Duke Blue Devil bike - what about the dogs?

Quoted message said:

So... I spent the long holiday weekend visiting Raleigh and took

advantage

Quoted message said:

of the beautiful Saturday weather to go for my first ride on the DBD bike course. I have several
questions for those of you who may live in the

area

Quoted message said:

and ride this course on a regular basis.

1. Parking at the Beaverdam recreation area was a pain, in fact the 16-year-old manning the park
entrance booth wanted to charge me a second park entrance fee at the end of my ride when I
tried to return to my car. Also, highway 50 wasn't the most bike friendly route on a holiday
weekend. For those who ride in this area often, where do you usually park? Does anyone park at
the fire station at Purnell and New Light Roads and just do the "loop" portion of the course?
Does the fire department mind? I couldn't see any other reasonable place to park.

John: we had the exact same problem last year all three times that we rode the course. We talked our
way into the parking area and explained we would be coming in and out. It was nice to have the lake
to swim in upon return and the showers there.

You could check with the fire station and possibly park there. I think if you did that and rode both
loops, you might be going only about 85-90 miles total.

Quoted message said:

2. Near the farthest point on the DBD course (along either Grey Rock or Cannady's Mill Road I
think) there was a "home" (read: trailer) with five LARGE dogs in the front yard. ALL FIVE of
these dogs chased me for over a half mile when I cam by with one hanging on for nearly a mile.
I'm used

to

Quoted message said:

getting chased by dogs at home in Ohio - and one I can deal with. But

I've

Quoted message said:

never been chased by five at once and this experience scared the #%$*! out of me. What do those of
you ride this course often do about this menace? Can someone who did the race last year tell me
if/how this was dealt with

on

Quoted message said:

race day? I can't imaging 500 racers going by this house twice each and

no

Quoted message said:

one getting hurt.

Again, we had the same problem last year training. But on race day, the organizers had actually gone
up to these houses (and others) with chasing dogs and advised the owners to curb them on race day.
They also spray-painted "DOGS" on the roads in front of such houses to forewarn us. There weren't
any dogs on raceday, thankfully. Until then, you could either have your friend call Animal Control
or carry your pepper spray!

Quoted message said:

3. Although it was a little breezy on Saturday, I felt very little effect from the wind due (I
think) to the large trees throughout the area. Is

this

Quoted message said:

typical of the course? I'm used to large open farm fields where every bit of wind has an effect.

Wind was less of a factor than the constant rolling hills up and down. Several wide open places
(near the lake and bridge overpasses) were windy. But it can get windy around there in the hot
summer weather.

Good luck, hope to see you there, and hope this helps!

--
Bernie Hall o __o </\_ \ < __/\ /\o__ (0) (0) / \__o ^^^^^^ ^ ^
2.4 - 112 - 26.2 Great Floridian Triathlon 2000~12.40.14 2001~12:30.36 2002~13:18.22 The Duke
Blue Devil 2002~12:26.39

Quoted message said:

Sorry for the long post. Any local advice (even if it doesn't address the above questions) would
be appreciated.

John Dublin, Ohio

Bernie,

Thanks for the great reply. I'll see you there, but judging by your times I'll probably only see you
at the starting line - the rest of the day I'll be WAY behind you.

John

Bernie Hall said:

Quoted message said:

So... I spent the long holiday weekend visiting Raleigh and took

advantage

Quoted message said:

of the beautiful Saturday weather to go for my first ride on the DBD bike course. I have several
questions for those of you who may live in the

area

Quoted message said:

and ride this course on a regular basis.

1. Parking at the Beaverdam recreation area was a pain, in fact the 16-year-old manning the park
entrance booth wanted to charge me a second park entrance fee at the end of my ride when I
tried to return to my car. Also, highway 50 wasn't the most bike friendly route on a holiday
weekend. For those who ride in this area often, where do you usually park? Does anyone park
at the fire station at Purnell and New Light Roads and just do the "loop" portion of the
course? Does the fire department mind? I couldn't see any other reasonable place to park.

John: we had the exact same problem last year all three times that we rode the course. We talked
our way into the parking area and explained we would be coming in and out. It was nice to have the
lake to swim in upon return and the showers there.

You could check with the fire station and possibly park there. I think if you did that and rode
both loops, you might be going only about 85-90 miles total.

Quoted message said:

2. Near the farthest point on the DBD course (along either Grey Rock or Cannady's Mill Road I
think) there was a "home" (read: trailer) with five LARGE dogs in the front yard. ALL FIVE of
these dogs chased me for over a half mile when I cam by with one hanging on for nearly a
mile. I'm used

to

Quoted message said:

getting chased by dogs at home in Ohio - and one I can deal with. But

I've

Quoted message said:

never been chased by five at once and this experience scared the #%$*! out of me. What do those
of you ride this course often do about this menace? Can someone who did the race last year tell
me if/how this was dealt with

on

Quoted message said:

race day? I can't imaging 500 racers going by this house twice each and

no

Quoted message said:

one getting hurt.

Again, we had the same problem last year training. But on race day, the organizers had actually
gone up to these houses (and others) with chasing dogs and advised the owners to curb them on race
day. They also spray-painted "DOGS" on the roads in front of such houses to forewarn us. There
weren't any dogs on raceday, thankfully. Until then, you could either have your friend call Animal
Control or carry your pepper spray!

Quoted message said:

3. Although it was a little breezy on Saturday, I felt very little effect from the wind due (I
think) to the large trees throughout the area. Is

this

Quoted message said:

typical of the course? I'm used to large open farm fields where every bit of wind has an effect.

Wind was less of a factor than the constant rolling hills up and down. Several wide open places
(near the lake and bridge overpasses) were windy. But it can get windy around there in the hot
summer weather.

Good luck, hope to see you there, and hope this helps!

--
Bernie Hall o __o </\_ \ < __/\ /\o__ (0) (0) / \__o ^^^^^^ ^ ^
2.4 - 112 - 26.2 Great Floridian Triathlon 2000~12.40.14 2001~12:30.36 2002~13:18.22 The Duke
Blue Devil 2002~12:26.39

Quoted message said:

Sorry for the long post. Any local advice (even if it doesn't address the above questions) would
be appreciated.

John Dublin, Ohio

Bernie Hall said:

Quoted message said:

2. Near the farthest point on the DBD course (along either Grey Rock or Cannady's Mill Road I
think) there was a "home" (read: trailer) with five LARGE dogs in the front yard. ALL FIVE of
these dogs chased me for over a half mile when I cam by with one hanging on for nearly a
mile. I'm used

to

Quoted message said:

getting chased by dogs at home in Ohio - and one I can deal with. But

I've

Quoted message said:

never been chased by five at once and this experience scared the #%$*! out of me. What do those
of you ride this course often do about this menace? Can someone who did the race last year tell
me if/how this was dealt with

on

Quoted message said:

race day? I can't imaging 500 racers going by this house twice each and

no

Quoted message said:

one getting hurt.

Again, we had the same problem last year training. But on race day, the organizers had actually
gone up to these houses (and others) with chasing dogs and advised the owners to curb them on race
day. They also spray-painted "DOGS" on the roads in front of such houses to forewarn us. There
weren't any dogs on raceday, thankfully. Until then, you could either have your friend call Animal
Control or carry your pepper spray!

Bernie,

I'm curious about your pepper spray comment, because although I've used it in the past, I've never
seen how one dog may react when his "buddy" gets sprayed. I'd be afraid of stopping one in his
tracks and pissing the other four off.

I also wonder how the dogs' redneck owner may react to his dogs getting sprayed. Would he come
outside with a shotgun? Or (perhaps more realistically) become even less cooperative with bikers in
general. If cyclists are passing by every weekend spraying his dogs, how likely is he going to be to
cooperate on race day?

Basically, I don't want to aggravate an already bad situation. So, have you actually used pepper
spray on these particular dogs? Or do you just run the gauntlet?

John

John: I never used it on the DBD Course. I carry it with me only when I know there are really bad
dogs on the route and use it only in case of emergency. You're right about the owners (who are the
real problem) If they are in the yard, I stop, trying to hold the dog(s) off, and ask them to please
get their dog so that I can continue. Usually they just say something like "he ain't goin' to git
'ya" It's nice that the owner seems to know that! A Veterinarian friend of mine will stop, dismount,
and inform the owner he's calling Animal Control right there on the spot on his cellphone (a bolder
move, but he has connections there)
--
Bernie Hall o __o </\_ \ < __/\ /\o__ (0) (0) / \__o ^^^^^^ ^ ^
2.4 - 112 - 26.2 Great Floridian Triathlon 2000~12.40.14 2001~12:30.36 2002~13:18.22 The Duke
Blue Devil 2002~12:26.39 "John Hardt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Bernie Hall said:

Quoted message said:

2. Near the farthest point on the DBD course (along either Grey Rock

or

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Cannady's Mill Road I think) there was a "home" (read: trailer) with

five

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

LARGE dogs in the front yard. ALL FIVE of these dogs chased me for

over a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

half mile when I cam by with one hanging on for nearly a mile. I'm

used

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to

Quoted message said:

getting chased by dogs at home in Ohio - and one I can deal with. But

I've

Quoted message said:

never been chased by five at once and this experience scared the #%$*!

out

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of me. What do those of you ride this course often do about this

menace?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Can someone who did the race last year tell me if/how this was dealt

with

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

on

Quoted message said:

race day? I can't imaging 500 racers going by this house twice each

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

no

Quoted message said:

one getting hurt.

Again, we had the same problem last year training. But on race day, the organizers had actually
gone up to these houses (and others) with

chasing

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

dogs and advised the owners to curb them on race day. They also spray-painted "DOGS" on the
roads in front of such houses to forewarn

us.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

There weren't any dogs on raceday, thankfully. Until then, you could

either

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

have your friend call Animal Control or carry your pepper spray!

Bernie,

I'm curious about your pepper spray comment, because although I've used it in the past, I've never
seen how one dog may react when his "buddy" gets sprayed. I'd be afraid of stopping one in his
tracks and pissing the

other

Quoted message said:

four off.

I also wonder how the dogs' redneck owner may react to his dogs getting sprayed. Would he come
outside with a shotgun? Or (perhaps more realistically) become even less cooperative with bikers
in general. If cyclists are passing by every weekend spraying his dogs, how likely is he going to
be to cooperate on race day?

Basically, I don't want to aggravate an already bad situation. So, have

you

Quoted message said:

actually used pepper spray on these particular dogs? Or do you just run

the

Quoted message said:

gauntlet?

John

Bernie Hall said:

John: I never used it on the DBD Course. I carry it with me only when I know there are really bad
dogs on the route and use it only in case of emergency. You're right about the owners (who are the
real problem) If they are in the yard, I stop, trying to hold the dog(s) off, and ask them to
please get their dog so that I can continue. Usually they just say something like "he ain't goin'
to git 'ya" It's nice that the owner seems to know that! A Veterinarian friend of mine will stop,
dismount, and inform the owner he's calling Animal Control right there on the spot on his
cellphone (a bolder move, but he has connections there)
--
Bernie Hall o __o </\_

Bernie,

Thanks for the good info. If you guys are able to stop and dismount I suppose that's a pretty good
sign that the dogs are more or less harmless. It makes a big difference knowing that if you stop
pedaling you won't get eaten alive!

John