Yet Another Cycling Forum

Random Musings => Miscellany => Where The Wild Things Are => Topic started by: Wowbagger on 11 October, 2010, 04:33:25 pm

Title: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 October, 2010, 04:33:25 pm: Mrs. Wow and I had a front-wheel/squirrel interface on Friday. I'm not certain that we actually ran it over, but I definitely felt it make contact with the wheel. This caused it to squeal a bit before it ran away.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 11 October, 2010, 04:34:29 pm: I've run over rats.

I've also run over squished rats, and had the pleasure of picking their guts out of the spokes later on.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: groucho on 11 October, 2010, 04:37:47 pm: I saw one writhing and twitching after being hit by car on Barry top road. I humanely rode over its neck :'(
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Kim on 11 October, 2010, 04:41:58 pm: We clipped a squirrel with the tandem last week. Just the tail, so it ran off as usual.

For bonus points we had a nice solid feathery impact with a stupid pigeon about 10 minutes later.

Combined with the badger incident of the previous FNRttS, and an earwig I deliberately swerved to run over a few weeks back, I've more than met my quota of wildlife entanglements for this year.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Kathy on 11 October, 2010, 04:42:42 pm: I ran over a baby bunny and broke its back last summer. :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 October, 2010, 04:44:04 pm: Quote from: Kim on 11 October, 2010, 04:41:58 pm
We clipped a squirrel with the tandem last week. Just the tail, so it ran off as usual.

For bonus points we had a nice solid feathery impact with a stupid pigeon about 10 minutes later.

Combined with the badger incident of the previous FNRttS, and an earwig I deliberately swerved to run over a few weeks back, I've more than met my quota of wildlife entanglements for this year.

Did you make contact with meles meles or was it a near miss?
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Kim on 11 October, 2010, 04:45:25 pm: Near miss, in an under-the-boom-but-didn't-hit-the-wheel kind of way.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Thor on 11 October, 2010, 04:48:13 pm: I almost hit a squirrel yesterday. I swerved to avoid it, it ran in the direction I had swerved, I swerved again, so did it, etc. I'm sure an onlooker would have thought I was pursuing it.

On other occasions, I have run over a baby rabbit and once squished a sparrow which flew out from a hedgerow and right under my front wheel.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Jules on 11 October, 2010, 04:55:53 pm: Had a near miss with a badger and a rat through the spokes on the Severn Across - bloody night rides!
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: PaulF on 11 October, 2010, 04:57:31 pm: Once in Central Park one ran out, froze, then ran into my wheel bounced off and into the rider behind before taking refuge in the bushes. When I passed the same spot I got the feeling that he was watching from a tree plotting his revenge.
(click to show/hide)
(http://www.freewebs.com/buto-clan/squirrel%20bazooka.bmp)
I left the city shortly afterwards.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: robbo6 on 11 October, 2010, 04:59:29 pm: I ran over a terrapin once.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Wascally Weasel on 11 October, 2010, 05:12:08 pm: I have come so close on lots of occasions – sometimes the little grey twats have only saved themselves by their ability to suddenly turn and jump backwards mid-run.

The closest attempts always seem to come at the most dangerous point for me – the worst one being the little git who jumped out on me just as I came off the RAB which is joined by the Hook Road and the M25, on heading back to London you go round a bend and had I had an off would probably been hit by following traffic.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: rogerzilla on 11 October, 2010, 05:56:31 pm: I ran over a suicidal emo pigeon once - it threw itself out of the bushes and straight under my rear wheel.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Zoidburg on 11 October, 2010, 06:03:11 pm: I ran over a Coot.

It got both wheels.

I stopped expecting to have to finsh it off only to see the thing swim off over the canal.

The suspension forks and big foot print/lower down pressure of the MTB tyres must have saved it.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: mattc on 11 October, 2010, 07:49:15 pm: Squirrel poem recently sent to me (shrunk for space reasons):

The Night of Claire

A ride in the woods in the dark of the moon
Was no challenge or so it was said
So I mounted my Schwinn and I turned on my lights
And away in the evening I sped.

Slicker than owl snot my drive train did run
As I reached the first tulgey glade
Completely at ease I passed under the trees
Breathing deeply and yet unafraid.

A sudden light clicking then came to my ear
And I wondered if it was the bike.
The volume and frequency seemed to increase
And something just didn't seem right.

My crankset? My pedals? Perhaps the rear wheel?
But my spokes were stress relieved.
I'd checked all the torques and examined the forks
No fault could be conceived.

But then I remembered the horrible squirrels
That run in the woods at night.
More cunning than weasels and faster than bats
My blood ran cold with fright.

My mirror was useless, it bounced up and down
I carefully looked to the back.
Not one running there in the LED glare, not one
But the whole freaking pack!

I knew in an instant the danger I faced
For the squirrels of the East are unreal.
Like furry piranha that scamper like rats
They wanted my brand new wheel!

I knew in the morning they'd find my bones
spread out by the side of the trail.
If I couldn't pull off a quick finesse
I had to deliver the mail.

I spun and I sweated and pulled a huge gear
In the face of imminent death.
The grade was intense and my terror immense
I smelt their squirrelly breath!

Just then I remembered that in my valise
Which I'd strapped to the top of my bars
I had peanuts and trail mix and Gatorade
And a couple of candy bars.

I unzipped the bag and flung out the tools
Which only impeded my hand.
An anvil, a tow chain, a hacksaw and such
And a brand new truing stand.

I hated like fury to throw out that stand
But I needed to get to the food.
I whipped out the trail mix and tossed it back
It halted that Hell spawned brood.

I sat at the top of the hill and wheezed
As the squirrels devouered the nuts.
I'll never again take a ride on that trail
No ifs, no maybes, no buts!

[Posted on the internet by a person who wishes to remain anonymous.]
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: dasmoth on 11 October, 2010, 07:54:46 pm: Given some of the horror stories I read here about Wowbadgers and their ilk, I'm surprised that I haven't had more mammalian encounters on the bike. The only thing I've actually hit was a shoe-pigeon encounter. The daft thing didn't seem to understand recumbents, but seemed unharmed.

We often seem to find pheasants in our path while on the tandem (rarely while solo, for some reason), but haven't actually bagged one yet.

The skirls keep well away.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Robh on 11 October, 2010, 08:03:06 pm: I ran over one just yesterday, riding through Burnham Beeches. It ran out to cross the road, realised I was bearing down, turned back, and thump. I clearly felt a bump under my front wheel. He carried on back into the undergrowth at full speed.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: newtoncap on 11 October, 2010, 08:13:39 pm: No squirrels, but I witnessed Crustyjuggler run over a defensless bunny. And I once had a scary badger encounter.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: rr on 11 October, 2010, 10:24:12 pm: One squirrel run over and one pheasant putting its head through the spokes of my front wheel, both killed outright
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Bledlow on 03 November, 2010, 01:13:48 pm: One squirrel under the back wheel, when it tried to run across the road between my front & back wheels, & missed. I heard its spine snap, & stopped with the intention of putting the poor beast out of its misery, but it scrabbled into the roadside undergrowth with its front paws too quickly, & I decided that chasing it in there would be even crueller than leaving it to die.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Kim on 03 November, 2010, 01:15:57 pm: I note this thread has positioned itself above "Making burgers" in my recent unread list...
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Ray 6701 on 03 November, 2010, 05:05:49 pm: I've had a couple of near misses with squirrels however I did hit a cat the other night, felt soft & squidgy & ran like buggery ;D
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: robbo6 on 07 November, 2010, 07:20:19 pm: You're lucky it could run away, when a cyclist kills a cat it's reincarnated as a puncture fairy.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 November, 2010, 08:56:52 am: Quote from: Bouthrey Bridge on 07 November, 2010, 07:20:19 pm
You're lucky it could run away, when a cyclist kills a cat it's reincarnated as a puncture fairy.

9 times for each claw!
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Wendy on 08 November, 2010, 03:41:42 pm: I ran over a pigeon in Hyde Park once, it flew off. Got me back by flying into my head when I was skating at speed. Ouch, it was like a punch to the face.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: rogerzilla on 08 November, 2010, 07:15:04 pm: Quote from: Wowbagger on 08 November, 2010, 08:56:52 am
Quote from: Bouthrey Bridge on 07 November, 2010, 07:20:19 pm
You're lucky it could run away, when a cyclist kills a cat it's reincarnated as a puncture fairy.

9 times for each claw!
Which gives me the excuse to repost this marvellous animation:

YouTube
- THE CAT CAME BACK
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bETCusT5kNM)
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Somnolent on 09 November, 2010, 09:17:37 am: No squirrels, but I got a pigeon on the Wylye & Ebble 200.
Disinct "crunchy" sounds :sick: , but I didnt look back, and no faerie visitations followed
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Pancho on 09 November, 2010, 09:58:42 am: I hit a pigeon with my head whilst riding a motorbike. It was like someone had chucked a brick at me. Lots of feathers and feather-grease. Didn't stop to investigate the pigeon - was too busy trying not to fall off and die.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: itsbruce on 09 November, 2010, 10:07:26 am: As seen on lfgss:

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/6/76039319_f5e81e4f93.jpg)

On balance, I think that spoke arrangement is more likely to trap squirrels than let them bound joyfully through your wheel.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Bledlow on 13 November, 2010, 10:42:44 pm: Had a very near miss yesterday, outside Reading Gaol. The squirrel was running away from Mr. Wilde's former home, so may have just escaped, which might explain why he was in such a hurry.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: andyoxon on 11 October, 2014, 07:50:07 pm: Awakening this old thread...

after seeing this... http://road.cc/content/news/133017-cyclist-seriously-injured-after-squirrel-gets-tangled-spokes-%E2%80%93-poor-animal-came

and also up around Boars Hill this afternoon, the squirrels were out in force - saw 10+, by the side of the road. One shot out of a drive, saw me approach, and fortunately waited for me to pass. Worth watching out for them...
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Kim on 11 October, 2014, 07:55:38 pm: 36 spoke 3-cross. You know it makes sense.

For squirrels and suicide-pheasants, anyway. I don't think anything will protect you from wowbadgers or low-flying deer.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Bledlow on 12 October, 2014, 12:08:30 am: I had a near miss with a low-flying deer once. It was airborne, at cyclist height, as it jumped across the road behind Adrian Lawson, & in front of me. It was far too close. Another one had just jumped across in front of Adrian. Somewhere near Bradfield (to the west or Reading), IIRC, on a wednesday evening in summer.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Kim on 12 October, 2014, 12:10:47 am: I got kicked in the knee by one on a forum ride last year (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=73629.msg1553064#msg1553064). Not an experience I'm enthusiastic to repeat.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Euan Uzami on 12 October, 2014, 12:28:15 am: I used to occasionally run over bees in Derby. It's their own fault if they're too fat to fly.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Basil on 12 October, 2014, 01:11:52 am: Flying deer twice both times around the Woodstock area. Wowbadgers, all the time! Cycling back from the pub in Llandysul I often come up behind one that is just trundling, in its own time, up the lane. Generally, they stop, look round and give me the "Wot?" look.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Andrew on 12 October, 2014, 07:25:23 am: Squirrel, yep, a young one in Richmond Park. I saw it on the side of the road as I approached. It then timed its suicidal dash to perfection.

The badger 'wot?' look reminds me of when I saw my first ragondin (or coypu as you might know it) here in France. It was sat on the road and at first I thought it was a beaver, until i saw the long rat-like tail. It looked at me with complete lack of concern or interest (the talk bubble said 'meh'). Then it just wondered off into the field, no urgency at all. So cool. I tell you, they're big enough for me to be wary.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Hot Flatus on 12 October, 2014, 07:51:33 am: High speed and bladed spokes.

Its the only way.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 October, 2014, 10:51:12 am: Once had a red squirl pass between front and rear wheels and I think his tail was shorter afterwards than it had been when he got up that morning. I used wheel discs on that bike, though, so he wouldn't hav been minced. I came close to dicing a bunrab somewhere in Gloucestershire when it attempted to put the heid on the front wheel of my Trice but I was grinding up a Cotswold at the time and thus not going very fast.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: mike on 12 October, 2014, 01:48:59 pm: was about a foot off a fast-moving badger late one night, was probably doing about 25 down hill and it scampered across in front of me, between my headlight beam and my front wheel.. nearly shat myself.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Otto on 12 October, 2014, 02:21:50 pm: I fractured my wrist swerving to avoid a rabbit
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 October, 2014, 10:13:08 am: Quote from: mike on 12 October, 2014, 01:48:59 pm
was about a foot off a fast-moving badger late one night, was probably doing about 25 down hill and it scampered across in front of me, between my headlight beam and my front wheel.. nearly shat myself.

Had that on the way to the in-laws once. Just getting light, downhill on deserted autobahn. Ulp.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 13 October, 2014, 01:36:59 pm: A bee bounced off my head once when I was cycling to work. It hurt quite a lot. I wish I'd been wearing a helmet.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Kim on 13 October, 2014, 01:42:55 pm: Quote from: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 13 October, 2014, 01:36:59 pm
A bee bounced off my head once when I was cycling to work. It hurt quite a lot. I wish I'd been wearing a helmet.

There's a surprising amount of mv² in a bee.

They always seem to hit me in the face on 30mph descents. Suspect a degree of target fixation involved.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 October, 2014, 01:52:33 pm: I hit a pigeon on Saturday in the centre of Bath. It flew across in front of me, very low - about hub height - as I was overtaking a traffic queue, doubled back to avoid crashing into the car to the side of me and collided with my front tyre instead. It then turned round - or maybe just bounced off - still airborne, and flew straight in to the car it had been trying to avoid. I've no idea how seriously injured it was nor why it was flying so low.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: T42 on 13 October, 2014, 01:57:36 pm: Quote from: Kim on 13 October, 2014, 01:42:55 pm
Quote from: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 13 October, 2014, 01:36:59 pm
A bee bounced off my head once when I was cycling to work. It hurt quite a lot. I wish I'd been wearing a helmet.

There's a surprising amount of mv² in a bee.

They always seem to hit me in the face on 30mph descents. Suspect a degree of target fixation involved.

My father had a tale of a pre-war motor cyclist colliding with a bee and just managing to stop at the roadside before he keeled over.

The most painful insect collisions I've had (apart from a wasp with sting deployed) were just below the summit of Mt. Ventoux ten years ago: the wind was whipping beetles like pebbles off the top and across the initial 10% bit of the downgrade to Malaucène. Between that and steering shimmy I had an interesting time.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Tewdric on 13 October, 2014, 03:15:08 pm: Hit a deer once. Not sure you who was most surprised.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: mcshroom on 13 October, 2014, 03:57:30 pm: I've had a couple deer near misses (just behind Kim last year, and three rather large ones hurdling the 'deer-proof' fence in a dark Glen Isla on the Deeside Loop.

Not hit a squirrel, but have hit a sparrow sized bird while commuting home on a cyclepath. It flew out of the hedge right next to the path, and turned to fly in front of my front wheel but a gust of wind caught it. Next thing I know the bird is slung round under the mudguard and ejected back into the hedge. No idea how damaged it was after that.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: matthew on 13 October, 2014, 04:19:56 pm: Quote from: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 13 October, 2014, 01:36:59 pm
A bee bounced off my head once when I was cycling to work. It hurt quite a lot. I wish I'd been wearing a helmet.

The time I had a bee strike I was wearing a helmet, unfortunately this just resulted in an angry bee caught in the helmet vent and me being stung on the scalp when I was silly enough to go feeling in the vent with a finger. :facepalm:
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: sojournermike on 13 October, 2014, 04:43:02 pm: Couple of near misses lately - squirrels and rabbits only thank goodness. That squirrel in the lFGSS picture earlier on is a bit scary though - poosibly an argument for carbon forks and CX rays.

I have hit a couple badgers and a deer in the car - always at speed and I wouldn't want to repeat the experience on the bike. You only have to think about how big a hole a deer makes in the front of a Peugeot 807 at 70mph to understand my fear.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 13 October, 2014, 06:21:41 pm: Quote from: T42 on 13 October, 2014, 01:57:36 pm
Quote from: Kim on 13 October, 2014, 01:42:55 pm
Quote from: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 13 October, 2014, 01:36:59 pm
A bee bounced off my head once when I was cycling to work. It hurt quite a lot. I wish I'd been wearing a helmet.

There's a surprising amount of mv² in a bee.

They always seem to hit me in the face on 30mph descents. Suspect a degree of target fixation involved.

My father had a tale of a pre-war motor cyclist colliding with a bee and just managing to stop at the roadside before he keeled over.

The most painful insect collisions I've had (apart from a wasp with sting deployed) were just below the summit of Mt. Ventoux ten years ago: the wind was whipping beetles like pebbles off the top and across the initial 10% bit of the downgrade to Malaucène. Between that and steering shimmy I had an interesting time.

Just at the start of the climb up Ventoux out of Malaucene this year I got stung by an unidentified stingy thing, about 1 cm down from the crease where my thigh meets my lady garden, and it chafed against the saddle every time I pedalled. (Yes, I know, I've got fat thighs). I've still got the scar. Still, once upon a time I would have spat my dummy out, thrown the bike into a bush and gone off in a strop, I'm obviously slightly more bad ass these days.... :P
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 13 October, 2014, 06:52:10 pm: I ran over a badger on the Carlisle-Newcastle night ride last month, but it was already dead. (I was looking at a signpost, and didn't notice the badger until it was too late to avoid it. It was quite large, so I was surprised I didn't fall off!).
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: mcshroom on 13 October, 2014, 07:05:00 pm: Not sure hitting dead animals counts :P
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: cycleman on 13 October, 2014, 09:05:16 pm: I was going down a 1-10 hill near Slough when tufty the squirrel did not look right left and right again and run into my path. He saw me coming and stopped so my front wheels would miss him. No one had told him about trike's. There was a bump and when I stopped and looked round there was no tufty. I bet he had a headache ::-) :)
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: T42 on 13 October, 2014, 09:29:47 pm: A fw years ago I was hit by a roe-deer on a 400 through the Jura at dead of night in the fog. We were climbing at the time so I wasn't going fast. They're quite small so I didn't fall off, and it staggered away before I could see it other than with peripheral vision; to me it was white and I thought it was a sheep until chum following told me. I had a bit of a cut on my shin - nothing much.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Wascally Weasel on 14 October, 2014, 03:54:46 pm: One of the times I was riding up and down Box Hill this summer, I was riding along past the Cafe, heading for the viewpoint and saw a family walking along the adjacent path with kids in tow kicking a ball along – I felt a slight thump on my rear wheel and looked back for the offending ball to see that a squirrel had run through my rear wheel. I evidently was going pretty slowly!
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Bledlow on 15 October, 2014, 10:56:24 am: I had a near miss with a squirrel on Sunday. It decided to run across a cyclepath just in front of me.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Aunt Maud on 15 October, 2014, 01:51:31 pm: I did a double Belgian Badger slalom at 50kph in the middle of the night in......erm.....Belgium. So watch out if you're there they come in pairs.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Wowbagger on 15 October, 2014, 02:23:29 pm: Were they carrying goalposts?
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 28 October, 2014, 10:57:25 am: Quote from: Wowbagger on 15 October, 2014, 02:23:29 pm
Were they carrying goalposts?

Or jumpers?

My mate Mr Sheen once murdered a sparrow with a fully-faired Windcheetah on the back straight at Eastway.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: ferret on 28 October, 2014, 10:30:40 pm: a couple of years ago I got a fat lip from a bat, the fluffy flappy sort not the gray nicholls type :) and before that I did have a run in with a pig admittedly I was on the "pub bike" and on the return journey, safely negotiated the cattle grid but the pig got the better of me!! ;)
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Pingu on 29 October, 2014, 12:25:27 pm: I was hit in the chest by a bat a couple of years ago near Lix Toll.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 October, 2014, 11:56:01 pm: I think it was 2006 when I was chased by a wolf on the Invicta 400. Normal dogs don't makes noises like that thing did :o
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: nikki on 08 October, 2020, 11:19:41 pm: Of course there's a thread for this.

Squirrel on a perpendicular approach across the port bow.
Mutual swerving, some braking, squirrel makes it to the right hand side of my front wheel.
Out of my peripheral vision I see it looping back around to dart back from whence it came.
Rear end of the bike lifts up a little bit...

It was able to make it back into the verge with some speed, but knowing how heavy both my pannier and I are, I'm not confident of a full and speedy recovery.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Kim on 08 October, 2020, 11:45:51 pm: Quote from: nikki on 08 October, 2020, 11:19:41 pm
Of course there's a thread for this.

I should have thought of that after the wabbit incident (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=19419.msg2516683#msg2516683).
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Ben T on 09 October, 2020, 12:05:51 am: Quote from: nikki on 08 October, 2020, 11:19:41 pm
Of course there's a thread for this.

Squirrel on a perpendicular approach across the port bow.
Mutual swerving, some braking, squirrel makes it to the right hand side of my front wheel.
Out of my peripheral vision I see it looping back around to dart back from whence it came.
Rear end of the bike lifts up a little bit...

It was able to make it back into the verge with some speed, but knowing how heavy both my pannier and I are, I'm not confident of a full and speedy recovery.

I once did the exact same as that but with a dog.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Rod Marton on 09 October, 2020, 12:40:34 pm: Quote from: nikki on 08 October, 2020, 11:19:41 pm
Of course there's a thread for this.

Squirrel on a perpendicular approach across the port bow.
Mutual swerving, some braking, squirrel makes it to the right hand side of my front wheel.
Out of my peripheral vision I see it looping back around to dart back from whence it came.
Rear end of the bike lifts up a little bit...

It was able to make it back into the verge with some speed, but knowing how heavy both my pannier and I are, I'm not confident of a full and speedy recovery.

I had exactly the same earlier this year. Reminded me of that apocryphal car insurance quote: "He was all over the road. I had to swerve several times before I hit him." Squirrel did crawl off, but I think a full recovery unlikely.

Squirrels' survival instincts definitely need an upgrade.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: ElyDave on 09 October, 2020, 02:32:36 pm: 1) three ~~peasants~~pheasants took off from the verge to my left and headed across the road in front of me - I swear one of them went between my wheels
b) riding up the 2-mile stretch from the roundabout to my village I saw a shimmering haze in the distance. It was summer. Shimmering haze turns out to be a swarm of bees, into which riding at 20mph is not a good idea. I came out the other side with about a dozen confused bees stuck to jersey, shorts and socks by the spiky bits of their feet and legs. Realising this I swatted them off, still at about 20mph as a white van man came the other way with eyes like saucers. I counted about half a dozen stings when I got home.
iii) squirrel, they're too bloody agile. I had one run alongside me for about 50yds before ducking back into the verge
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 09 October, 2020, 09:38:09 pm: I bunny hopped a squirrel on a club run once, or at least I think I managed to bunny hop it. It was quite an impressive feat as normally I'm not coordinated enough to bunny hop.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Wowbagger on 09 October, 2020, 09:40:00 pm: Would that not by definition be a squirrel hop?
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 10 October, 2020, 05:49:21 am: Quote from: Wowbagger on 09 October, 2020, 09:40:00 pm
Would that not by definition be a squirrel hop?

That sounds like some new form of dance to watch out for on Strictly. Or possible an obscure Devonian form of beer flavouring?
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Arminius on 03 February, 2021, 01:55:55 pm: While I was cycling along a road in suburban Edinburgh, a rat decided it would be a good idea to run across the road from a garden towards the park on the other side. The obvious route was through my front wheel rather than, say, waiting a couple of seconds and strolling across the otherwise-abandoned road. I'm convinced that it did about 1.5 circuits trapped in the spokes before being flipped out at the top (gaining decent altitude in the process) and scampering off, seemingly unharmed. [I'm well aware it's unlikely it did more than half a loop, since I didn't go over the handlebars. Maybe time did that slowing down thing when you are sure you're about to crash.]

I also had a small bird fly out of a hedge just as I was passing. It hit my rear wheel and was pinged forward past me before bouncing up the road. It didn't look very alive after that. :'(

Lastly, I (got) hit (by) a bird while moving in excess of R17* along the Solar System Way in York. It decided that the safest way to negotiate a cyclist was to fly directly into his thigh. I think it was alright, but probably had a bit of a headache.

* I don't know what that actually means, or if I got it right, but I'm trying to fit in. I was going pretty fast, anyway.
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: De Sisti on 03 February, 2021, 01:58:15 pm: Not while cycling, but in a car (mentioned in the 'Wild things' thread).
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Russell on 13 February, 2021, 11:26:33 am: Wasn't a squirrel and didn't run over them, but had a moment when a mother and kit Pine Marten were crossing the road in front of me and then having realised I was coming turned and ran back the way they came which ended up being closer to the wheel that I would have liked!
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Wowbagger on 14 February, 2021, 02:06:37 pm: That's exciting! I assume that was in Scotland...?
Title: Re: Who's run over a squirrel while cycling?
Post by: Russell on 14 February, 2021, 04:37:19 pm: Quote from: Wowbagger on 14 February, 2021, 02:06:37 pm
That's exciting! I assume that was in Scotland...?

No, central France.