Cycling hazards in Canberra

Aurelius you can’t knock the Belgians. Anyone who can make the most heavenly chocolate and 12% beer can’t be that bad.

As for protection against dogs, remember the VW in ‘The cars that ate Paris’? (A Peter Weir gem) Do your shoes up like it and you’ll be fine……………….or fined.

Pepper Spray/Mace is your best defence.

Personally I don’t use it – am able to out sprint them or I un-clip and kick them on the nose/head. Obviously waving your foot around isn’t ideal if you haven’t been riding for 10 years.

Pandy, you are right on with the choccies!!! I just picked the first few lap dogs that came to mind (sorry, no offence intended anyone)

…and I only know the bichon frais because of Shrek 2 LOL

Firstly, It is vertualy never the dog’s fault – humans who own muscle dogs are a breed of their own. If someone owns an animal that is as easily described as a weapon as a pet they’re presenting us all with a (violent) problem.

I was riding a couple of metres behind my (then) eight year old daughter on a bike path when a Rottweiler ran past me to attack her. I jumped off the back of my bike and threw it between her and the dog , baulking it for enough time for me to run betw4een the dog and her. When the owner of the dog got a chain on it it was doimg the grisley bear thing – on hind legs – as tall as me – wanting to “go” us. The owner said “I had him off the lead trying to teach him obedience and he got away”.

BullS**t.

If we had adult-sized animals free to attack adults on the streets there would be a public outcry. Kids have got to learn to grow up in a world that includes adults of all IQs. BUT, if the small penis… woops… “adults” for who it seems muscle dogs are a valuable addition to their lives!!??? may-be they should be confronted by a bear sized animal in the Canberra wilds themselves. It might scare their their tatoos off.

Well, the dog should have been on a lead and supervised by an adult in the first place.

Where were you riding? Dob the bastards in.

Pit bulls are restricted in some states, meaning you cannot breed, buy (or otherwise acquire) or sell them; as well as other restrictions if you happen to own one (eg signs on gate). They is bad doggies.

Why pick on the Belgians? They make lovely chocolates. It is the French we should whip.

…although a dog especially breed as a pig-hunting (or other big game) dog is a little more daunting/threatening than a bichon fraise, fox terrier or poodle, yes?

Okay, now for some sensible advice…running (or riding) away is not a sensible idea since it only encourages the dog to chase. The safest thing you can do if you can’t avoid the dog is to dismount and walk past, with the bike between you and the dog.

Your assessment of the dog as a “Pit-Bull or similar” is irrelevant, as all dogs can bite and all dogs can do you damage.

Just kick the dog that’s attacking you. Kick really hard. Most times you swing and miss. But the times you connect…. the mutt isn’t going to go you again.

Works for me when I’m on my deadly treadly.

Not sure about the pepper… we tried to deter our dogs from eating the heads off the sprinkler system (pre-water restrictions) by placing huge amounts of Wasabi on them (I know wasabi isn’t from the same family, but *is* WAY hot)… that just encouraged the dogs. Apparently dogs don’t taste “hot”. Not sure about in the eyes, though I know my dogs don’t like being sprayed with water (super soaker is a great training/deterrent tool)…

Lucky it wasn’t one of those killer rabbits (Holy Grail type)

I once had a pit bull chase me on the bike…

well, not really a ‘pit bull’. Ok, it was a chihuahua. But it had teeth like a pit bull.

Pit Bull Terriers are big dogs. Methinks you are confused.

methinks you haven’t seen a pitbull standing next to a big boy rottweiler, or a great dane!

i always rekkun the roman/gladiator idea of blade rotating with the axle is a brilliant one – requires a little skilled riding, so mebbe you’ll need some more practice, but the l’il f*ucker won’t come near you again – nor will the dog!

ok, a lochaber axe in that case

Pit Bull Terriers are big dogs. Methinks you are confused.

Mix a bit of chilli and pepper in the water. Also put chilli on the business end of the bohemian ear spoon (though I much prefer the guisarme-volgue).

If you have a water bottle mounted to your frame squirting some water at the dog would certainly deter it.

The dog was probably protecting the children from you! One dog with some kids is part of their pack, it would be very odd for the dog to go crazy and attack them all. The only issue in this case is that the kids evidently did not control the dog.

As a secondary thought, would have thought the tiny children would be under tighter supervision playing with terrier dogs considering the events of Whitton in the past week.

It’s never “my dog” that’s the dangerous one – that only happens to “other people”.

or a bohemian earspoon

Legally speaking, you’re entitled to self-defence, the same as if the dog was a teenager with a skateboard, or a Belgian. You can do whatever is required, using reasonable force, to protect yourself.
So a stick might be appropriate.

Buy a cattle prod. Universally useful item.

Get a book on firearms and look up “velo dog”.

The ol’ ninja trick of a blown egg filled with pepper is good. But i just go for the big stick (up for magpies, down for dogs)

You just ran away? (or pedalled). Wimp.