What I found out tonight

[PutAwayWet]

...My bike shoes are dog-resistant. Yep, got bit by my first dog - ever. I've never been bit in any situation before, never mind while road riding (Karma, I guess ;) ). I was coming down this hill on a back road, and this lady in a minivan is creeping along in the other lane, then starts screaming. I slow down and see a bulldog wandering around in my lane. I hit the brakes some more, then the dog comes at me. Lucky for me, bulldogs are short and this one got me (and my eggbeater) on the down stroke. I think I smashed his head into the pavement before he could really do any damage. I kind of stopped, looked back, saw the dog getting screamed at by the lady in the van and kind of wobbling around. I took off before it got its wits back. I wanted to call the police and file a report right away, but I was running out of daylight. So when I got home I called and gave them a 'heads up' about the dog. They knew just who I was talking about and said they'd head over and talk to the owner. Sounds like this has happened before...

I have to keep telling myself there are no bad or stupid dogs, just bad and stupid dog owners. :)

Ironically, tonight was probably the most courteous drivers have ever been to me. Balance, grasshopper... :cool:

[S. cerevisiae]

I have to keep telling myself there are no bad dogs

I would debate that as I've met some dogs riding and working that I would classify as bad. Their owners were, indeed, the stupid ones for allowing the behavior to exist.

Glad to hear that you weren't injured.

I once asked my childhood neighbor, the Chief of local Police, the ramifications of carrying a starters pistol to scare them upon their approach. He strongly advised against it as there is too much opportunity for law enforcement, or worse, to over-react.

U-lock martial arts remains effective. So does squirtng with water, and Acme Thunderer whistles (the really shrill pea-less ones) are also non-lethal alternatives.

[tryandgetme]

Those whistles can be lethal. In my little brother's case, it's not, he's bigger than me now so I can't beat him up to make him stop...