attacked by dog while on bike

I am a huge dog fan.  I have three, two of which are adopted.  I STRONGLY dislike people breeding dogs for profit, but that's a different thread.  Anyway I think people have the responsibility to police their dogs actions.  It's likely the owners of that dog are fully aware of their dogs behavior, and have done little or nothing about it.  Therefore, I would take any action I felt necessary to protect myself and possibly deter the offense.  That being said, I would probably change my route.  You might also check your LBS websites and/or any cycling club sites for reports about bad dogs.

I once had a route past a very fast and very vicious sounding dog.  After a few too many "sprints of escape" I finally loaded up one of my bike jersey pockets with "chaff and flare" better known as dog biscuits.   Wouldn't ya know after that the dog never appeared again?  So I never got to test the theory.

MOST of the time I think the dogs are protecting THEIR property.  So if you can sprint like heck far enough past their land, they will usually just stop and go home. 

I've had dogs chase me and you're right, they do have great cardio!!  I had a lab chase me down and I was doing about 22 - 23 mph.  He was good for about 1/4 mile.  We also had a guy have a yippy dog slam into his front wheel.  2 bits of dog and 1 shattered collarbone later...BAD.

It's really not the barking dogs that are the problem...it's the ones that don't bark.  I was riding in Alabama last weekend and had encountered 3 or 4 dogs and just pushed it and they fell off the back.  The one that scared me was when I was riding along and was just about to relax and I heard 1 bark...it was a PIT BULL on my rear wheel.  I don't know how long he was there or what, but he only barked once when he decided to give up.  My HR shot through the roof!!

Don't change your route!!  Just be mindful where the dog is.  Squirt it with your water bottle and it will remember....Pavlof (sp)

http://www.bicyclesouth.com/taber/44_4406_i4575.html

Because it seems that most people sprint to get away or change their route let me share our so far 100% successful technique....slow WAY down. We know where most of the crazy dogs are on our routes and when we start to approach their territory we just slow back. They don't even seem to be interested when you don't look like you are trying to get away. If and when they get a bit close we give them a loud bark or "NOOOO" and that usually makes them stop.

Of course, my disclaimer is that while I slow way down I do make sure I am in a good sprinting gear in case it doesn't look like it will work. Also, if you are going to have waterbottle in hand be sure you don't wreck trying to squirt them.

Michael 

I live and ride in the country and deal with dogs on a regular basis. Country dogs run for a living and are hard to out-sprint and kicking them is tough to do at 20 mph.

A water bottle squirt works OK, but better than that is a bottle of water mixed with lots of cayenne pepper. A good dose of this into their eyes and nose will turn them back.

I pretty much have most of the dogs on my regular route trained by now and they no likey Jimmy K's pepper sauce. 

I have heard that getting off your bike and putting it between you and the dog is the "best" solution.  However, I think I have a better one.

Find a riding partner, one that has less biking skill and speed than you do.  Next time you are jumped by a dog, take off like heck and let your partner deal with the dog.  Then you tell them you didn't hear their calls for help, and that you were just hitting that point in the ride you needed to do some sprint work!  (You don't have to outride the dog, just the friend.)

Oh wait, that doesn't really work very well.  It could cost you a riding partner, or worse.

I have had great success with a DEEP, LOUD, STRONG, NO! GO HOME!!! it works great for me. 

The worst time I ever got jumped by a dog, was when I was riding up a good size hill, and it came out about 3/4th of the way up the hill.  Man I was already winded, and this beast came after me.  I didn't think I could push any harder, but I did.

I would NOT kick at the dog, too hard to hit it and see where you are going.  Plus they could grab your leg/foot too easy.

If you see them soon enough, getting off and putting your bike between you and the dog(s) *works*. I did this three times in 10 miles on my ride yesterday (ironically on a road called "Boneville Rd.", and each time the dogs backed off.

The scariest situation is the stealth dog that doesn't make a sound until he's on you. In that situation, I just hammer as hard as I can and hope he doesn't get a mouthful.