Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Animal that scares you the most when riding

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Animal that scares you the most when riding

Old 07-09-11, 04:06 PM
  #76  
Senior Member
 
Gene465's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NW FL
Posts: 77

Bikes: 2011 Trek 2.1, Lexa, 4300, Skye S, 2007 Gary Fisher, 1998 Trek 6000, 1994 Trek 930

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Skunks! Makes for a bad smelling ride!
Gene465 is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 04:08 PM
  #77  
Senior Member
 
DropDeadFred's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 4,429

Bikes: 2013 orca

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
did 50 mi today and got chased by a dog while passing through a sketchy neighborhood....later it was a squirrel that jumped out infront of a guy on a tri bike that i waas barreling down on...all animals are scary on your bike..
DropDeadFred is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 04:08 PM
  #78  
Senior Member
 
surgeonstone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South Bend IN
Posts: 11,218

Bikes: 1976 FRESCHI, 2004 Crumpton.

Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 925 Post(s)
Liked 21 Times in 10 Posts
I would not want to get between a bear and her cubs. Couple years back a friend of mine was motorcycling across Canada with 3 friends. He happened to have the misfortune of motorcycling between a Black bear and its cubs. The bear charged the 4 motorcyclist bringing down all four before ambling away apparently unhurt. All 4 motorcyclists suffered injuries and concussions.
surgeonstone is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 04:44 PM
  #79  
Full Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Germantown, MD
Posts: 367
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 28 Post(s)
Liked 25 Times in 16 Posts
Squirrels and deer. Although now I have to add groundhogs to that list, as an experienced rider in our club was killed last year when descending a hill when one ran out in front of him.
jayp410 is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 04:47 PM
  #80  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: On yer left
Posts: 1,646
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Has anyone ever been sprayed by a skunk while riding on a bike? Or actually hit a skunk on the road? That would suck. Would probably ruin your cycling clothes (trash?).

Last edited by kenji666; 07-09-11 at 04:54 PM.
kenji666 is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 04:49 PM
  #81  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 681

Bikes: Felt F1C

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by KiddSisko
You mean like this?

What the heck? LOL. Pretty much like that, but pigeons. I think. *shrug*
androidtt is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 05:09 PM
  #82  
Senior Member
 
Wesley36's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,001
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by surgeonstone
I would not want to get between a bear and her cubs. Couple years back a friend of mine was motorcycling across Canada with 3 friends. He happened to have the misfortune of motorcycling between a Black bear and its cubs. The bear charged the 4 motorcyclist bringing down all four before ambling away apparently unhurt. All 4 motorcyclists suffered injuries and concussions.
Last fall I was riding up in Gatineau. I was about 1/3 of the way into a climb when I saw a cub run across the road and disappear into the woods on the other side, probably 200m up the road. Where is Mama? Where is Mama? I am thinking while freaking out and now pedaling very slowly, to give Mama lots of time to cross the road and go on her merry way with her cub. No Mama. Two cyclists ahead of me seem to not have noticed, they continue up the hill and crest it. So when I was within about 50m of where I saw the cub, I just started hammering, and did not stop until I was going down the hill on the other side. I guess I could have just abandoned the hill ... but there were really fun climbs further up the road.

So bears are the animals that have scared me the most while cycling, including the guy that almost hit me with his 5th wheel trailer earlier today. I guess it is probably more rational to fear the guy, but I am mostly angry rather than scared when dealing with humans. Cougars are pretty scary too, I have heard of them stalking people.
Wesley36 is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 05:36 PM
  #83  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 66
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
On his recent ride across country, on the Southern Tier, my brother-in-law had an encounter with some Javelina's. Here's his take from his blog...

Javelina are pig-like animals that travel in herds. As I pedaled through West Texas many of the small town general stores that I visited sold javelina merchandise such as "javelina crossing" signs, "have you kissed a javelina lately" stickers, and various garden/yard decorations shaped like a javelina. Until then, I've never heard of a pig-like animal called a javelina.

My first run in with a javelina happened in Texas between Sanderson and Marathon. It was early morning, but the sun was up and all of my lights were off. I was pedaling about 15mph when suddenly 5 0r 6 javelina ran across the road in front of me. Although startled I was going fast enough to easily escape this small herd of javelinas. As I looked over my shoulder the javelinas were standing on the side of the road looking at me. I continued on my way.

A few mornings later, still in Texas, I departed Ft. Davis for Van Horn at 345am. About an hour into my ride I stopped half way up a hill to take a photo of the coming sun-rise. There was a bright orange line across the horizon but it was still dark. After snapping the photo, I tood up on my pedals to get enough momentum to start the ascent up the remainder of the hill. After only a few rotations and moving no more than 3mph I heard a loud "rushing" of brush from my right.

As I looked in that direction I saw countless animals running toward me. At this point these animals were about 10 feet away from me. Because I was going so slow and then being startled, I stopped pedaling and instinctively snapped out of my right pedal and placed that leg on the pavement. My left foot was still secure in its pedal (big mistake). All of this happened in 2-3 seconds.

As the charging animals approached the group separated with most running around my front tire and the rest running behind my back tire. At some point I realized these animals were javelinas. With my heart all ready racing I turned to my left in hopes of seeing the javelinas continue across the road into the thick brush. This didn't happen. The javelina slowed and re-grouped in the left lane of the highway.

I wanted out of this situation badly. As I pushed myself with my right foot to get enough movement to begin pedaling and re-snap into my right pedal, tragedy struck. Between the time my right foot left the ground and before I could snap it into the pedal I felt something wet and sticky above my right ankle. As I looked down I saw a big hairy javelina licking and slobbering on my lower leg.

I screamed loudly and attempted to raise my right leg at the same time kicking at the javelina. Right when I did this I knew I was in trouble. I was on an incline, going as close to zero mph as humanly possible with my left foot snapped into my pedal and my right foot kicking a javelina. I lost my balance, feel to my left, and hit the pavement hard.

Because I fell to my left and my left foot was still secure in the pedal I couldn't move. This was a problem due to the fact that it was dark and I was literally surrounded by what I estimated to be about 20-25 snorting and grunting javelinas. As I began to kick my left leg to try to get free of the pedal a few of the javelinas begin to lick my helmet. Although I couldn't feel this...I could hear it and I let out another scream.

A few seconds later I must have kicked or twisted my left foot just right as it became free from the pedal. As I pulled and dragged myself out from under BIG RED the javelinas began licking my arms and legs. I don't know what was scarier, the sound of their loud licking and slobbering or all of the snorting and grunting they were doing.

Once out from under BIG RED I placed both of my hands on the handlebars and in one motion stood up. I then began running and pushing BIG RED up the hill until I achieved enough momentum to jump on the bicycle and pedal away. As I looked over my shoulder the javelinas continued their journey across the road in the brush. The next mile I pedaled as fast as I could.

Except for a couple of scraps on my left leg I was fine. Once I reached Van Horn I recounted my ordeal with a few locals. Although all agreed that the javelinas were using me as a human salt-lick, they disagreed on the potential danger of the ordeal. One man described javelinas as docile creatures that wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone a bicyclist. However, another man described them as mean animals that when provoked are known to eat small animals and on rare occasions attack humans if threatened.

I don't know which man was correct. I do know that I was scared out of my mind and am confident that my screams were so loud and chilling that if there were other bicyclists behind me in the dark they would have turned around in terror and headed back to Ft. Davis.
CoachDirty is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 05:41 PM
  #84  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: On yer left
Posts: 1,646
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
How was the bite on your right ankle? Did it break the skin?
kenji666 is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 05:42 PM
  #85  
Still a newb.
 
Bioluminescence's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 451
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by kenji666
How was the bite on your right ankle? Did it break the skin?
Bioluminescence is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 06:39 PM
  #86  
he said member
 
ls01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: is everything
Posts: 13,725

Bikes: yes please

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2752 Post(s)
Liked 1,924 Times in 1,186 Posts
Jackalopes
ls01 is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 06:53 PM
  #87  
Slower than Yesterday
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Katy, Texas, USA
Posts: 339

Bikes: Trek Domane 5.2, Specialized Fatboy Carbon Comp

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
That's the best javelina story I've read yet. They're mostly cute unless you are in the way of the food you left in your tent...
chadwick is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 06:59 PM
  #88  
Senior Member
 
Mr 53x11's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 66
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Humans for sure.
Mr 53x11 is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 07:23 PM
  #89  
Senior Member
 
Joseph Vigue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 121

Bikes: 2007 Bianchi Via Nirone 7/ 105 Triple

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Motorists
Joseph Vigue is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 07:26 PM
  #90  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 57

Bikes: Felt F60

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Coach, why didn't you try going DOWN the hill? I'm sure you would've gotten past that 0mph barrier...
AMAlex is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 07:34 PM
  #91  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: On yer left
Posts: 1,646
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
The worst animal to cyclist encounter is with a snipe. These are vicious creatures, that inhabit the deep woods and only are seen by drunk hunters.
kenji666 is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 08:04 PM
  #92  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 66
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by AMAlex
Coach, why didn't you try going DOWN the hill? I'm sure you would've gotten past that 0mph barrier...
It really wasn't me, I wasn't lying when I said it was my brother-in-law.

I thought it was funny too. I laugh every time I think of him screaming about being attacked, and the whole time they are licking his helmet and ankles.
CoachDirty is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 08:41 PM
  #93  
Senior Member
 
JTGraphics's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: So Cal
Posts: 2,678
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
The ones behind steering wheels that don't give us space!
__________________
It may not be fancy but it gets me were I need to go.
https://www.jtgraphics.net/cyclist_bicycles.htm
JTGraphics is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 08:46 PM
  #94  
Senior Member
 
ricohman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 2,465
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Grizzlies.
I passed who knows how many grizzlies coming south from Prudhoe Bay on my R1150GSA.
And there were Brit cyclists on the Dalton that day. Its spooky enough going by on a moto but on a bicycle?
ricohman is offline  
Old 07-09-11, 08:47 PM
  #95  
Live to ride ride to live
 
Carbon Unit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 4,896

Bikes: Calfee Tetra Pro

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
The only animals that would be an issue where I live are dogs. It is possible to encounter a rattlesnake or a cougar. If I lived in Canada, I would be concerned with polar bears and big foot. If it is more than one big foot, is it called big foots or big feet?
Carbon Unit is offline  
Old 07-10-11, 12:33 AM
  #96  
Senior Member
 
JonnyHK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: London
Posts: 2,421

Bikes: Baum Romano, Brompton S2, Homemade Bamboo!

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 474 Post(s)
Liked 204 Times in 129 Posts
Originally Posted by Machka
Here in Australia ... kanagroos and magpies.
No Drop Bears in your area?

I'm actually waiting for someone to report a problem with a Sugar Glider! Imagine riding down the road and suddenly having a 20cm square sheet of fluff blanketing your face and hanging on to your helmet straps - all courtesy of a gliding possum!
JonnyHK is offline  
Old 07-10-11, 02:05 AM
  #97  
Portland, OR, USA
 
pdxtex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: portland
Posts: 1,626

Bikes: kona paddywagon, trek 2.1, lemond nevada city, gt zrx

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
bees!!!! i have an uncanny ability to get hit in the head by them. no sleek looking oakleys for me. ive got full on bono style bug eyed shades to keep those suckers at bay. i even had an fffn bumble bee attach itself to my lower lip last summer while riding over a bridge. a ride for me without getting hit by a stupid bee is quite rare.
pdxtex is offline  
Old 07-10-11, 02:31 AM
  #98  
Sua Ku
 
rollin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hot as hell, Singapore
Posts: 5,705

Bikes: Trek 5200, BMC SLC01, BMC SSX, Specialized FSR, Holdsworth Criterium

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I got swooped by birds when riding in Western Australia, it was very unpleasant.

Anti-bird precautions:



The test:

#at=60
helmets? not always I guess...

from Bike Hacks

In Singapore I come across snakes and monitor lizards sunning themselves.


Last edited by rollin; 07-10-11 at 03:36 AM.
rollin is offline  
Old 07-10-11, 03:27 AM
  #99  
Senior Member
 
javal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Örebro, Sweden
Posts: 1,318

Bikes: Monark sportser 1970, Monark sportser 1970ish, Monark folder, Mustand 1985, Monark Tempo 1999, Monark 318 1975, Crescent 319 1979, Crescent 325 c:a 1965, Crescent Starren 2002 (hybrid/sport), Nordstjernan 1960`s cruiser.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I´ve rolled over a badgers tail. I´ve been centimeters from hitting another badger. They are big and hard and get aggressive when hurt so I really dont want to mess with them. A collision would have me flying! On my last ride a bl**dy dog almost had me going off the road - that has never happened to me before. It came from nowhere out in the countryside.
javal is offline  
Old 07-10-11, 04:34 AM
  #100  
In Real Life
 
Machka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152

Bikes: Lots

Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times in 329 Posts
Originally Posted by androidtt
I'd say suicidal dive-bombing birds for me. I haven't actually hit one yet on the bike. I did in my car though. Scared the bejesus out of me.
Just wait till they hit you ... usually on the back or side of the head.


That's why I put magpies in my list. For about 2 months of the year, out of nowhere these relatively large birds will swoop cyclists, often nailing them on the head. There's a reason we wear helmets!! But sometimes they hit so hard they can dislodge the helmet or draw blood with their beaks or claws.


And yes, cyclists here use various techniques to ward them off. One of the most popular is cable ties (zip ties) attached to the top of the helmet. A lot of cyclists do that, although most I've seen only attach a few ... not as many as in the photo.

Last edited by Machka; 07-10-11 at 04:47 AM.
Machka is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.