Some of you may remember I posted to the List about racing with deer this Spring.
Yesterday I sat off on a 45 miler in 18 degree temperatures. The Sun was brilliant, but the ditches were full of ice and the ponds where I sometimes see Sandhill Cranes were skimmed over, too. About 12 miles out I startled a pair of does beside the road and they looked at me in confusion as I bore down upon them.
This Spring I had just resumed riding and was on a 25 # touring bike and nearly managed to keep up with a similar pair. Today, I was loaded for bear. I had ridden about 4,000 miles this riding season and was about 12 miles out so I was well into my 2nd wind. I was also on my favorite go fast bike, a 25th Anniversary Replica by Richard Sachs...sublimely fast. I was instantly out of the saddle and sprinting for all I was worth toward them and as they milled for an instant before running down the road I was upon them. Now I don't know and really doubt if a deer has any conception of how fast a bicyclist ought to be, but when the nearest looked around and I was about 2 feet behind her and only a couple more to her side the stunned look on her face was priceless. They both panicked but good at this point and went into full scale acceleration and cut in front of me to cross the road. I actually had to hit the brakes.
I rode on grinning from ear to ear. "That'll fix 'em!", I thought. Next year if I can figure out a way to keep one going straight down the road, I'm going to try and grab its' tail and go for a real Devil's Whirlwind of a ride! {:<)
Tom Sanders
Lansing, Mi