clfjmpr44

Living here in Northern Virginia, the last few weeks all of the squirrels have been going bonkers. I think it might be mainly a Northeast thing, with the fuzzy little creatures scavenging for nuts before winter. Anyway, it sure makes for interesting rides. The other day I had one actually make it between my front and rear wheels (no jokes about me biking to slow!),. I know I am going to nail one anyday now, I believe it to be unavoidable.
Anyway, on the W&OD bike path, it's kinda like a video game, because the darn things are so upredictable, and they dart out from any old place. It definitely adds a level of excitement to the ride. Just seeing if anybody else has had some squirrel fun.
A

amishspin

Absolutely!! I'm in PA, and for the last week or so I have had a close call with a squirrel on almost every ride....sometimes a few times per ride!

I've found myself slowing down, etc. I wonder if the best strategy is to just keep riding riding straight and fast and let the squirrel handle it. Problem is, I find it tough to trust squirrels. Thieving buggers.

Grasschopper

Also in PA and I darn near got one this morning in the parking lot of my work. It would have been ugly too as I was turning into the lot and would have gone down for sure had I hit him.

clfjmpr44

Which brings me to my next question. I am sure a dog/cat has the mass to bring a rider down, but all my countless close calls with squirrels makes me wonder, if you got one of them in between your spokes, would that be enough to send you down, or would the furry little bugger explode before locking you up? Gruesome, I know, but an honest question...

rydwhite

I've noticed the same thing recently. They dart out in front of you and stop and look at you, then they decide to finish their way across the street only to turn around and go back to where they came from. I sewerved to miss one last week as he changed directions on a dime. And I think if you hit one, you would go down. They don't weigh much, 8 or 9 pounds maybe, but they could do some damage I think.

Grasschopper

Oh that is just nasty. I think I would go down trying to shield myself from the guts and blood.

Grasschopper

Holy crap where are the 8-9 lb squirrels? I have to avoid that place. I think they probably weigh around a pound if that.

clfjmpr44

Too funny Grasschopper, you got me openly laughing at my desk...

henders

I ran over a squirrel last week. Well just its tail. It seemed a little stunned and just stayed there after the fact looking rather dumbfounded.

A3rd.Zero

I hit a squirrel once. Very not pretty or fun. I didn't crash but he did get flung into my chain-ring and then into the path of my rear wheel. I would avoid them at all costs. Picking squirrel out of a chin-ring is worse then crashing, and doing both would just suck.

Milo

vtjim

Scientific side-by-side comparison of Vermont squirrels to average cyclist.

clfjmpr44

That's fricking good Vermont Jim. They really are goofy looking and acting creatures. How would you all like to go through life in a constant wave of panic and indecisiveness.

Bockman

On the WOD, it's just not a complete ride unless:

I get a bee drilled into my helmet vents

A squirrel tries to intersect my line of travel at least once.

Dave

diddidit

For me it's a grasshopper in the chinstrap, right below my ear. At least with cooler weather they're getting sluggish.

Squirrels are hilarious. You can see the thoughts: "LEFT! NO! RIGHT! NO! REALLY REALLY FAST LEFT AND RIGHT! YES!" Almost as random as sheep sometimes...

did

Map tester

They have been going crazy here in Atlanta, too. Last suday one tried to run between my wheels and got flipped to the side. My son who was riding behind me said it looked a bit dazed by the interaction. I could hear him chatter as we left him behind.

I think the shorter days are making them seek food for the winter. Also, I looked up their weight and it ranges between 1 to 3 pounds.

Another thread here about squirrel crossings

SlowJim

I also use the W&OD here in Virginia.

This season, one squirrel hit the front spokes and bounced off. The wheel is going too fast for them to get caught up. I also had a little chipmunk hit the spokes and then my foot; he was out for the count.

One season I had a squirrel bounce off the spokes and then hit my chest. I do not slow down for them I just close my eyes in case they hit me in the face.

It’s the deer’s I worry about.

EagleEye

Saw a lot of deer on the W&OD last night about 6:30pm in the Ashburn area. Gotta becareful now 'cuz those guy will do a lot of damage if you run into them.

MacMan

You've met my wife then

Cerberusgl

They have been darting across the American River bike path all summer. I had one bounce off my spokes a few months ago and a week later a guy right next to me went right over one. It is possible for one to get flung up and stick in your forks but the kinetic energy involved would likely tear the poor little guy apart. A squirrel endo would be pretty rough.

DesertRoller

Maybe this might answer part of your question - https://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=13765

Dr Mono

I killed one last summer around Three Oaks Michigan. Weird ride overall, before killing the squirrel I got lost in Indiana and ended up riding by Oprah's "Farm". The place is a fortress!!!

NeoBinary

I ran over one about a month ago. I saw him run out on the road when he was a good bit in front of me. I decided to keep my course and let him do the menuevering. When I got near he ran past and then must have remembered he'd forgotten something in my chainring because he ran straight for it. I then hit him with my rear wheel. I looked back to see him darting off the road. I suspect he had a monster headache.

venga venga

they do it on purpose, trying to get us to crash attempting to dodge them...after which they laugh and hi-five their squirrely friends....some just aren't very good at it....

rydwhite

Yeah, they actually only weigh a few pounds I think. I had to go with the 8 or 9 for dramatic effect. The stories are much more interesting if you are talking about 8 or 9 pound squirels.

scotj

When I lived in Sacramento, CA I use to run over (with bike) 3 or 4 squirrels each fall. The first time it happened I swerved to avoid the squirrel, I still hit him and he nearly took me out. After that first time I took the “me vs. them mentally” and did not bother swerving. I used the same approach with snakes, but it sucks when you have a rattlesnake spinning in your spokes.