not had the pleasure of meeting one when on the bike. Can't wait, though. I just hope it is not too up close and personal.

UT_Dude

It was. I'm always on the lookout for stuff like that, but when the thing bolts out of nowhere at 20+ mph straight into you, there's not a whole lot you can do.

jamiewilson3

I had a dog chase me last spring and then get hit by a car as it gave up. The little girl who owned the dog watched it happen. It was a horrible experience. Hopefully these owners learn a lesson from their mistakes.

patentcad

Before that happens, the Cubs will win the World Series.