You're gonna wonder what I've been smokin' when you read this, but this
honestly happened to me today. I was in total disbelief. I say a prayer as
I begin each ride and today the Lord watched over me for sure.
Regulars here know I live in a remote, rural area. I did a tough 3-hour ride
including about 15 excursions down to the Lake
Russell shoreline -- each involving a fast descent, then a turnaround at the
bottom and a climb back out of the basin. On one of my descents I heard a
crashing noise in the forest to the left of me and from my 9 O'clock came
about a half dozen large deer on the dead run. This was something I've
always feared. On a century ride a few years ago, I watched a
deer charge out of the woods and run square into the side of a moving
vehicle. It killed the deer and, by the sound of the impact, I assumed
it did major damage to the van. I've thought many times how bad it would be
for that to happen on the bike. And here it finally was. I braced for
impact 'cuz I knew it was certainly coming and it was going to be horrible.
(I probably screamed like a little girl. I know I said some words that
the Lord wouldn't approve of.) I vividly recall eye contact with a buck at
about 5 feet away just ahead of my left shoulder. I winced. But just
before my eyes completely closed and at the moment of impact, there they
were ... hooves ... up above my forehead. And another set. I felt them
gently rustle the back of my jersey. They jumped me. I was probably going
28 mph or so. They were probably doing the same. And they jumped me.
I almost crashed because I HADN'T been hit when I expected to be and nearly
missed a turn in the road. I can't describe the feeling. One moment I was
experience the same dreaded feeling I had when a teenage driver turned
directly into me and I saw it coming and knew I was going to be seriously
hurt. The next minute, the realization that I had been spared.
Exhilaration!
Whoa ... what a rush! DANG! Praise the LORD! If I were a cat, that was
one less life right there. I thought I was toast and I was truly in the
middle of nowhere. I might have laid there until the vultures picked me
clean before anyone would have happened onto me. I'm sure there was no cell
service. But instead, I finished out my ride strong on a huge surge of
adrenaline.
I was jumped by a freakin' herd of deer!
I know it sounds nuts, but it's true. I just had to share.
Bob C.
The "science" on any matter can never be settled until every possible variable is taken into account.
honestly happened to me today. I was in total disbelief. I say a prayer as
I begin each ride and today the Lord watched over me for sure.
Regulars here know I live in a remote, rural area. I did a tough 3-hour ride
including about 15 excursions down to the Lake
Russell shoreline -- each involving a fast descent, then a turnaround at the
bottom and a climb back out of the basin. On one of my descents I heard a
crashing noise in the forest to the left of me and from my 9 O'clock came
about a half dozen large deer on the dead run. This was something I've
always feared. On a century ride a few years ago, I watched a
deer charge out of the woods and run square into the side of a moving
vehicle. It killed the deer and, by the sound of the impact, I assumed
it did major damage to the van. I've thought many times how bad it would be
for that to happen on the bike. And here it finally was. I braced for
impact 'cuz I knew it was certainly coming and it was going to be horrible.
(I probably screamed like a little girl. I know I said some words that
the Lord wouldn't approve of.) I vividly recall eye contact with a buck at
about 5 feet away just ahead of my left shoulder. I winced. But just
before my eyes completely closed and at the moment of impact, there they
were ... hooves ... up above my forehead. And another set. I felt them
gently rustle the back of my jersey. They jumped me. I was probably going
28 mph or so. They were probably doing the same. And they jumped me.
I almost crashed because I HADN'T been hit when I expected to be and nearly
missed a turn in the road. I can't describe the feeling. One moment I was
experience the same dreaded feeling I had when a teenage driver turned
directly into me and I saw it coming and knew I was going to be seriously
hurt. The next minute, the realization that I had been spared.
Exhilaration!
Whoa ... what a rush! DANG! Praise the LORD! If I were a cat, that was
one less life right there. I thought I was toast and I was truly in the
middle of nowhere. I might have laid there until the vultures picked me
clean before anyone would have happened onto me. I'm sure there was no cell
service. But instead, I finished out my ride strong on a huge surge of
adrenaline.
I was jumped by a freakin' herd of deer!
I know it sounds nuts, but it's true. I just had to share.
Bob C.
The "science" on any matter can never be settled until every possible variable is taken into account.