Braking For Animals
09-28-21, 11:07 PM
#51
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On the Burlington Bikeway the other day I saw a guy suddenly swerve and fall, his buddy also hit the brakes and almost did an endo, but merely (?) mashed his testicles on the top bar. Why? They were "avoiding a chipmunk." Guy #1 was down and a little scraped, but cradling his right arm which he said he could not move; also said something about collarbone again.
My policy for small mammals like that, on a bike or in a car, is straight-line braking. I have known two people who smashed cars trying to dodge a squirrel. One ended in a wheelchair. The critters seem to often give you a really good fake one direction, then go the other, probably effective for avoiding a stooping hawk. If you bite on the fake, then try to avoid the opposite direction run, Blammo! an accident.
My policy for small mammals like that, on a bike or in a car, is straight-line braking. I have known two people who smashed cars trying to dodge a squirrel. One ended in a wheelchair. The critters seem to often give you a really good fake one direction, then go the other, probably effective for avoiding a stooping hawk. If you bite on the fake, then try to avoid the opposite direction run, Blammo! an accident.
09-29-21, 06:50 AM
#52
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I had to break for geese during my recently-completed tour. Saw a mink, but it was already dead, so I didn't stop.
Rode the Harlem Valley Trail in NY. Coincidentally, a guy I know and his wife rode it the day before. They had to brake for this little bugger. He eventually wandered off.
Rode the Harlem Valley Trail in NY. Coincidentally, a guy I know and his wife rode it the day before. They had to brake for this little bugger. He eventually wandered off.
Last edited by indyfabz; 09-29-21 at 06:55 AM.
10-11-21, 02:04 PM
#53
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There’s tons of rabbits and squirrels on the local trails here, I never worry about hitting them though. They always will just run around aimlessly, trying to avoid hitting them will just cause you to crash and make it more likely to hit them too.
10-11-21, 02:21 PM
#54
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Where we live has a fair amount of deer. I have had them run in front of me on occasion, but have been prescient enough to brake/slow each time. Only once was I concerned (cornering at 20+ mph) and I AirZounded two short blasts while slowing. Fortunately they ran deeper into the woods rather than the street. They are beautiful creatures.
10-11-21, 05:58 PM
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I dread small mamal encounters.
Their evolutionary survival strategy against owls and hawks is to run one way, then jink another to spoil the attack swoop. Works great for that, terribly when the looming shadow is a cyclist, the sad joke used to be that the only way to miss was to aim for them.
Came upon a chipmunk still twitching from the rider before early this year, dismounted with a heavy heart as soon as I saw a big stick. Fortunately it was no longer twitching when I walked back, so I only had to sweep it off the path and not perform a regretful necessity.
Their evolutionary survival strategy against owls and hawks is to run one way, then jink another to spoil the attack swoop. Works great for that, terribly when the looming shadow is a cyclist, the sad joke used to be that the only way to miss was to aim for them.
Came upon a chipmunk still twitching from the rider before early this year, dismounted with a heavy heart as soon as I saw a big stick. Fortunately it was no longer twitching when I walked back, so I only had to sweep it off the path and not perform a regretful necessity.
10-13-21, 10:53 AM
#56
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Meanwhile, in NJ:
10-13-21, 11:36 AM
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I am hoping that when my turn comes I have the time to lift my front wheel enough to get over the animal. Doesn't need to clear it but the outcome above is not acceptable. So far I've never had fewer than 28 spokes (on one wheel I rarely ride). After seeing this I think I'll stick to 32. (36 for my commuters ridden at night in western Oregon doesn't seem all that dumb.)
