Know the rules The Paceline Forum Builder's Spotlight


Go Back   The Paceline Forum > General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-21-2024, 09:44 AM
capt_velo's Avatar
capt_velo capt_velo is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Colleyville, Texas
Posts: 74
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.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-21-2024, 09:46 AM
capt_velo's Avatar
capt_velo capt_velo is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Colleyville, Texas
Posts: 74
crap, wrong forum. I'm sorry. I'm not sure how to fix this.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-21-2024, 09:46 AM
BaconBikeJoe BaconBikeJoe is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 116
Is the squirrel for sale? What size? Whats the saddle height?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-21-2024, 09:47 AM
texasbbq texasbbq is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 149
Nice! You picked it up, right? Fried is best.
BBQ
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-21-2024, 09:48 AM
XXtwindad XXtwindad is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 8,064
Quote:
Originally Posted by BaconBikeJoe View Post
Is the squirrel for sale? What size? Whats the saddle height?
Good laugh in the morning. Thx!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-21-2024, 09:49 AM
AngryScientist's Avatar
AngryScientist AngryScientist is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: northeast NJ
Posts: 33,226
Moved.

At least he didnt give you the Cinzano spoke treatment!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-21-2024, 09:52 AM
Turkle Turkle is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: RVA
Posts: 1,479
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.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-21-2024, 09:58 AM
mlc mlc is offline
Moots Vamoots
 
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: NY, NY
Posts: 131
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!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-21-2024, 10:01 AM
capt_velo's Avatar
capt_velo capt_velo is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Colleyville, Texas
Posts: 74
Quote:
Originally Posted by AngryScientist View Post
Moved.
Thanks!

Quote:
Originally Posted by AngryScientist View Post
At least he didnt give you the Cinzano spoke treatment!
nightmare fuel!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 02-21-2024, 10:02 AM
Gman79 Gman79 is online now
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Posts: 96
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.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 02-21-2024, 10:05 AM
capt_velo's Avatar
capt_velo capt_velo is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Colleyville, Texas
Posts: 74
Quote:
Originally Posted by mlc View Post
Doubling back between the wheels is really just on the critter!
I see them doing that all the time. They are really unsure which way they want to run.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 02-21-2024, 10:14 AM
redir's Avatar
redir redir is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 6,868
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.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 02-21-2024, 10:42 AM
November Dave November Dave is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Newport, RI
Posts: 241
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.
__________________
November Bicycles
www.novemberbicycles.com
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 02-21-2024, 10:50 AM
bigbill bigbill is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hackberry, AZ
Posts: 3,790
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.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 02-21-2024, 10:55 AM
capt_velo's Avatar
capt_velo capt_velo is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Colleyville, Texas
Posts: 74
Quote:
Originally Posted by redir View Post
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.
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.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:18 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.