Oh Man...I Feel So Bad....Anybody Else Ever Do This?
03-18-13, 12:58 AM
#26
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I feel bad running over anything with a nervous system, even frogs and snails. I had a few close calls with squirrels, but that was 15 years ago. Squirrels are rarer here in Sweden and other small mammals seem to stay out of the way better. 
03-18-13, 06:05 AM
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I have seen it done.
I once ran over the neck of a bird that flew into my spokes and was thrown into my path. His neck exploded. Three of them were eating berries on a trail. As I approached, two flew up to safety, avoiding the "predator" on the ground. The third flew in front of me and I overtook him. I guess it's a good thing that I deleted him from the gene pool.
I once ran over the neck of a bird that flew into my spokes and was thrown into my path. His neck exploded. Three of them were eating berries on a trail. As I approached, two flew up to safety, avoiding the "predator" on the ground. The third flew in front of me and I overtook him. I guess it's a good thing that I deleted him from the gene pool.
03-18-13, 08:13 AM
#28
The Recumbent Quant
Here's what I learned in my motorcycle safety class:
When you see a squirrel in in front of you, line up to hit it square, (brake safely if you can, and) hope it gets out of your way.
If you swerve to avoid it and it still runs in front of you, you're going to hit it anyway and now you're gong down, too.
I've never hit an animal on either my bike or (a long time ago) my motorcycle. I'd feel bad if I did, but I'm sure I'd feel worse if I hit something and fell, too.
When you see a squirrel in in front of you, line up to hit it square, (brake safely if you can, and) hope it gets out of your way.
If you swerve to avoid it and it still runs in front of you, you're going to hit it anyway and now you're gong down, too.
I've never hit an animal on either my bike or (a long time ago) my motorcycle. I'd feel bad if I did, but I'm sure I'd feel worse if I hit something and fell, too.
03-18-13, 09:00 AM
#29
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03-18-13, 09:05 AM
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Spring - squirrels are coming out of hibernation... they are busy looking for food. Here they are all over the trails and roads near wilderness. As close as I have come, I haven't hit one yet but I did run over a snake yesterday... thatr made me feel terrible!
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03-18-13, 11:02 AM
#31
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I have clobbered all meaning of critters (bugs, snakes, squirrels, pigeons) over the years, including a near miss with a deer! 
The deer was alarming since I was on my way to work a feeling a tad sleeping on an MUP. That is a better wake up than coffee.
I did almost hit a dog but I swerved and bit it instead, the dogs owner didn't seem to care their pooch was running off it's leash where it is posted not to let them loose.
Don't feel bad, it's natural selection. Now only if my wife's cat ended up out on the path......
The deer was alarming since I was on my way to work a feeling a tad sleeping on an MUP. That is a better wake up than coffee.
I did almost hit a dog but I swerved and bit it instead, the dogs owner didn't seem to care their pooch was running off it's leash where it is posted not to let them loose.
Don't feel bad, it's natural selection. Now only if my wife's cat ended up out on the path......
03-18-13, 11:08 AM
#32
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A buddy of mine from Deltona ran over a squirrel one day just north of Pierson on CR3. We rode up to Seville, then returned via the same route. The squirrel was nowhere to be found when we came past the spot of contact. Either he moved off or some critter got an early lunch!
03-18-13, 12:02 PM
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Sometime ago I was flying down a big hill when a reasonably good sized grizzly came out of the woods and right into my path. I had to slam on the brakes to not hit him and boy, did he take off. Doubt he'd have been the one hurt if I'd run into (not over) him...
03-18-13, 01:26 PM
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I got a face full of duck butt today. Riding the mup (in the rain) to work, coming around a corner and down a hill, there was a duck in the middle of the path. I was picking up speed and gave the duck a good 4ft. He decided to take off and fly in the same direction of my travel. I basically ran into his @ss, nose first. Neither the duck or I went down. I hit the brakes and he kept flying.
Last edited by mattgmann; 03-18-13 at 01:39 PM.
03-18-13, 07:35 PM
#35
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I got a face full of duck butt today. Riding the mup (in the rain) to work, coming around a corner and down a hill, there was a duck in the middle of the path. I was picking up speed and gave the duck a good 4ft. He decided to take off and fly in the same direction of my travel. I basically ran into his @ss, nose first. Neither the duck or I went down. I hit the brakes and he kept flying.
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03-19-13, 07:49 AM
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I was thinking to myself, "Where the crap does this person live that grizzlies just wander onto an MUP" then I saw the Location line in your member info. Then thought, "Yep, that makes sense." Glad you are still around to type that!
03-19-13, 07:14 PM
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Brunswick Stew is also good, nowadays it's made from pulled pork, chicken and beef, but it used to be rabbit, squirrel and pork IIRC. I seem to remember eating that as a kid that way.
03-20-13, 12:39 AM
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We had rare native brown squirrels here but the grey squirrels moved in and the brown squirrels moved out.
Grey squirrels are not smart. In spite of their speed, I see at least one dead one every week.
I think grey squirrels are reincarnated evil people and death on the road is their karma.
Grey squirrels are not smart. In spite of their speed, I see at least one dead one every week.
I think grey squirrels are reincarnated evil people and death on the road is their karma.
03-20-13, 05:59 AM
#39
aka Phil Jungels
03-20-13, 07:03 AM
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Here in Cambodia rats are roving speed bumps, if you take it out near the curb, it becomes lunch.
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03-20-13, 08:31 AM
#41
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Today's ride was supposed to be a fairly short one at an easy pace. Then I take a day off before the Orlando Tour de Cure 50 mile event (My first Tour or organized event ever).
The ride was really nice, and I found myself marveling at all the friendly little squirrels playing chicken with me on the bike. They always seem to dive out of the way at the last instant, and then race up a tree to watch you go by.....until....the last one.I ran over him. I mean not just a little bit, I ran right over him...he lasted about 15 more seconds and was gone.
Weirdly, after having seen more squirrels on this ride than normal, I didn't see a single other one the 4 miles left to get home. There have been none in my yard all day since then either. This is weird.
Am I the only one to run over a squirrel on a road bike? Tell me its happened to someone else. I know its "just" a squirrel, but I feel bad for running over the little critter......
The ride was really nice, and I found myself marveling at all the friendly little squirrels playing chicken with me on the bike. They always seem to dive out of the way at the last instant, and then race up a tree to watch you go by.....until....the last one.I ran over him. I mean not just a little bit, I ran right over him...he lasted about 15 more seconds and was gone.
Weirdly, after having seen more squirrels on this ride than normal, I didn't see a single other one the 4 miles left to get home. There have been none in my yard all day since then either. This is weird.
Am I the only one to run over a squirrel on a road bike? Tell me its happened to someone else. I know its "just" a squirrel, but I feel bad for running over the little critter......
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03-20-13, 10:25 AM
#42
Senior Member
I ran over a groundhog. Full grown. Slightly bent a rim on that one.
03-20-13, 10:50 AM
#43
Senior Member
Never on a bike, but I had one dart out in front of the car and stop. He ducked down and I got 3/4 ths of the way over him before he decided to stand up and I got him with the back axle.
A pheasant flew into our car window when we were on a highway. It didn't break the window, but it scared everyone. There wasn't enough window wiper fluid in the car to clean that "bug" stain. We had to stop at the next exit and find a gas station.
A pheasant flew into our car window when we were on a highway. It didn't break the window, but it scared everyone. There wasn't enough window wiper fluid in the car to clean that "bug" stain. We had to stop at the next exit and find a gas station.
03-20-13, 12:03 PM
#44
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On my ride last night, I ran across (but not over) a little squirrel that got thumped by someone... most likely a car... but now this thread makes me feel sad as to how many little buggers are losing their lives... why do they feel the need to play chicken with things bigger than them?
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03-23-13, 11:57 AM
#45
Optically Corrected
Last summer I had a rabbit run out of the tall grass at the side of the MUP.
He bounced off the spokes of my rear wheel and then ran away like an idiot.
No damage to either of us.
It's the one time I was glad that I don't have low-count spokes!
He bounced off the spokes of my rear wheel and then ran away like an idiot.
No damage to either of us.
It's the one time I was glad that I don't have low-count spokes!
06-22-14, 07:09 PM
#46
Senior Member
No squirrel, came across one on Wednesday on the bike path. Forgot about it on the way back and was gazing at the river when I looked forward and missed it by half an inch.
Ran over a copperhead last fall on my mountain bike (maybe earlier this spring?) It was stretched across the right side of the path camoflauged by the leaves. Didn't see it until just before running over with my front.
Saved a baby bunny from the cat last night out in the yard. Not the baby's fault mom and dad are eating our spinach.
Ran over a copperhead last fall on my mountain bike (maybe earlier this spring?) It was stretched across the right side of the path camoflauged by the leaves. Didn't see it until just before running over with my front.
Saved a baby bunny from the cat last night out in the yard. Not the baby's fault mom and dad are eating our spinach.
06-23-14, 12:07 PM
#48
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I've never had to dodge an animal on my bike, but I have been within a few feet of skunks on two occasions. It was mostly dark early in the morning the first time when I noticed something running next to me out of the corner of my eye before it registered what it was. The second time was coming around a blind corner where it was just finishing crossing the road.
Other times, I see deer on early morning rides. One morning there were a total of 5 together, one had just crossed the road and the other four were standing next to the concrete block here https://www.google.com/maps/@45.8616...KTr4JyVFEA!2e0.
None of them spooked as I rode by.
Other times, I see deer on early morning rides. One morning there were a total of 5 together, one had just crossed the road and the other four were standing next to the concrete block here https://www.google.com/maps/@45.8616...KTr4JyVFEA!2e0.
None of them spooked as I rode by.
06-23-14, 01:18 PM
#49
Just Keep Pedaling
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06-23-14, 01:53 PM
#50
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Disclaimer: 99% of what I know about cycling I learned on BF. That would make, ummm, 1% experience. And a lot of posts.