Dogs!!!

My wife and I live in the country. Beautiful riding roads but encounter problems with dogs(mainly pitt bulls) coming out of nowhere when we pass by the occasional house and chasing us to within an inch of our lives! In the country, these dogs just roam loose! Looking for any advise as to what to do to help with this problem. I was thinking maybe carrying pepper spray.

Start by reading through this thread below and I remember some older ones also on the same subject in this forum.

dogs that chase us

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Dope,when training and talent just aren't enough.

Yep, pick you up some "Halt!" and that should do the trick. It won't cause any long term damage to the animals but it will stop them dead in their tracks.

here's a link:
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...earchTerm=halt

The problem with pepper spray is that it is hard to not get some residue on your hands and most people will rub their eyes at some point.

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Dope,when training and talent just aren't enough.

UDAP makes a small bottle of neutralizer that you could carry as well.
https://store.udap.com/merchant.mvc?...ategory_Code=A

HALT works, but please always call the authorities, both for your sake and the sake of other cyclists. People do get mauled to death by dogs, you know.

Even without the mauling, dogs running after you offer all sorts of crash opportunities. Call the pollice. The dog owners have a responsibility to control their dog.

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Sex is horrid
Pain is Fun
I cut my fingers off
One by one

You could even use a starter pistol or something with blanks. I had a Doberman run up on me one time. I took off real fast to get away and destroyed the gear derailer. On the account of a dog. I could have made the bastards pay for that.

I don't know. You could get shot for shooting something which looks and sounds real.

I was thinking the same thing as I know this has happened.Many years back a college student jumped on the hood of a car and pointed a similar gun at the driver. He was shot and killed by the driver who had a real gun. The driver was not charged.
There are many similar instances.

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Dope,when training and talent just aren't enough.

It wouldn't even have to be a gun. Just something to make a noise. But the fact is if you ride you will have dogs running after you. I used to try to outrun them, but then you can have an accident. Some kind spray repellent for animals I would carry in advance. Because over the years I have crashed a couple times and even once tore up my bike. You have idiot homeowners who think it's cute if their dog runs after people. They should pay for this. They'll raise hell if you spray their dog. But the road is public property.

So lets all agree not to pull a knife or starter pistol on that German Shepard because he may be packin and pump a few rounds into your Assos.

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Dope,when training and talent just aren't enough.

Some guy I know who used to read meters said he was issued an automatic umbrella. The sudden opening is supposed to scare dogs away.

Gladly would like to share my experience.When I saw dogs which are far in front,I would get ready for an extreme pick-up.

1)Shift down when you see him staring at you from far.
2)Try to drag the timing by going to the opposite side of the road(I mean the road is wide and of course IF there is least traffic).
3)When you see him dash,TIME TO SPRINT FOR YOUR LIFE!!
4)They will only chase you for less than 6 sec or so.

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I've found Reynolds Wrap on my spoked wheels to get the same aerodynamic benefit of any disc wheel in my Xero.Plus,I can peel it off and bake a potato after my ride. Can't do that with Zipp's. That's value add.

That "or so" part doen't add much comfort when you start running out of breath after 5 seconds.

I think you should go with the dog whisperers advice... be the bigger dog, establish dominance! To do this, try barking back in a deeper and louder bark than the pit bull chasing you.