Today I was on my usual bike route when I decided to go off on a side road. I have gone off on this road a few times, it has a decent hill and there's a nice view of some land. I usually go about a mile down and back.

This is a country road, with maybe 2-3 houses at the end before I usually turn around because it turns into gravel. As the first house approached, I noticed a pack of 4-5 dogs that were on the side of the house. When the dogs were aware of my presence they started running towards the road. I had a tree blocking my view of the front of this house but I was hoping that there was a fence of some kind. Turns out that there wasn't, and the front dog was maybe 2-3 inches away from my bike as I swerved over to my right to avoid hit by it. I went down the road a ways and tried to turn around, sneakily passing the dogs but this time they were more quick on the defensive and were right there waiting for me so I had to panic brake and turn around. This caused me to go down a rough gravel road for 2 miles before I found the local highway.

Were these dogs gonna attack me? Who knows, but I wasn't willing to find out. They were acting very aggressively and I didn't want to take any chances. Have you guys ever had incidents with dogs while out on a ride?

Were they going to attack you? You never really know until it happens. A pack of dogs like this can really ruin a ride. You should let the local animal control office/group know of the problem, even the owner of the dogs if you have an idea as to who it would be. Pepper spray is my solution to a pack of dogs, realizing there are issues of wind. But the idea of being chewed on by several dogs is not appealing to me. Others will suggest of dismounting, keeping your bike between you and the dogs, but a pack of dogs are a problem.

If anyone knows it should be this guy ->

95% of the time, the dogs just want to run; they see a moving object and they chase after it. The other dogs are intent on chomping you on the leg.

This makes for good sprinting practice.

I get tired of people on group rides screaming like banshees because some golden retriever has woken up and trotted out to say hello.

No fun being chased by those pitbull/greyhound mutts that seem so prevalent where I live.

I usually will head straight at an aggressive dog to throw him off-stride; it's usually enough to get a gap on him and I'm off. A squirt from the water bottle will also throw them off-stride.

As bbattle suggested.
HTFU and sprint harder ... especially the "tough" dogs aren't fast dogs so you should have no problem dropping them

If those dogs had been attacking, they would have gotten you. Many dogs will run, make a load of racket, and put you on notice. Keeping a cool head will drastically reduce your chances of actually getting attacked, getting scared and freaking out will drastically increase those chances.

The one I worry about is the silent stealth dog, you know the type, cycling down the road in your zone, kind of aware of a slight noise and the monster is all energy, no noise, intent on getting incisors into your thigh. Those I sprint for. The other noisy fellas are just doing what dogs do, barking and running. For that type I just continue at the pace I am going and talk to them like I would my own dog.

This week on our monday group we had about 15 of us packed together. We were going down an old country road when all of a sudden this little lap looking dog ran out to meet us. He was harmless but sadly he didn't look both ways before crossing the road and as he ran out into the road a mini van going about 60 flew around our group and got the little guy. It was heartbreaking. I didn't know if I was more pissed at the dogs owner who let him run free or the idiot mini van driver that couldnt slow down for two minutes to pass at a decent speed.

Hard to say. I'm usually confident in being able to see the dogs intent just from growing up with dogs but you never know. The chance of getting hit by a car is 10x more likely than running into a pack of feral dogs or even a lone dog willing to chase you down and bite. If you feel threatened that the dog might actually be charging to attack, stop and scream yell growl back. That's enough form most dogs.

I worry more about people on bike trails walking dogs without leashes or with 30 foot cables and almost hitting them in some of the windy treed areas.

That said I've had two experiences. One, I nearly ran over a small dog not on a leash at which time I screamed so loud at the dog owner I think they peed their pants - it's their fault not the dog. The second time a med size dog tried to bit my leg after following for a few yards at which time I promty jumped off the bike and broke the dogs leg with a heavy kick with a hard shoe. Happened recently and I have no remorse. Dog limped off and the owner, who I think was the owner, back at a distant house didn't have much to say.

Dog bites me and it's getting beat - period. Trying to pet strange dogs and getting bit is totally different, but if a dog stalks, chases, or comes up to me - different story. I love dogs, but there is no excuse for raising attack dogs, and or beating you're pets into being aggressive a-holes. Those dogs and dog owners have it coming if they are not acting like they are holding a weapon and keeping it secured at all times.

got chased while going through a bad part of town (MUP cuts through it). I had just climed a really steep hill very slowly because its almost too small for a bike and snakes sharply...the dog started giving chase and i hammered down....giving 100% effort and then some, i realized i wasn't moving more than 16mph-17mph at most....looked down and saw i was in my small ring...

I know from experience most dogs just like the chase...they don't intend on biting...but i wouldn't take the chance.

Eddie from American Flyers?

The only thing I love more than my bike is my dog.

And my future espresso machine.

What kind?

I've (figuratively) laughed at every dog that has came to me. My family has owned pit bulls and now have 6 small yappers, so they don't really pose a scare for me. I call them HTFU monitors..

A yellow lab of course!

I'm more worried about the dogs that 1) come from behind something before you know it or 2) see you coming from farther away and are coming towards the road. Number 2 meaning I don't want to run into a chasing dog and wreck. Earlier this spring I had one bite into my neoprene booties.

Personally I would hate to see my dog hurt someone so it is never off the leash when outside or uncontrolled. It's the owners responsibility to control their dogs, and if ever one does bite me or cause me to wreck the law will be contacted at that moment. What if its a younger kid riding by....bad stuff can happen.

What kind?

I've lived in a rural area for an extended period before and had a lot of experience with dogs. They are territorial. They chase because you are in their territory and they don't recognize what you are. Just keep going, talk to the dog and keep going, once you're beyond their territory they'll stop. Usually they'll stop at the edge of the yard.
I've only known of one in forty years that acted different and he was being trained to hunt. His owner ended up with a very hefty fine when I complained that he was not under control.

Marc