Good or Lucky?

[NewValker]

Out for a ride on my VTX today, on a residential road I use for a shortcut. Going downhill in 3 rd gear, not speeding, I see a good size dog running full speed toward me. He went behind a car, I laid on the air horn, he emerged back in my sight and slammed into my front wheel.
Thought he was going to go under the bike and rear wheel so I stiff legged him and he rolled away from me then slid off the road.
When I stopped, I was on the wrong side of the road, thankful there was no traffic.  The woman/owner came running out apologizing over and over.  I wanted to lose my $hit on her, I didn’t. Must be getting old….just told her I don’t want to die because she doesn’t tie her dog up.
The dog ran away toward the house, don’t know if he was injured, don’t really care.
Gotta say, it was a pretty hard hit, he was moving. Believe it was a Bull Mastiff.

Ride Safe,
Craig

[LadyDraco]

 

[Hook#3287]

Craig, glad to hear nothing happened

Exact same thing happened to me once in Sturbridge.  Dog got lose. Ran out at me from the driveway.
Hit its head on my highway peg hard enough to dent the valve cover just slightly. Ran away yelping. I did not stop.

I vote for "good" over lucky, but both play into it.

[Rams]

Out for a ride on my VTX today, on a residential road I use for a shortcut. Going downhill in 3 rd gear, not speeding, I see a good size dog running full speed toward me. He went behind a car, I laid on the air horn, he emerged back in my sight and slammed into my front wheel.
Thought he was going to go under the bike and rear wheel so I stiff legged him and he rolled away from me then slid off the road.
When I stopped, I was on the wrong side of the road, thankful there was no traffic.  The woman/owner came running out apologizing over and over.  I wanted to lose my $hit on her, I didn’t. Must be getting old….just told her I don’t want to die because she doesn’t tie her dog up.
The dog ran away toward the house, don’t know if he was injured, don’t really care.
Gotta say, it was a pretty hard hit, he was moving. Believe it was a Bull Mastiff.

Ride Safe,
Craig

Craig,
Might be a bit of both luck and skill.   I'm actually surprised that this might be a Bull Mastif, I've owned a few Mastifs over the years and have never seen or heard of one that was aggressive and that would chase a vehicle.   Honestly, they're pretty docile and lazy animals.   But, I suppose there's always an exception.   Glad this didn't go south for you, the bike and the dog.

If this dog chased you, it's chased other vehicles and the owner is totally responsible.

Rams  

[LadyDraco]

https://youtu.be/IdTMDpizis8

[Jess from VA]

We have leash laws here (in suburbia), and if your unleashed animal causes damage, injury or death, it's on you.  And you are required to take their poop home with you when walking them.

And animal control will pick them up (seen at random, or on a complaint call).

No leash law for cats, and we have a couple that wander the neighborhood.

Cat poop is smaller than dog poop, but years ago when a local cat took to jumping my fence and doing his business in my backyard he ended up in my garbage can.

Good job on surviving the dog charge Craig.  It's been a long time, but I've had occasion to kick dogs for a long field goal myself before.  It's usually the little yipping ankle biters (which I detest) that do the aggressive stuff more than the big dogs (unless you invade their turf).

It's never the dogs fault, it's always the owner's fault!!

[NewValker]

Morning all, finally beat the white page !
I’m going with a little of both. I knew it was coming so I braced for it. Not sure I could’ve stopped before he hit me, but I’m sure I didn’t want to get bit while holding a bike up either.
Jess and Ron, I did a 5 year stint as town dog officer years ago, so yeah, I know the owner was wrong 100%.
Don’t like the thought of running over some kids pet, but not going to wreck over one either.
Squirrels are fair game though…..

Craig

[NewValker]

Morning all, finally beat the white page !
I’m going with a little of both. I knew it was coming so I braced for it. Not sure I could’ve stopped before he hit me, but I’m sure I didn’t want to get bit while holding a bike up either.
Jess and Ron, I did a 5 year stint as town dog officer years ago, so yeah, I know the owner was wrong 100%.
Don’t like the thought of running over some kids pet, but not going to wreck over one either.
Squirrels are fair game though…..

Craig

[Willow]

Add to that that the mutt had to hit the middle (axle) of the front wheel.  Just before or after may have made recovery impossible.  Even with the hit in the middle it took someone's good skills to stay upright.  Lucky and then good.

[NewValker]

True, and I knew the hit was coming, so I braced.
Between around 1k miles running in the rain to & from IZ and the dog, I’ve had enough excitement for 1 season…..

Craig