In the orthopedics's office today, I glance over to see an attractive woman with her left arm in a sling, a bandage over some road-rash-looking-bruises on her shoulder and more of the same on her left side. At the risk of thinking everyone in a orthopedics's office is there because of an unwanted relationship between a bike and as semi, I smiled and continued to read emails. Until I heard another couple ask what happened to her arm..."A dog ran into me while I was riding my bike."
BINGO! No, not the dog BINGO...But BINGO, I was right.
After sharing some discussion and learning we knew some of the same cyclists, I pondered this dilemma. Three dogs ran out to her, the small ones just chased, but a very large pit bull ran in front of her bike and her front wheel actually ran over a part of it. What could she do?
Top five tips for dealing with dogs while cycling:
5. Out ride them! If you can take off and ride like the wind, do so...it could discourage them.
4. Bark at them. Yelling NO will usually do no good whatsoever. Some cyclists say barking helps.
3. If you have to get off of your bike, put your bike between you and the dog. They are territorial and you are on their turf.
2. Make a lot of noise by screaming at the dog...some say this overpowers them and makes them retreat.
1. Grasp your water bottle and squirt the dog!
Out of all of these, I like the out ride them or squirt them ideas the best. Among the times I was confronted with dogs, the most common place has been on 51st Avenue when riding around South Mountain. Just after the Shell station where most cyclists stop to, uh, refresh, there are some residences with outdoor dogs that are untethered. After a couple of times, we just expected them and rode as fast as we could...
If you have a better idea...please let me know about it!
2 comments:
Couple of months ago I went out riding with a group down at Maricopa on Sunday morning. After talking to the ride leader thru email I knew we would be riding at the back neighborhood so I packed a couple of real meat beef jerky in my jersey pocket, thinking I would just throw at them for distraction. Bad idea! Yes they were no longer hostile, but I had a pack of dogs following me for food now. Plus the beef jerky smell stay in your hand which attracted more dogs. Unless you like cycling and petting zoo together at the same time, I would not recommend using food as a strategy.
Mace or pepper spray, anyone? Just be careful not to be downwind while you do it.
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