CrescentMoon

Anyone carrying OC (pepper spray) while riding? Lost my riding bud to a two dog attack. He didn't dismount and ran over one and ended up breaking his femur. I'm fending off at least one off the leash and out of the yard canine all too often. I get off the bike, put it between me and it but it's taking too long to get away. Particular brand of OC and where you get it is much appreciated.

rkelley23

It's funny to me I have never ever had a problem with dogs.... My problem is with dumb deer who run out in front of me

10 Wheels

I keep a small air horn on my drops.
Never stopped for a dog yet.

LowCel 

Check out a product called "Halt", it is a doggy pepper spray.

CrescentMoon

we have elk here roaming the redwoods and the roads.

10 Wheels

ChucklesKY

Ummm. Looks really heavy to me!

10 Wheels

Not as heavy as a cast on your leg or arm.

CrescentMoon

Halt looks good and so does those airhorns LOOKS like they might get in the way?

LowCel 

If you use an airhorn make sure the people you ride with have a heads up. That would scare the crap out of me!

Reynolds 

I carried pepper spray for a time long ago, stopped when realized I never actually needed it.

10 Wheels

Most of them are hard of hearing....Part of being old.

10 Wheels

GP

I've found that I can sprint like Cavendish when a dog chases me.

Erik D

I carry a small jogger spray wrapped around my seatpost. I have never had to use it, and I imagine I'm more likely to end up spraying myself rather than the target, but it gives me a bit of peace of mind. So far I have been able to outrun the dogs that have been interested in me.

I_Like_Bike

Yes, the one time it has happened to me I was able to out sprint it.

superflylondon

I've had a couple of encounters with dogs on my rides. I really don't like dogs (was bitten as a kid by a neighbours dog) so I have a natural apprehension to dogs which gives off the vibe to the local canine community to come after my arse.

Have had to get off my bike a couple of times now for dogs that have charged out of driveways and fields. One actually bit the down tube of my bike before I was able to get the sob to bugger off. Picked up a can of pepper spray the next day. I always blame the owner but I like to ride on country roads. We grew up with our dogs off leash so I can't really blame them for the dogs running free. I have to admit that I've changed my ride or had anxiety about riding certain roads that I love because of one dog that I have to go by.

I love the people who say just sprint away, just not an option if the dog is sitting in the middle of the road waiting for you. I hope to never have to use the pepper spray but I'm glad to have it in my pocket.

The funny thing is on my long loop, I ride by a massive, and I do mean massive German Shepherd and huge Boxer at different houses and they don't even turn there heads when I go by the local mutt he wants a piece of my Lycra butt. The thing I hate the most is riding by a house 100+ times out on a lonely country road and never once seeing a dog and the all of a sudden one goes out of nowhere.

humboldt'sroads

I tend to use my water bottle as a deterrent - I find I can grab this more quickly than any other device since its second nature anyway. I used to have a large frame pump that could double as a baton if need be. The one time I had to brandish the baton the pooch backed down at the sight of it. I've not had too many encounters with dogs though - more deer and bears when I lived in way-nor Cal. I was almost taken out by a turkey vulture a few months back!

back4more

I don't have to be able to out sprint the dogs just the people I am riding with.

thcri

I have a can of Halt and used it once. I had a larger dog come out of the ditch and I got ready to spray it but first told it to go lay down. It layed down but them got back up with it's teeth showing and it got sprayed. I took no chances with that dog.

WonderLake

Slow down.
Yell at dog to go home.
Works everytime.

Reynolds 

On my commute one day appeared two medium sized dogs that barked and chased me. One of them showed teeth scarily close to my ankle. I slowed down and yelled like mad at them, and they abandoned the chase. This happened 4 or 5 times. I decided to take a non -violent approach at it. Next time, I stopped and said softly: 'Come on, you bad dogs! Come here with me!' and snapped my fingers. They looked confused and suspicious at first, but after some time we became friends, they don't chase me anymore.

MegaTom

I think the guy that posted above you would argue that yelling doesn't always work out so well.....

bikerjp

I keep a kitten in my saddle bag. If a dog attacks I just toss the kitten and keep going.

CrescentMoon

pictures or it never happened.