Damn....Birdstrike
 

Well- it happened today on the way home, round the back of Boxhill after a lovely evening ride.

Got round a bend at 40-50 and there it was- no time to brake so I had to try and get around it. Poor thing hit the left side of the bike and my leg. I stopped a few hundred metres down the road and checked bike and me- I wasn't hurt and the bike was fine. Riding back and checking, the bird was decapitated, so hopefully didn't suffer.

It was a lucky escape for me, I guess, but I do feel bad- even though I couldn't have avoided the bird (though I s'pose some would argue I could've been riding slower in the first place).

Re: Damn....Birdstrike
 

:( poor bird. was it a pheasant? there seem to be loads of suicidal pheasants around at the moment. glad you and bike are ok though.

Re: Damn....Birdstrike
 

Yeah- looked like a pheasant. Just ran out there.

Guess I shouldn't dwell- though I try not to kill even wasps if they're indoors, so obviously don't like killing anything (maybe hell will be a horde of angry insects that have ended up on the bike/my visor).

Re: Damn....Birdstrike
 

i know what you mean.
i'm a veggie.

Re: Damn....Birdstrike
 

Ah- well, perhaps that's another part of my hypocrisy!! Though, being a fussy so and so, I think I'd live a hungry life without meat...

Re: Damn....Birdstrike
 

With all due respect, I would look at it along the lines thats one less stupid, suicidal pheasant about to take out another biker... I dont know of any other bird that rather than fly/run away from you actually aims for you than pheasants http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_1_16.gif :(

On the plus side, at least you and your bike are ok which is the important thing :D

Re: Damn....Birdstrike
 

You should have taken it home - they taste lovely with a bit of garlic :grin:

Re: Damn....Birdstrike
 

i s'pose at least it wouldn't have been wasted then. thought you weren't alowed to take home roadkill that you killed yourself though.

Re: Damn....Birdstrike
 

Funny thinngs, pheasants. They breed them at Kedleston Hall in between my home and work. I drive or ride the SV and they just don't see the danger. I ride in on the pushbike and they're off like a flash as soon as I'm anywhere near them.

Seems their instinct is the smaller and slower you are the more dangerous :scratch:

Re: Damn....Birdstrike
 

my bike instructor reckons that beeping at them is the best way of getting them to get out of the way.