cantdrv55

I often wonder what I would do if I'm chased by a dog while riding uphill. I suppose I could dust it on a flat and downhill but when I'm on the saddle going slow uphill, that's when it's sure to happen. Can't kick it since I'm clipped in and would probably fall anyway. Hopefully it nevers happens but what can one do to come out of it unscathed?

Avalanche325

I thought the dog was just drafting.

martin_j001

That has happened to me many times, especially when I used to live and ride up in MI. Most of the time if they get close enough and don't respond to yelling "Stop" and "No" and "Stay", they'd get a squirt from the gatorade bottle. If that doesn't do it, I've had to unclip and kick once or twice. Another time, the dog went after the rider in front of me, but then did a u-turn in front of me and I hit him broadside and I went down head first--damn dog. I think many of the dogs ribs were broken, as we were hammering along in the mid to upper 20's at that point. I really hate it when dogs that are unleashed chase cyclists (or anyone for that matter)--their stupid owners should know better.

Barese Rider

I had that happen to me and out of nowhere a fellow in a truck saw what was happening and got between me and the dog and escorted me out of danger..On my way back down the hill I gave the dog the finger as it couldnt catch me..

swimbikerun_boy

take the frame pump and give the lil' begger a love tap
either that or get out of the saddle and do a sprint. good training.

where i ride it is almost all country, people don't have proper fences to contain there dogs
I get chased by a dog around once a month. Never been caught to date

Peace
Tyler

Adgooroo

One of my more memorable "dog-chase-stories" is the time a big chocolate Lab took off after me at full gallop - trouble was, he was attached by his leash to a 9-year old girl in the middle of the street - on ROLLER SKATES. Fortunately, she managed to drop the leash as he was picking up speed. STOOPID parents, I say.

rydwhite

When I first started riding, I was ambushed by a pack of dogs. It was a wooded area and one dog ran out and began to chase me and then a second came out and started chasing when all of a sudden two jumped out in front of me. So, here I was surrounded by dogs and I'm just getting into riding. I made through with a couple squirts from the water bottle and some fast peddaling. About a quarter mile up the road another cyclist was coming towards, I warned him about the dogs, but he went on through. I've never seen him since. I like to think that he made it through the dog ambush alive, but I never quite can convince myself.

Fat Boy Biker

Maybe a slow fat lab. I had one chase me on the flats a few weeks back. Got up to about 20mph then gave up. But remember, something like a grayhound, whippit, borzoi, or irish wolfhound, (basically the sight hounds) can really move. I think a fast grayhound can reach 40+mph.

Steve
-always carry dog treats, the quickest way to a dog's heart is through his stomach

soccerismylife

I have been ambushed by dogs also. It was near the end of a 7 mile climb when they jumped out of a nearby yard and started to chase me. Immediatly I jumped up and sprinted (Keep in mind that this is at the end of a 7 mile climb and this particular section is over 9 percent.) The slower one dropped off in about 20 yards, but the other one was fast, and kept with me for another 100 yards or so.It would jump up at my heel with every pedal stroke. Thankfully, men are stronger than dogs and I was able to outrun him safely with no damage. Luckily all that excitement was an easy way to get through the sufering of that hard last bit of the climb.

gknep

I was riding in Indiana one time (outside Fort Wayne near Hoagland) when a dog started to chase me. Pretty flat and no problem but just as I started to pick up speed the pavement ran out and I had to sprint on gravel. Kept the bike upright and got away from the dog who I swear was laughing at me.

Dewbert

Got bit last week....one blood hound on each side...only thing that saved me was the double layer nylon pants I was wearing....their teeth kept slipping off the nylon...eventually the owner got them back in the house...whew!

martin_j001

Sounds to me like you need to get in touch with the cops on that one. In most states, if I'm not mistaken, an unleashed dog in public is illegal--especially so when they try to bite. If I were you, I'd be riding by that house again--with my expandable baton with me this time!!

SDS

Pepper spray.....I actually hope to get chased by dogs now.

Please remember that you can only use the stuff on the BACK of the pack. Can't have any of your friends ride into it.

Keith99

Let's see, 4 I can rememebr, likely a few more on the flat that were just simple sprints.

One half way up a long climb. I had about 50 meters head start and was able to keep my distance until I was well out of the dogs territory. But I was toast for the rest of the climb.

One at the start of an off road trip. I got off the bike, kept it between me and the pack and got past.

Worst one almost bit because the dog was hiding at the side of the road. Fortunatly for me it was just one lunge that missed.

Last and funniest one on a very difficult and fairly short ride. 26 miles with all of 200 meters being flat. On a relatively flat area there is a very steep hill on one side of the road with 3 big to very big dogs on it. They come charging down towards me. I'm worried. Then I notice they are not barking and the tails are wagging. I'm relieved. Then I think even a friendly jump can hurt me while I'm clipped in. I step out and they do not jump, and are very friendly. Biggest problem was getting them to go back home.

Patriot

Yes, I got chased by an angry dog once.

But, the poor thing didn't survive the bite wound.

stealthbiker

Been chased by dogs many, many times. Most are just trying to scare you off their turf. As soon as you pass the boundary line they quit. I actually am more afraid of being knocked down than being bitten - though a bite would not be pleasant either.

Uphill is tough but usually just sprinting works. Remember the story about the two guys and the bear. You don't have to beat the bear - just the other guy!

On the positive side - when I got chased and almost caught by a three legged dog this spring I knew I had to take my speed up a notch. Been training a lot harder ever since!

cantdrv55

lol!

DaveN2NL

The only place I've had a big problem was in Aruba. I got chased every time I went through a residential area. The jerks even knew to only chase me on the uphill slopes where I had a harder time getting away!

A loud yell - "GO AWAY!" - usually worked. Only once did I have to use the "boot to the head" method (unclip, kick, reclip) when the yelling didn't work.

slisk

Greyhounds and the like are some nice animals. I worry about mean breeds!

I sometimes ride to work on this country road on an Indian reservation near my home. There are wild dogs everywhere but the stretch I take only has one mean old fat rabid looking pit bull mutt. I think he waits for me everyday behind his tree. I just crank it up to about 22 mph and he just can't hang. The sound of his claws on the road let me know how close he gets if I need to wick it up a bit.

When I'm backpacking in Grizzly country, I carry a Counterassault bear pepper spray canister. It could mount on the down tube and be available immediately. I would only use it as a last resort if I felt I was in true danger. Be nice to animals, however, I bet if I hit Cujo with that stuff one time, he'd stay under the tree.

Slisk

garysol1 

I carry a small can of HALT pepper spray. Its always in my jersey pocket just in case.

margaran

I just yell in my biggest dog-owner voice "bad dog, go home". It's been very effective so far- but only on family type dogs. Doubt it would work for a psychodog. Has anyone ever actually sprayed anything with pepper spray? I don't carry it 'cause I'm concerned I'd only disable myself if the wind was right.

Maggie

Moonshot

As I approach I try the nice guy bit by saying "hey there buddy....you're a good dog." As I look into the dog's eyes after that I can nearly always tell whether he's just out for a friendly romp or if he has malice in mind. More than half the time the dog is good natured and does no harm and stays at an appropriate distance. And we may even enjoy a run together.

You guys that start out by yelling in a harsh way at the dog could be just setting off the home security defense mechanism in the dog's brain, you know.

Doggus

Yes....he even bit at my ankles. I finally had enough and reached up, hauled off and kicked him in the top of the head. I was on my MTB so I was able to get my foot out of the straps and give him a good kick. Almost made road rash out of me. Wonder what he would have done had I come off my bike in a pile?

Hanzo

I've been chased by a few dogs and usually they're the type that just likes to bark and run fast with you, not that they'd actually do anything. Those you can usually just yell at and they go away after a bit.

I did have a run in with a mean dog once on my mountain bike. It grabbed my foot trying to bite me. I kicked it away and fell off the bike. After that I just kept the bike between me like a shield and the dog and hit it repeatadly with my seat using the seat post as a handle. It probably looked ******** but it was the only thing I could think of at the moment. I kept running backwards swiping at the dog and eventually it went running off back down the road. That really sucked. I got the feeling that even if I did have pepper spray it wouldn't have done much. A .38 snubnose would be a better solution.

TheKillerPenguin

I've only had a couple of close calls

Back in my pre-road bike days, I was flying down a hill on my mtn. bike when a $*#@& dog runs out into the middle of the road in front of me and nearly causes me to fly over my handlebars avoiding him. The owners didn't even try to run after their dog as it ran out. To be fair though, if I remember correctly they did apologize afterwards though.