Omaha: Resident Hound of The BendRiding cross country means dealing with dogs. Usually farm houses are a bit off the road, and by the time the dogs see us we are right in front of the house with a decent chance for outrunning them. Its hard with all the weight you have on a bike. Even if you can hit near 30 mph, so can most dogs. We had some great chases on the last ride, one of which got a bit crazy. We had one mean dog get out in the road before we could get past. Conlin spotted an irrigation pond that we used to bypass the dog. The dog almost crossed the pond to get to us. Since then a friend has given me a doggy dazer that emits high frequency noises dogs do not like. The noises do not harm the dog but are supposed to deter them. Some bikers have said it is a bit hit and miss in its effectiveness. Here is a great article dealing with the issue.
In short he claims the best thing he has found is pepper spray. This may sound cruel, but believe me out on the road there are some dogs that would love to have you for lunch. Dogs are not used to bikes and can give quite a chase, sometimes even attacking. Pepper spray does not cause any permanent damage only 30 minutes of discomfort. Of course the real problem is aiming correctly. I guess I will get me some and start practicing. Oh if all dogs couldn't be like old Omaha.
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