I've seen 'em too. Fortunately, they don't give a **** about people. It's like two dudes crossing on the same trail: "wassup -- zapnin", and that's the end of it. Give them respect, and leave them alone. They might be psycho.
When Animals Attack?
Had my first encounter with a Mt. Lion last week. Fairly uneventful. I short stare at each other and it was off. Had me pretty spooked though. I've been out twice since and I'm still a little gun shy. Every time I hear leaves or trees rustling I'm sure that something is out to attack me. Its got me kicking my head around and taking my eyes off the trail. Almost had a couple wipe outs because of the jitters.
Please don't take me for a complete pansy. I've seen deer, moose, mountain goats, mountain sheep, and now a lion. The only animals that were ever a threat was a rattle snake (coiled in the middle of a narrow trail), and some skeeter that had his Rottweiler almost take a bite out of my leg.
Does anyone else have any fear of the wild? I almost always ride solo and its usually in the early morning or evening/night when there's a fair amount of activity. Anyone carry mase, knife, gun, nunchucks etc.
Please don't take me for a complete pansy. I've seen deer, moose, mountain goats, mountain sheep, and now a lion. The only animals that were ever a threat was a rattle snake (coiled in the middle of a narrow trail), and some skeeter that had his Rottweiler almost take a bite out of my leg.
Does anyone else have any fear of the wild? I almost always ride solo and its usually in the early morning or evening/night when there's a fair amount of activity. Anyone carry mase, knife, gun, nunchucks etc.
1 - 20 of 72 Posts
I Hear Ya.
Yeah, I do get spooked when I hear things in the brush. I've seen dear, squirrels and coyote. There is a mountain lion warning sign at the trailhead. I always ride solo lately, wish I had a buddy to ride with. I do carry a hunting knife in my jersey pocket, don't know if it would help if attacked. It feels great seeing non threatening wildlife on a ride,but I hate feeling uneasy on the trail thinking about a lion ready to pounce or a rattler ready to strike. Bottom line, I'm still riding.Dirt-Rode said:Had my first encounter with a Mt. Lion last week. Fairly uneventful. I short stare at each other and it was off. Had me pretty spooked though. I've been out twice since and I'm still a little gun shy. Every time I hear leaves or trees rustling I'm sure that something is out to attack me. Its got me kicking my head around and taking my eyes off the trail. Almost had a couple wipe outs because of the jitters.
Please don't take me for a complete pansy. I've seen deer, moose, mountain goats, mountain sheep, and now a lion. The only animals that were ever a threat was a rattle snake (coiled in the middle of a narrow trail), and some skeeter that had his Rottweiler almost take a bite out of my leg.
Does anyone else have any fear of the wild? I almost always ride solo and its usually in the early morning or evening/night when there's a fair amount of activity. Anyone carry mase, knife, gun, nunchucks etc.
Well consider yourself lucky for seeing one ! I am always aware that when i go riding there are animals out there, but i know that for the most part they dont want anything to do with me.By the way where do you live ?
Me? East San Gabriel Valley. And I've seen more than one!
I'm up to seven! Only one was more than a fleeting glance. A five-minute staredown (albeit from a couple hundred feet) that felt like an hour. Then my wife and I had to ride up the hill past where he disappeared to get back to our car!Crusty Oldman said:Me? East San Gabriel Valley. And I've seen more than one!
Rich Owings
www.MakeYourOwnMaps.com
www.GPStracklog.com
"We were desert mystics, my friends and I, poring over our maps as others do their holy books." - Edward Abbey
I live in Colorado (Fort Collins). Only been in the area a few months but I love it. More trails than I know what to do with.SpecRider96 said:Well consider yourself lucky for seeing one ! I am always aware that when i go riding there are animals out there, but i know that for the most part they dont want anything to do with me.By the way where do you live ?
Seven! Well I've searched a lot of the posts and it doesnt sound like too many mountain bikers are dieing of animal attacks. I made the mistake of telling me wife about the cat and now she wants me to get a different hobby. Sure - maybe I'll ditch the bike and take up knitting?
I'll never stop riding. My plan for next time is to take some Reeses Pieces out on the trail and pull an old ET trick.
I'll never stop riding. My plan for next time is to take some Reeses Pieces out on the trail and pull an old ET trick.
Get a nice taser, or just carry a big taser around.
I think I would get spooked by something like that, although i dont have to worry about it much up here in Wisconsin, just bears for us. Those big lovable furballs!
I think I would get spooked by something like that, although i dont have to worry about it much up here in Wisconsin, just bears for us. Those big lovable furballs!
Just did my 12 mile loop on my third night ride (a little town, some dirt road climbing for about 2000 feet, fenced off dirt road that is cow trails now across and down, and then town again). Worst animals are the ones in SUV's but I can freeze 'em when I light up their cab with a HID headlamp! <snicker>
Tonight I saw about 18 deer, one skunk (ambling up the road, I passed it on the "spray side" as s/he wheeled 'round, YIKES!), and had a pair of owls track me for about a mile on the last of the climbing to the top (nothing like looking up to see silent wings about 20 feet overhead as they twist in figure eights above me). I use handlebar and helmet lights.
Had a confused cow face me down when I went over on gate into a herd bedded down for the night. A slow left to right to left to right ("Move D*mn You") movement of the headlamp finally worked (fence on one side and 15' drop to a creek on the other, gotta share the road/bed).
Last gate crossing scared the bejeezus out of me when about 12 Sycamore leaved dropped from the breeze in the trees overhead, just as I'm full vulnerable straddled on top of the gate. I just **knew** something was leaping out of the trees at me!!!!
Picked up a Pollo Colorado burrito and an Arrogant Bastard Ale halfway through town. Now some great blues mp3 music is wailing from the 'puter speakers as I browse MTBR. All is _right_ with the world. The animals pumped my adreneline and let me come home one more time. See you critters tomorrow evening!
Tonight I saw about 18 deer, one skunk (ambling up the road, I passed it on the "spray side" as s/he wheeled 'round, YIKES!), and had a pair of owls track me for about a mile on the last of the climbing to the top (nothing like looking up to see silent wings about 20 feet overhead as they twist in figure eights above me). I use handlebar and helmet lights.
Had a confused cow face me down when I went over on gate into a herd bedded down for the night. A slow left to right to left to right ("Move D*mn You") movement of the headlamp finally worked (fence on one side and 15' drop to a creek on the other, gotta share the road/bed).
Last gate crossing scared the bejeezus out of me when about 12 Sycamore leaved dropped from the breeze in the trees overhead, just as I'm full vulnerable straddled on top of the gate. I just **knew** something was leaping out of the trees at me!!!!
Picked up a Pollo Colorado burrito and an Arrogant Bastard Ale halfway through town. Now some great blues mp3 music is wailing from the 'puter speakers as I browse MTBR. All is _right_ with the world. The animals pumped my adreneline and let me come home one more time. See you critters tomorrow evening!
Never seen a big cat in AR, though we are suppose to havre them. I've been chased by a skunk while running, I really didn't know I could run that fast. Hissed at by a pissed off turtle who didn't want to share the trail while mtn biking. But the coolest was seeing bears. Both times I was 4-wheeling slowly down national forest roads. First sighting was a mother bears and two cubs about 100 meters away and me without my camera handy. Second time was a bear crossing the road in front of me, again no camera ready. Once counted 22 does and 3 bucks crossing the trail I was riding on.
Nothing but feral goats, emus and kangaroos on my tracks. I've never felt threatened by them. When I see my first King Brown snake, things will be different - that's when I'll learn to bunny hop in a hurry ...
Here in Phoenix all I ever see or hear are coyotes. When one starts to howl, many more follow and it gets a little unnerving, but chances are they are more afraid of me than I am them. Not to mention my 9mm is tucked firmly in my camel back with easy access. It's not the animals I wonder about, it's the wacko's on two legs that want everything for free. But, doesn't hurt to be prepared and I am only adding 21oz to my total ride weight. It's (my gun) is just one more tool I carry, just as my pump, bike multi tool, tubes, patches and so on.
Don't worry, you'll win the lottery before you'll ever be attacked. Enjoy the cash!
But yes, I've always had a natural fear of the larger predators. After the attacks I gained more respect for those fears.
Nils
But yes, I've always had a natural fear of the larger predators. After the attacks I gained more respect for those fears.
Nils
Just tell your wife you're more likely to die of a car crash to the trails than a mt. lion attack on the bike. Sure there were a couple of attacks in Cali a year or so ago, but those are not the norm at all with cats. They usually don't want anything to do with us....Dirt-Rode said:I made the mistake of telling me wife about the cat and now she wants me to get a different hobby. Sure - maybe I'll ditch the bike and take up knitting?
I saw a couple of black bear last summer in B.C. on singletrack (saw a ton in the bike park). One scooted up the trail about 50 feet in front of us out in the middle of the boonies. We had 3 of us and made damn sure to make all kinds of noise from that point on.
Chers,
EB
some experience
I lived in Albuquerque for a few years, and the only lion I saw was from the tram. It did drive home the point that they are out there, not so far away from where I liked to hike.
I've been "followed" by a pack of coyotes for a few hundred yards in Arizona. That was a little unnerving, but it turned out that they were not at all interested in me. I stopped to see what they were up to, and they turned off the trail. Upon closer inspection, they had made their own little singletrack that was accessed from the dirt road I was on.
I found a 4' western diamondback on the main road in my subdivision in Parker, CO. That was when I was just a teenager, and I thought it would be cool to bunny hop over him. Guess what. Don't take those western diamondbacks lightly. They are the most aggressive snakes around. I rode within a couple feet of him, and he did strike a few times. With timber rattlers you'd have to actually ride over them before they would strike.
I lived in Albuquerque for a few years, and the only lion I saw was from the tram. It did drive home the point that they are out there, not so far away from where I liked to hike.
I've been "followed" by a pack of coyotes for a few hundred yards in Arizona. That was a little unnerving, but it turned out that they were not at all interested in me. I stopped to see what they were up to, and they turned off the trail. Upon closer inspection, they had made their own little singletrack that was accessed from the dirt road I was on.
I found a 4' western diamondback on the main road in my subdivision in Parker, CO. That was when I was just a teenager, and I thought it would be cool to bunny hop over him. Guess what. Don't take those western diamondbacks lightly. They are the most aggressive snakes around. I rode within a couple feet of him, and he did strike a few times. With timber rattlers you'd have to actually ride over them before they would strike.
No mtn. lions here in New England (except for a few unconfimed sightings), but I was attacked by a goshawk a few years back. Riding solo through a heavily forested white pine stand I started hearing screeching, and then caught a few glimpses of a large hawklike bird off to my right. Didn't think much about it until all of a sudden it nailed me from behind on the back of my helmet. It hit so hard that the helmet went down over my eyes and I nearly crashed. Needless to say, I don't think I have ever ridden faster to get away from that thing. After the ride, I noticed that the exposed styrofoam on the back of my helmet had deep talon marks in it.
Another reason to ride with a helmet.
Another reason to ride with a helmet.
Turkeys
Yes, turkeys.. there is a certain spot on the trail I ride where a little group of 4-5 hang out around dusk. They have the threat trifecta going: mean + stubborn + stupid. I have tried different ways to scare 'em off the trail but, when they decide they aren't gonna move, they are not gonna move! I ran my bike straight through them once.. didn't realize they could get airborne so fast.. the leader buzzed my head.
Yes, turkeys.. there is a certain spot on the trail I ride where a little group of 4-5 hang out around dusk. They have the threat trifecta going: mean + stubborn + stupid. I have tried different ways to scare 'em off the trail but, when they decide they aren't gonna move, they are not gonna move! I ran my bike straight through them once.. didn't realize they could get airborne so fast.. the leader buzzed my head.
You're okay, mountain lions prey on joggers, not mountain bikers.
Down here in Florida we've got just about everything, panther, gator, rattlesnake and the worst of the bunch pig. Giant, 400 pound crossbreed feral pig and wild hog that tear up acres of forest and ruin trails. Those are the ones you might be afraid of.
As for defensive strategy and weaponry, your bike will do you more good than anything other than a shotgun and unless you are trained in its defensive use any firearm won't be much help. Forget the knife, mace and tasers, use your bike to block or counter attack. Here's a practical application for your mad freeride skills. Depending on what's threatening you either have it on the back wheel with both hands on the grips to make a big sillouette or sideways with a hand on the bars and one on the top tube to block something short and unintimidated. Heck, one of those skinny little tour de france nancy boys* once took out a deranged fan with a flick of the front tire across the head. Don't know how "street" anybody here is, but one of the uses of the BMX "dope bike" is as a nonobvious weapon. BTW, there is no shame in going up a tree to avoid hog or gator.
Anyway, you are at more risk from a deer being spooked by someone else and running into you or crashing to avoid a tortoise or armadillo than you are from any deliberate predation.
Ron
* yeah, I know. But they're still skinny guys with little upper body strength.
Down here in Florida we've got just about everything, panther, gator, rattlesnake and the worst of the bunch pig. Giant, 400 pound crossbreed feral pig and wild hog that tear up acres of forest and ruin trails. Those are the ones you might be afraid of.
As for defensive strategy and weaponry, your bike will do you more good than anything other than a shotgun and unless you are trained in its defensive use any firearm won't be much help. Forget the knife, mace and tasers, use your bike to block or counter attack. Here's a practical application for your mad freeride skills. Depending on what's threatening you either have it on the back wheel with both hands on the grips to make a big sillouette or sideways with a hand on the bars and one on the top tube to block something short and unintimidated. Heck, one of those skinny little tour de france nancy boys* once took out a deranged fan with a flick of the front tire across the head. Don't know how "street" anybody here is, but one of the uses of the BMX "dope bike" is as a nonobvious weapon. BTW, there is no shame in going up a tree to avoid hog or gator.
Anyway, you are at more risk from a deer being spooked by someone else and running into you or crashing to avoid a tortoise or armadillo than you are from any deliberate predation.
Ron
* yeah, I know. But they're still skinny guys with little upper body strength.
The only animals I have ever seen in upstate New York were mostly deer, a buck (actually the other day), foxes, racoons, dogs, owls, and my friend thought he saw a cougar, but he was defently full of ****, becasue there are no cougars in upstate ny.
Dave
Dave
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