I first described this incident in September 2004. But if you happened to miss it...

Last summer, while riding along a dirt road through a farmer's field in Ticino (the Italian part of Switzerland), I heard clanging brass bells, heavy snorts, and staccato thuds coming from behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and saw a herd of eight or ten cows in hot pursuit. I rode faster, but the cows ran faster, too. As I slowed to go around a bend, I realized I was about to be stampeded. I braked hard, skidded to a stop, dropped my bike, dove to the ground, and rolled under an electrical fence.

One cow gingerly approached my bike:

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...chmentid=16386

Then the others swaggered over. They slobbered all over the handlebars and water bottles, and butted their heads against the aerobars, brake hoods and wheels. From the other side of the fence, I yelled at them, flailed my arms, and blew a whistle to try to scare them away. They just glared at me as if to say, "What is wrong with you?"

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...chmentid=16387

After about ten minutes, they lost interest, and I was able to reclaim my bike -- sticky handlebars and all -- and continue on my way. During my "ordeal," I managed to fire off these two photos.

Alan