What is it with dogs and bikes? - Update 2

If you read about my little incident with one of our four-legged, supposed best friends (here) then you'll appreciate this artists impression of the incident.

With special thanks to Ciara, aged 8.

What is it with dogs and bikes? - Update

Back in March I wrote a post which asked the question "What is it with dogs and bikes?". You can read it by clicking here. I finished the post by asking for any good bike v dog stories. I got no replies at the time but no matter because now I can add one of my own. Although sitting here right now I'm not sure that good is the right word.

Yesterday morning I went for a spin with my mate, Stephen. We did about 100km around the Garristown/Naul area in lovely, autumn sunshine. We were in no rush and even had time for a most welcome coffee at the Seamus Ennis café in Naul village.

After riding in as far as the North Circular Road with Stephen, I headed home along the coast at Clontarf. I rode the bike lane to Dollymount and then switched to the road for the short stretch by St Anne's Park, where there's no bike lane. This bit is dead flat, dead straight and about a mile from home so I was moving at a handy pace (for me) of about 18-20 mph.

Next thing I knew I was airborne. As is the way with these things I can piece together some of the scene in hindsight. I can remember a car horn blowing, a dog yelping and looking down at a golden coloured Labrador wrapped around my front wheel.

Then I felt the pain of a very hard landing on the concrete road. My left hip felt like it had exploded. I was also slightly aware that my helmet didn't feel right either but don't remember feeling my head hit the road. As there had been no warning it took a little time for me to realise what had happened. But the pain in my hip left me in little doubt. I'd run straight into the dog, who had run from the park on my left and simply dashed across the road. He ended up getting a major blow to the midriff and I found myself somersaulting my handlebars.

As the initial impact pain subsided I became aware of voices asking if I was alright. A Range Rover had stopped on the opposite side of the road and I saw a woman from it move my bike off the road, A man in a reflective vest was standing over me but I don't know what he was saying. Another man, with a small backpack, was asking me if I could get up.

His words reminded me that I was lying in the road but when I tried to move it was obvious my left hip area was bad. I couldn't raise my left leg at all. The man must have realised that too and I heard him tell someone else to call an ambulance. He very kindly put his backpack under my head and I settled down to wait. As I was so close to home I asked the man to call my wife so she could get down to me, collect my bike and find out what hospital I was heading for.

It was only at this point that I took off my helmet only to discover that the back section of it had been shorn off completely. Like I said, I don't remember hitting my head but the state of the helmet said it all!

To cut a long story short, there followed a very uncomfortable journey on a spinal board and neck-brace to hospital, some painful rolling onto a trolley to have my back and neck checked followed by x-rays and other exams. The outcome was a diagnosis of a fractured pelvis and up to six weeks on crutches and painkillers.

The worst part is I was going really well on the bike and looking forward to enjoying some more end of summer spins!

So what lessons should be learned from this:

1) the park bye-laws state that "Dogs are allowed off lead up to 11.00am each day & for the last hour before official Park Closing Time. At all other times, dogs must be kept on a leash." That needs to be enforced.
2) helmets have a purpose,
3) there are still people about who will step up to help when needed
4) ambulance men need to be trained how to open cycling shoes when the wearer is totally unable to move and help

Finally, on the off chance they might read this, I would like to thank all of those who came to my aid, especially my wife, kids and in-laws, Dublin Fire Brigade, the doc and nurses in Beaumont Hospital, the various drivers who stopped and, especially, the man with the backpack who took control of the situation and made sure I was comfortable, and safe, while waiting for the emergency services to arrive.

What is it with dogs and bikes?

Twice within the space of a mile on Sunday I had to deal with that scourge of the cyclist, the chasing dog.

The first incident was with two dogs running along parallel to me but in a garden behind a fence. I could see that the fence had chicken wire tacked all along it, presumably to keep the dogs off the road, so wasn't bothered by them. Unfortunately whoever put up the wire didn't do such a good job and one of the dogs was able to get out at the end of the fence to run alongside me on the grass verge. He wasn't trying to get at me but was very agitated so I was worried he'd veer out and push me into the path of a car or worse.

As is my usual tactic I got my bottle out of the cage and gave him a quick squirt. That's generally enough to make them stop in their tracks, at least long enough for me to get out of range.

Not a mile after that, I'd settled in to my rhythm again when I spotted another mutt in a field to my left. He'd obviously seen me and was beside himself with excitement, rushing along the hedgerow looking for a way out. This guy was almost comically excited and obviously didn't mean any harm, but he found his gap and ran straight out in front of me ... on a corner. At least I'd spotted him so had my bottle ready. Another quick squirt and he was running for the field again.

But what is it with these dogs? They live on reasonably busy, country roads near a major city. They must see bikes going by all the time. They certainly see cars and trucks all the time but don't chase them. So why bikes?

Several websites I've looked up suggest it's down to the dogs predatory instinct. They just love to chase! Most, but not all, know that chasing cars is pointless but a bike is slower and the rider more visible so it's fair game. Having said that most of the dog owner sites also suggest you shouldn't try to outrun them but should stop and take the fun out of it for them, keeping your bike as a "fence" between you and the dog just in case. I think I'll stick with the bottle!

And what about their owners? Do they not see/hear the barking? Do they not realise the danger the dogs pose to cyclists and themselves by this behaviour? Mind you, I'm not going to stop and knock on the door to tell them with a manic dog running about!

Feel free to leave a comment if you've got any good dog v bike stories.

More Dog Stories

While I'm on the subject of dogs and bikes I have two more incidents to tell about.

One was yesterday while I was passing through a semi pedestrianised road in the Phoenix Park, heading out on a 45 mile spin around North Kildare/South Meath. A man came from the left hand side ahead with a small Terrier type dog on a lead, crossing well in front of me. However, I could see another similar dog moving slowly behind him, and not paying much attention to me. He seemed to be an old dog from a distance, struggling along gamely. It looked like we were heading for an unplanned meeting if I didn't move out of his way. As I got closer the reason for his struggle became clear. The dog was in a wheelchair! No kidding, instead of a back leg he had a wheel contraption strapped on his rear end. I'm not sure if he had a leg or two missing, or if he had all his legs, but there was no doubt he was only using the front ones and pulling the rear ones on wheels. Fair play to the owners/vet. How many dogs would have been put down in similar circumstances?

Coming back home later via Kilshane Cross, I avoided a shortcut because of a canine/bike encounter there a few months ago. I came around a corner, on whats essentially a narrow lane, to be greeted by a very large Alsatian relaxing right in the middle of the road. He was a guard dog that had obviously gotten out of a yard on the right hand side over night. Needless to say he wasn't very pleased to see me, nor me him for that matter. Given the narrowness of the lane I had no chance of turning around without him getting to me. I got the impression his bark might not be worse than his bite. There was only one thing for it. Break out the only weapons with any range aboard a bike, the full bottles. I let him have it right between the eyes from as near as I dare. The element of surprise worked. He stumbled back with a very confused look opening a way through on the road in front of him. As I made a sprint for it, in his haste he helped me out even more by falling backwards over a traffic cone he didn't spot behind him. Hilarious! Only after my Olympic standard sprint did I spot the truck pulled over to let me past, with the driver p***ing himself! I thought my heart was coming through my chest with the adreniline rush. Needless to say I'll be taking the long way around from now on.