(11-30-2016, 12:30 PM)The ferret_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Deer, in all liklihood the most dangerous aspect of our sport because of their unpredictability, their size, strength, and body density. We see a car approaching we might be able to assume they are going to turn left in front of us and take evasive action, we see someone coming from the right or left at an intersection at a high rate of speed and we realize they might not be able to stop if the light changes so we wait and see before preceeding same if we see someone appraoching at high speed in our rear view mirrors, we seek an outlet in case they don't stop in time. If we are following someone and they are looking around as if lost, we realize they may be looking for an address and to back off and give them space in case they slam on the brakes.... But deer? No telling what they are going to do.
Safety guru Larry Grodsky, someone who lived and breathed safety on a motorcycle, wrote a column about it in Rider Magazine for 20 years, was taken out by a deer. Truthfully, I wonder if I am not destined to the same fate. So many close calls over the years.
I hit one in 1984, was very lucky to get out of it OK. Wee hours of the morning. Night riding is very dangerous, I've pretty much given that up. Except for last week.
Down under, due, perhaps to the Coriolis Effect, deer were thought to have morphed into kangaroos—equally unpredictable and lethal to motorcyclists. Apparently, that's not true. Kangaroos evolved separately and either learned from or taught deer over the animal internet to leap at random in front of passing motorcyclists.
In the Nineteenth Century, some clown sent deer from the United Kingdom to what were then the colonies and described tham as a gift from the sovereign which meant they enjoyed a very special protection. Apparently, in one of the colonies at least, that is still the case and the bastids are now breeding like rabbits, eclipsing wild horses as an environmental pest.
Expect Australian motorcyclists soon to be complaining about deer.
(11-30-2016, 12:30 PM)The ferret_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Deer, in all liklihood the most dangerous aspect of our sport because of their unpredictability, their size, strength, and body density. We see a car approaching we might be able to assume they are going to turn left in front of us and take evasive action, we see someone coming from the right or left at an intersection at a high rate of speed and we realize they might not be able to stop if the light changes so we wait and see before preceeding same if we see someone appraoching at high speed in our rear view mirrors, we seek an outlet in case they don't stop in time. If we are following someone and they are looking around as if lost, we realize they may be looking for an address and to back off and give them space in case they slam on the brakes.... But deer? No telling what they are going to do.
Safety guru Larry Grodsky, someone who lived and breathed safety on a motorcycle, wrote a column about it in Rider Magazine for 20 years, was taken out by a deer. Truthfully, I wonder if I am not destined to the same fate. So many close calls over the years.
I have never seen so many deer on the road in one ride as I did when we rode through your subdivision. It was as if someone had set up deer-feeders in their back yards or something.
They are a menace...truly. Keep those brakes covered!
(11-30-2016, 11:52 PM)EmptySea_imp Wrote: [ -> ] (11-30-2016, 12:30 PM)The ferret_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Deer, in all liklihood the most dangerous aspect of our sport because of their unpredictability, their size, strength, and body density. We see a car approaching we might be able to assume they are going to turn left in front of us and take evasive action, we see someone coming from the right or left at an intersection at a high rate of speed and we realize they might not be able to stop if the light changes so we wait and see before preceeding same if we see someone appraoching at high speed in our rear view mirrors, we seek an outlet in case they don't stop in time. If we are following someone and they are looking around as if lost, we realize they may be looking for an address and to back off and give them space in case they slam on the brakes.... But deer? No telling what they are going to do.
Safety guru Larry Grodsky, someone who lived and breathed safety on a motorcycle, wrote a column about it in Rider Magazine for 20 years, was taken out by a deer. Truthfully, I wonder if I am not destined to the same fate. So many close calls over the years.
I have never seen so many deer on the road in one ride as I did when we rode through your subdivision. It was as if someone had set up deer-feeders in their back yards or something.
I have never seen so many deer on the road in one ride as I did when we rode through your subdivision. It was as if someone had set up deer-feeders in their back yards or something.
about every other house has a feeder here, the thinking being it will keep them out of the expensive plants and off the roads, But the stupid deer and turkeys just make the rounds from house to house everyday like it's Halloween and STILL eat the expensive plants. I have pics of deer standing in the flower garden right behind where we got our group pic taken, and pics of them walking between the porch and the rock wall.
(12-01-2016, 12:54 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: [ -> ] (11-30-2016, 11:52 PM)EmptySea_imp Wrote: [ -> ] (11-30-2016, 12:30 PM)The ferret_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Deer, in all liklihood the most dangerous aspect of our sport because of their unpredictability, their size, strength, and body density. We see a car approaching we might be able to assume they are going to turn left in front of us and take evasive action, we see someone coming from the right or left at an intersection at a high rate of speed and we realize they might not be able to stop if the light changes so we wait and see before preceeding same if we see someone appraoching at high speed in our rear view mirrors, we seek an outlet in case they don't stop in time. If we are following someone and they are looking around as if lost, we realize they may be looking for an address and to back off and give them space in case they slam on the brakes.... But deer? No telling what they are going to do.
Safety guru Larry Grodsky, someone who lived and breathed safety on a motorcycle, wrote a column about it in Rider Magazine for 20 years, was taken out by a deer. Truthfully, I wonder if I am not destined to the same fate. So many close calls over the years.
I have never seen so many deer on the road in one ride as I did when we rode through your subdivision. It was as if someone had set up deer-feeders in their back yards or something.
I have never seen so many deer on the road in one ride as I did when we rode through your subdivision. It was as if someone had set up deer-feeders in their back yards or something.
about every other house has a feeder here, the thinking being it will keep them out of the expensive plants and off the roads, But the stupid deer and turkeys just make the rounds from house to house everyday like it's Halloween and STILL eat the expensive plants. I have pics of deer standing in the flower garden right behind where we got our group pic taken, and pics of them walking between the porch and the rock wall.
Feeding wildlife is completely illegal in Callfornia, anywhere, anytime. As you just noted, it makes wild animals unable to fend for themselves, comfortable around humans, and increases the chances of either an animal or a human getting hurt in some way.
Even so there are very misguided people who do feed wildlife, mostly ignorant people who feed coyotes because they are cute.
Coyotes take dogs right off the leash pretty regular out this way. Even attack people. Then we got the catamounts and bears, rattlesnakes and what have you. Rattlers are big hazard, I almost stepped on one whilst taking a comfort break cycling. Baby, it was curled up to look like a pine cone. They tend to cross the road at certain times of day, big ones. I know a guy got bit dirt riding, the thing was flung into his lap.
A group of us were riding on the North Cascades Hwy in north central Washington State several years ago. Someone needed to take a comfort break. Walked just far enough off the highway for some privacy. Thought he stepped on a rotten branch laying on the ground. But no.....
Fortunately, he was wearing insulated Wellington boots. The two fang marks were disturbingly far apart and quite large. As if a carpenter had hammered the boots with a 12 penny nail.
He didn't have a scratch.
We have since called that ride loop "The Rattlesnake Ride".
(12-01-2016, 02:58 AM)Olyrider_imp Wrote: [ -> ]A group of us were riding on the North Cascades Hwy in north central Washington State several years ago. Someone needed to take a comfort break. Walked just far enough off the highway for some privacy. Thought he stepped on a rotten branch laying on the ground. But no.....
Fortunately, he was wearing insulated Wellington boots. The two fang marks were disturbingly far apart and quite large. As if a carpenter had hammered the boots with a 12 penny nail.
He didn't have a scratch.
We have since called that ride loop "The Rattlesnake Ride".
I was wearing road cycling apparel...would not have helped in the least. Anything looks remotely like a branch I avoid, but this little critter was coiled in a little disk.
I have been struck at by large snakes lying in the road twice while riding. Once on the BRP and once on the Cherahola.
(12-01-2016, 03:25 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: [ -> ]I have been struck at by large snakes lying in the road twice while riding. Once on the BRP and once on the Cherahola.
Good thing none of 'em connected, you'd've been charged with animal cruelty.