I'm glad you've been fortunate...but one day, when there's a truly viscious pit or doberman just aching to take a big bite out of your neck, you may rethink the bit about stopping and putting your bike in between you and the dog, 'cause he's after MEAT, not carbon fiber or steel or aluminum...I read the same thing long ago, and even tried it. Right...
Theories always look great on paper, but when a 90 pound carnivorous predator is after you, bent on getting a little taste, you'll see that the 'ol bike frame ain't exactly the best protection, and after you've thrown the bike at the dog, then what will you do?
DPN
I have had a 70-80 lb dog attack my dog while I was walking it. I yelled at it with my arms held wide and the dog cowered away. My dog loves chasing and being chased by dogs, but it doesn't mean he wants a taste of flesh. You are ASSUMING that any dog chasing you is trying to eat you, while I know of no such cases in which dogs have actually COMSUMED human flesh. Meat was a poor choice of words if you ask me.
My actions are based on statistics. Chances are the dog is trying to play chase. Sprinting away will excite the dog and make the chase more aggressive. Stopping ends the game. You're right that this may not always be the case, but crashing at 30 mph when a dog catches me is just as bad as getting a chunk of flesh taken out of my leg, and the latter is less likely so I'll risk that one.
As for the bike, I don't plan on throwing it. More of a shield, if you will.