Offed by a Sodding Cat

[John the Monkey]

This morning - pottering along up Egerton Road when a cat comes running across in front of me.

Slammed the brakes on, but must have had the bike at an angle, because the front got away from me and down I went.

Rear rack is scraped up (but seems ok) and the plastic bits of my STis are a mess - my Carradice stood up to things pretty well, and is just a bit dirty (thanks Priscilla, you made that one well!) I have a bruised elbow and a bit of road rash on my knee. The cat buggered off before I could give it a kick in the arse.

FFS, what a Monday.

 

[yello]

Join the club, I was similarly off'ed a few weeks back. My first off in around 7 years too I reckon.

 

[Crackle]

Oh no, your new bike too. So you didn't actually hit him it was just the avoidance that sent you down?

 

[BentMikey]

Oooh bugger, much sympathy!

I never swerve for animals now, just slow down in control, shout, and after consideration take gentle avoiding action if it's possible and safe. Small dogs and cats will almost always get out of your way, they are very quick.

 

[hackbike 666]

I find it's pigeons in the early morning all feeding in the road and i've had a few fly into my spokes.Commiserations mate.

 

[HLaB]

I don't know how I didn't have an off, but as I freewheeling down a 10% country lane (no street lights) a cat decided to jump out of the ditch straight at me. It somehow got through underneath the BB, WTF!

 

[Keith Oates]

Bad luck JTM, hope you mend quickly. However your comment about not being able to kick up the backside made me smile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[John the Monkey]

Thanks for the sympathy - I think you're probably right, Mikey, although it's a bit of a reflexive thing to brake & try to avoid something suddenly running in front of you.

 

[Corvette chic]

sorry about your off this am at least your ok

 

[fossyant]

Bad luck..... raods are a bit greasy this morning, with the light rain we had overnight. Not much you can do. Hope there aren't too many holes in your kit.....

Two visits from the fairy this am for me..... one piece of wire, and one snake bite..... and one knackered tube as the valve came away from the tube...

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Ooo nasty! - bloody cats, if they're not sh1tting on your lawn....

 

[Campfire]

Ooh, was the cat OK?

Seriously though, hope you soon mend.

It is completely involuntary to swerve. My ex swerved to avoid a chicken in the road. New car, 500 miles only, in around 1970. Servos locked up, car swerved, ended up upside down in the ditch. Him ok but me cracked ribs, deep cuts on face etc. We didn't have chicken for dinner!

 

[purplepolly]

Cats are perfectly entitled to run out into the road if they want to. Not even their "owner" can be held responsible.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Ooh, was the cat OK?

Seriously though, hope you soon mend.

It is completely involuntary to swerve. My ex swerved to avoid a chicken in the road. New car, 500 miles only, in around 1970. Servos locked up, car swerved, ended up upside down in the ditch. Him ok but me cracked ribs, deep cuts on face etc. We didn't have chicken for dinner!

On the safe/defensive driving courses I've been on tell you never swerve to avoid an animal. Agree, it's an instinctive reaction.

 

[johnr]

Now your squirrel, there's a cunning beast. Freewheeling downhill at some speed, last week, I saw a squirrel run out into the road. It stopped right in my line, turned and looked like it was going to return the way it had come. But no, the cheeky rodent-with-siminan-characteristics sat down and stared at me as I hauled on brakes, before sauntering off when I was about three feet away... I probably imagined the high-pitched giggle.