misterp830

I recently crashed due to the rider in front of me suddenly swerving to avoid an angry goose. I was riding 1/2 bike length behind and to the left. Where or how should riders in close proximity position themselves?

misterp830

I recently crashed when another rider suddenly swerved to avoid an angry goose. I was 1/2 bike length behind and to the left. How or where do riders position themselves while riding in close proximity?

Stratocaster

Eh, accidents happen. I mean, you should be aware of your surroundings - perhaps you could have seen the goose also? But in a group ride there are riders all around, and possible traffic and turns to negotiate.
It's just one of those freak things.
Heck, even the pros crash when in a group...and that happens WITHOUT a goose getting into the mix.

BlazingPedals

Geese don't just suddenly appear in front of a paceline. It sounds like one or more people weren't paying attention or communicating.

mcours2006

Riding in very close proximity with other rides, some whom may be very experienced while others are not, means that there is a higher potential for mishap. It only takes a momentary lapse of attention at the right time to cause a crash.

One way to avoid this is to ride solo.

johnny99

Look at rule #1 in both of these crash prevention articles:
https://cyclingtips.com/2011/03/crash-prevention/
https://www.bicycling.com/training/h...ries/make-save

daviddavieboy

When in a group ride if I don't KNOW the person in front of me I don't suck their wheel. Group riding can be fun but you need to be able to trust the person in front of you.

shelbyfv

How did you know the goose was angry? An animal control officer once told me she didn't think the dog that bit me had "malicious intent."

Troul 

Huge flying rats aka Geese may be a burden, the lack of awareness & having any touch of the fred syndrome will exponentially make matters worse.
there's no set law for bicycle traveling distance between each ride. However theirs rider's etiquette, respect to personal space, & not being a dbag when traveling about.

bruce19

+1

bruce19

I do the same. But, gaps bother some very experienced riders and I've had occasion for one of them to pass me to fill the gap. As it turns out this works well because then I'm behind a good wheel.

bruce19

That's the point where you smack her upside the head and tell her you didn't have malicious intent.

Riveting

Don't half wheel.

1500SLR

If I don't know the people I ride at the back so I can't be half wheeled.

OldTryGuy

Don't tell these guys not to overlap

biketampa

yeah. some definitely like that very packed in group. Definitely not my preference but I also prefer smaller group rides anyway (less than 10 riders).

biketampa

no? you've never had an animal just in front of a group ride from a ditch or from behind a tree so there was no time to give a warning to others?

BlazingPedals

In my experience, geese aren't like dogs. They don't hide behind a bush, waiting to attack the next cyclist they see. They prefer open ground, and they don't exactly walk fast. And they're too big to suddenly appear from behind a clump of tall grass. So while other critters might suddenly appear, I wouldn't expect geese to.

indyfabz

"Why do birds suddenly appear
"Every time you are near?"


A few years ago a woman I know had a goose fly into her head during a ride. She crashed and suffered a concussion. The force of the impact caused the goose's abdomen to rupture. It fell to the ground and literally spilled its guts on the roadway. Glad I wasn't there to see that.


Their chicks are hatching my neck of the woods. That's when they are the most defensive/aggressive. But I agree; they generally don't come sprinting out of nowhere.

JanMM

Canada Geese have some protections as migratory waterfowl. Probably illegal to ride into their nest if there are eggs or gooslings.
The ones around here seem to like it in Central Indiana and don't migrate.

Never had a close call with geese on rides, knock on wood.

GuessWhoCycling

I went on a couple of CLUB rides after being invited. My opinion is that the members were far more dangerous than any bird could ever be.

I do small group rides with 4 or 5 riders I know and trust but to ride with a group of 20 riders I don't know? No thanks!