Dog defense strategies are numerous. I don't carry spray, or a frame pump, or any other weapon than myself and my bike. On the theory that most dogs charge for the purpose of simply chasing you off and the dog will try to approach and nip at your legs from slightly behind you , I judge the dogs speed, angle of attack, and my ability to accelerate. If I have the ability to accelerate rapidly and the dog is going to catch me, I actually slow down, let the dog adjust its intercept speed and angle to my slower speed, wait till the dog is close enough to be committed to that angle, then accelerate and leave it yapping behind me.

But if I can not manage an acceleration or the dog is approaching from the front, I dismount and face the animal with the bike between us, no eye contact. Most of the time the confrontation ends there, facing each other, and we part ways soon thereafter. If the animal attempts to circle around the bike menacingly, I attack, using the bike as a weapon, making noise, with lots of eye contact. I will win this confrontation, and the animal will know it.


If there is more than one dog, it is time to call on your deepest reserves and just get the hell out of there. Even domestic dogs know how to pack hunt, and you don't want to be encircled.