Ran over a squirrel this morning
 

I was riding down the local multi-use path this morning at about 20 MPH, when a squirrel dashed under my front tire. The wheel went over its left rear leg. There's been a lot of close calls over the years, but this is the first time it has happened. I feel bad for the little guy, but I also harbor a lot of animosity for squirrels for their ability to infiltrate my attic. I suppose I'll get over it soon enough.

crap, wrong forum. I'm sorry. I'm not sure how to fix this.

Is the squirrel for sale? What size? Whats the saddle height?

Nice! You picked it up, right? Fried is best.
BBQ

Good laugh in the morning. Thx!

Moved.

At least he didnt give you the Cinzano spoke treatment!

When I used to ride on the Henry Hudson in NYC, there were always these big fat raccoons that somehow always seemed to waddle right into my path on fast descents. I never hit one but there were a few close calls for sure.

Squirrels, you can generally run right over (seen it once or twice on rides), but I think you'd have a really big problem if you hit a raccoon on a descent.

Had a friend run over a squirrel in Central Park a couple years ago... ran in front of her, doubled back between her wheels, and got its tail chopped clean off by her 25mm tire at 100psi. She was quite upset, and I can imagine the squirrel was too. At that point, though, it felt like a survival of the fittest moment. Doubling back between the wheels is really just on the critter!

Thanks!

nightmare fuel!

Yesterday a squirrel got squashed by a SUV using the other lane while passing on my afternoon ride. Glad it was the squirrel and not me.

I see them doing that all the time. They are really unsure which way they want to run.

I ride ten miles on a rail to trail to commute to work every day and see lots of Squirrel and Rabbit mostly but I did run over a cute little chipmunk once :( I think he survived though because I saw him scurry off. Poor little guy.

What I have found, and I am going to try it again this spring when the rabbits are everywhere is, just ignore the rabbits. They tend to run the other way. For the squirrels though? Aim right at them! I swear if you try to avoid them they come right at you but if you aim right at them they run away.

Not a scientific experiment and only once 'season' of testing but I am going to try again this year.

I actually had one give me the Cinzano treatment, leaving a Thursday night laps ride at Hains Point in DC. Fortunately I was riding a Cannondale with one of those bomber Slice forks, and it was as good as its name. Plus a Neuvation wheel with those gigantic bladed spokes. The squirrel never stood a chance.

I bike commuted in Oahu for three years and ran over several squirrels (invasive), a few mongoose (invasive), a catfish(also invasive), and had a few birds go through my front wheel, but they all miraculously survived. Many, many, close calls with feral cats in Blaisdale Park.

What I've been doing, and what had been working, was just holding my line and not deviating from it. I'm trying to be as predictable as possible.