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

Originally Posted by beyond

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

Originally Posted by Grahameeboy

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

Originally Posted by Wingnut

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

Originally Posted by Grahameeboy

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

**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.