AerobaticDreams

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......

mattgmann

I squished a chipmunk recently. Not on purpose. I felt bad, bit it was a very quick death.

IBOHUNT

Fast food. Well, not fast enough.

goldfinch

I ran over a squirrel on the Withlacoochee trail this winter. I am not a squirrel fan but I still felt bad. And now I have squirrel heebee jeebees.

Beachgrad05

I see lots of critters (Squirrels, Chipmunks and Lizards) run across the river trail I ride frequently. I have yet to hit one (**knocks on wood**). I hope I never do. I would feel TERRIBLE. In fact, I might crash trying to avoid hitting it because instinct to try and not hit it would take over.

Dad 2 3

The rednecks down here in Kentucky would've taken that thing home for the crock pot!!

PhotoJoe 

Wait....you ran over one squirrel and now they've organized in a boycott? They stay out of your way AND have left your yard? I gotta go find me a squirrel!

Glad you didn't wreck trying to avoid it!

jerseyJim

Haha in SSFG they call girls squirrels. I thought for a moment you ran over a girl!

Still a sad moment who wants to hurt a little critter.

USMCRet

I've been riding for only a couple of months, but I've run over two already. Plus, I ran over one with the car the other day as I was transporting my bike to the shop.

Bill Kapaun

I usually aim for pheasants.

youcoming

I have

AerobaticDreams

I feel a little better...geez, given how many miles I've ridden over a lifetime, I just never expected this to happen! I think part of it is my fancy new chain lube that quieted the bike down a lot. The critters can't hear me coming...maybe I should start singing while I pedal...

mprelaw

Better hope that they're in season.

10 Wheels

Cows make more of a thump thump.

Bmxovich

I just had one dart under my front wheel this morning. Never ever happened before, made me feel pretty bad. Seeing this thread is weird.

plumberroy

Only about 25% of squirels survive through their 1st year any way so if you hadn't run over him chances are something would have did him in . Unless humans pick it up and dispose of it, chances are another animal will find it as an easy meal . So in the long run it is a benifit to something . Circle of life stuff . They aren't rare or endangered so I would not feel to bad about it.

thejokell

What I've always heard is that you're supposed to aim for the squirrel, not try to avoid them. The reason being is that they will dart to one side, so if you pick a side you run a 50/50 shot of picking the one the squirrel does, but if you go straight for it they should dart out of the way.

But did this one just not move?

AerobaticDreams

This one was on my right, and darted off TO the right....then made a high speed direction change back to the left. That put it directly under my rear wheel....! The crunching sound was worse than fingernails on a chalkboard to me.

My wife and I joke that they are always playing "The Squirrel Game", in which they wait for you and then dart out in front of you. Guess this one wasn't very good at it. Just glad he passed very quickly for his sake....

Myosmith

Squirrels are the kamikazis of the animal kingdom. I haven't run over one with a bike yet, but I've had many run right into my path and then flip out rather than scampering to safety. Every once in a while one will either rear up or take a buffalo stance like he's going to kick my arse. I'll actively try to avoid them but not at the risk of crashing myself or another rider. Over the years I've hit a few with the car. Like the OP I feel bad but I won't lose any sleep over it.

JerrySTL

I ran over a groundhog once. It jumped out of a ditch in front of me. I tried to bunny-hop over it but came down hard on its back instead. Killed it. Strange as groundhogs aren't common roadkill like possums and raccoons.

plustax

i think i ran over a rabbit driving back from a party once.


didnt swerve and didnt feel to bad. I may be the "rabbit" tonight...

digibud

hmmm...now I'll start watching for lobster in the road...

psalm

Had to swerve to avoid a dead squirrel in the road today. I don't think that counts, but I figured I'd mention it. I did think of this thread when I saw it though.

ChuckD6421 

My daughter's first excursion on her bike, on a MUP nearby. The first 100 yards of our Big Day together and she runs over a mouse. Like the above mentioned squirrel, it seemed to survive for 10-15 seconds flopping around and then it was still. In retrospect I was more traumatized than her, more worried about whether she'd been scarred for life, but 2 years on now she's 10 and it's become a funny anecdote.

Then there's the time I was out on a training ride during my competition period when, 12 miles from home on a remote back farm road, I encountered a flock of chickens occupying the entire width (Gallupville, NY anyone?). Being on a fast descent, I did slow and made hissing and other sounds to get their attention. But like that squirrel, at the last moment several of them changed their little minds about which side of the road was better and ran into my spokes and chain. I was brought to my Lycra'd a&& abruptly. Three chickens fared far worse.
This was in the dark days before cellphones, and several phone calls from the farmer's house (who wasn't the least bit interested in offering me a ride, or apology, but at least let me use his phone 'as long as it was local') resulted in no success contacting anyone who could help. What followed was an 8 mile hike in my ripped shorts and stocking feet (I decided to carry my cleats), hitch-hiking because the crash had trashed my rear derailleur, unsuccessfully. Finally I came across a guy out in his yard selling jars of honey who took an interest and offered a lift the remaining several miles home.

Yeah, that really happened.

bigfred 

Better to run over a squirrel, than have my experience of one going through your spokes. Decapitation is far messier.