[sagecycles]

It has been raining a lot here in Texas. Because of the wet trails, I have had to do a lot of road riding. I get bored while riding the road. On my road ride today I noticed small bugs that are usually scampering across the road. I usually swerve slightly to avoid the bug if it is directly in my path. I guess I dont want the bug juice on my water bottle. However, on some days when I am feeling extra mischievous, I actually aim at the bugs to see if I can run over them. Most of the time I can, because I am a mountain biker and have better balance than most roadies; but it is hard to do with those skinny little tires.

So today, I was riding along and wondering how many folks try to avoid the bugs and how many actually aim for them?

 

[Dangeruss]

Man, you're gonna have CETI (cyclists for the ethical treatment of invertebrates) all over your butt now.

 

[dusthuffer]

I avoid them. life is life even for a bug, I try to respect it. bees are bugs, without bees we'd have no crops. blah blah.

 

[29Colossus]

I let them live, and put their soul into my little soul sack.

 

[grawbass]

I avoid running over all bugs and only aim for mice, chipmunks and squirrels.






































jk

 

[SLX]

If god had a bicycle would you like him running you over? :aureola:

 

[Popper252]

If god had a bicycle would you like him running you over? :aureola:

After reading threads like this.... sometimes i wish he would....

Honestly this is kind of entertaining....

But anyways, I usually avoid the little dudes. Nice little karma bump :thumbsup:

 

[croscoe]

Never intentionally. I was crawling along today and stopped to watch this weird looking beetle for a few. Leave them be, I say. Although flies and mosquitoes can shove it.

 

[Buttersxc]

I din't see it but my buddies behind me saw me run over a big black snake. I would never intentionally run over an animal. unless they pose a direct threat to you, leave them be.

 

[Clutchman83]

Depends on the bug. Is it going to bite/suck/sting me without provocation? Is it going to eat the bugs that want to bite/suck/sting me or go about fertilizing all the pretty flowers and local crops? Spiders and Bees = good, Mosquito's and Hornets = evil incarnate and get the tire.

 

[walrasian]

I intentionally run over certain bugs...... earwigs need to watch out around me(they are appropriately named it turns out). Mostly I just seem to be an accidental the slug slayer, every ride I end up with what looks like a giant bogger on my shirt or shorts and it usually turns out to be a slug.

 

[Rover Nick]

Its never even occurred to me to try and run over a bug.

 

[sagecycles]

Its never even occurred to me to try and run over a bug.

yes, I understand, and it only occurred to me out of shear boredom. I have always tried to avoid them, thinking life is life, but after many days of road riding, and seeing them scampering across the road all the time, I started seeing them as moving targets and wondered if I could actually run over them with these little itty bitty tires. most of the time I can. it is difficult to determine, as I approach the bug, if it is a bug that will bite, sting, or otherwise threaten my health, but I do know that they should probably stay on the side of the road that they were on. why do they need to cross the road just as I am approaching? Do you know how many bugs you run over with your car? If you can run this many over on a bicycle, just think of how many you run over with those huge cars tires traveling much faster. You would think that the bugs would learn a lesson and stay put.

 

[eggraid101]

I don't step on bugs, but I've never noticed a bug on the trail to either try to avoid it. You must be really studying the trail/road! Usually I'm concentrating too hard on making it safely down the hill or finding the best line climbing up to worry about bugs.

 

[UmbrousSoul]

Oh man texas is one of the worst places for that. I remember stories that my father told me when he use to be a trucker or when he drove down there that he would always see thousands of taranchula's smushed from cars and scurrying across the road.

Also, from personal experience, during the summer in texas there are millions of June Bugs (little red beetles) all over the road. There isn't much you can do but smash them and not worry about it, there are too many of them.

And yes, squito's and flies can shove it.

Bee's are awesome though. We need as many bee's as we can get, honey is good and crops/flowers/fruit-trees/etc are good. Don't know about the warrior types though, hornets, yellow jackets, usually when you leave them alone they leave you alone. But they just love putting their nests in the worst places.

 

[s62]

I avoid them.

 

[245044]

I swerve for nobody.

 

[gunner1]

In the great cosmos, I suppose we're all somebody's bug.

 

[nachomc]

I don't think about it much. I'll avoid a bug if I can do so safely, but I won't risk wrecking to save the life of a bee.

 

[Mike T.]

I get bored while riding the road...........I actually aim at the bugs to see if I can run over them. Most of the time I can, because I am a mountain biker and have better balance than most roadies

I hope you get your payback and the Colnago truck runs over you.