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View Full Version : The perils of early morning rides



slofox
10th January 2009, 12:32
I usually ride early in the day - partly due to work hours and partly because I enjoy the lower traffic volumes and cooler temps.....but there is a down side to this. Animules...of various sorts...
The two main culprits of late:
Pukekos. Dumb birds that fart around in the middle of the road watching you approach as they try to get their tiny minds to decide whether or not to get out of the way and if yes, which way to go....several near misses lately.
Rabbits. I didn't realise just how many dear little bunnies there are round my neck of the woods. This morning after riding Scotsman Valley Road, I came back through Tahuroa Road...which was fairly crawling with the little jumpy bas...errr, darlings...again, several near misses - especially the one that decided to run a suicide mission across the road in front of the bike - had he not stuck his boot down I would for sure have run into him...with who knows what results..?
Maybe I should ride a little later in the day...

Anyone else have such experiences?

MsKABC
10th January 2009, 12:37
They must be crepuscular ;)

Scotsman Valley Road - now there's a nice little area, haven't been there in years. Used to have a friend lived down there.

beyond
10th January 2009, 12:38
Yep, all the time :(

Bloody Pukekos are dangerous and will take you off your bike at speed. They are super solid. Always seem to fly straight up in front of you when all they have to do is step back the way they came.

Hawks feeding on road kill are another one to watch, just as dangerous with their talons hanging down as they lift off. Had to duck and weave a number of times.

Bunnies. Yep, hit one once, the sucker came out from the front tyre, jaw opens as it passed and took a chunk out of my knee with it's choppers :(
Wearing jeans that time.

slofox
10th January 2009, 12:51
Yep, all the time :(

Bloody Pukekos are dangerous and will take you off your bike at speed. They are super solid. Always seem to fly straight up in front of you when all they have to do is step back the way they came.

Hawks feeding on road kill are another one to watch, just as dangerous with their talons hanging down as they lift off. Had to duck and weave a number of times.

Bunnies. Yep, hit one once, the sucker came out from the front tyre, jaw opens as it passed and took a chunk out of my knee with it's choppers :(
Wearing jeans that time.

Hawks: Yep. Didn't mention those but had two to avoid this morning...
Spur Winged Plovers: Less common but really solid at speed...

Mystic13
11th January 2009, 08:14
yep dangerous? stuff.... except on the international forum I pop onto it seems other folks have kangaroos, brown bears, deer etc.

We've got it pretty good me thinks.

Grahameeboy
11th January 2009, 08:19
Once again Bikers blaming something else and it is now the poor old Pukeko and Rabbit which were here long before we started riding bikes...they are more entitled to be where they are than we are.

Riding on the road is a hazard...

Wingnut
11th January 2009, 08:46
Once again Bikers blaming something else and it is now the poor old Pukeko and Rabbit which were here long before we started riding bikes...they are more entitled to be where they are than we are.

Riding on the road is a hazard...

Perhaps he isn't exactly blaming the animals, but mearly highlighting the hazard that they pose.

Grahameeboy
11th January 2009, 09:19
Perhaps he isn't exactly blaming the animals, but mearly highlighting the hazard that they pose.

Same difference surely...

Slyer
11th January 2009, 09:22
Yes I have to say I'm glad I only have to avoid little birds and not polar bears.

spookytooth
11th January 2009, 09:38
Once again Bikers blaming something else and it is now the poor old Pukeko and Rabbit which were here long before we started riding bikes...they are more entitled to be where they are than we are.



this i have to dissagree with, i have never seen a rabbit or puk in a gas station paying its road tax yet :bleh:

Squiggles
11th January 2009, 10:03
I came across a group of cows on the way to the coro a couple of weeks back, would have been just after 7. They were making steady progress towards miranda, probably escaped overnight.

Grahameeboy
12th January 2009, 06:49
this i have to dissagree with, i have never seen a rabbit or puk in a gas station paying its road tax yet :bleh:

That's because they are a 'classic' so exempt silly....

prettybillie
12th January 2009, 07:08
Bunnies. Yep, hit one once, the sucker came out from the front tyre, jaw opens as it passed and took a chunk out of my knee with it's choppers :(
Wearing jeans that time.

Hope you took it home for dinner :bleh: