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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!uw-june!wagner
From: wagner@uw-june (Dave Wagner)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: Country Road Commuting
Message-ID: <113@uw-june>
Date: Fri, 1-Mar-85 22:12:42 EST
Article-I.D.: uw-june.113
Posted: Fri Mar  1 22:12:42 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 3-Mar-85 03:29:21 EST
References: <209@ihlpg.UUCP>
Organization: U of Washington Computer Science
Lines: 45

> The best defense against Fido is a good set of legs.  
> 
> Remember that your legs are moving pretty good and Fido will
> have a hard time sinking his toothies into them at a full gallop.
> However, I've never had to go this far, since I've been able to
> outrun all the mutts that've taken off after me (so far).
> 
> 				Bob Fishell
> 				ihnp4!ihlpg!fish
> 

I don't know about you, but when I'm in the middle of a climb in the
mountains, my legs are definitely not "moving pretty good" - at least,
not good enough to outrun Fido!  I don't know where you live, Bob,
but either it's pretty flat or you have a pretty amazing set of legs. :-)

(Don't even THINK of suggesting that one turn around and go back downhill
in a situation like this!)

Seriously, though, I've always relied on a good set of lungs to
temporarily startle the dog - ususally, if you yell STAY! he will
be confused for a short, but sufficient, amount of time for you to
make a getaway.  

If he keeps coming at you and you don't already have
pump in hand, you will probably fall off your bike trying to yank out
your pump, and Fido will laugh so hard he'll probably be unable to breath
for several minutes.  Then he will chew you to bits.

No, if the scream doesn't work and I can't outrun him, I prefer to dismount,
on the OPPOSITE side of the bike.  Always keep the bike between you and him.
Then back away, again, with the bike in between you.  You'll find that he
is much less eager to confront you once he sees that you've dismounted
and are facing him.  (I've only had to do this once or twice in my life.)

Chemical sprays (a la HALT!) are worthless, as the wind usually blows
them back into your face...


			Dave Wagner
			University of Washington Comp Sci Department
			wagner@{uw-june.arpa|washington.arpa}
			{ihnp4|decvax}!uw-beaver!uw-june!wagner

"Oh no!  I've got . . . . .   HAPPY FEET!"