Hit A Bear this Past Weekend

[brokenbarrel1]

Sunday , I went for my usual bike ride through the valley of north west New Jersey . As I'm riding through the valley I see a big bear run out of the woods across the road in front of me. I slowed down to look and just enjoy nature. I continued down the road (about 1 mile) riding about 45-50 mph and as I came up over the crest of a hill a huge bear (probably 500 to 600 lbs) and 3 cubs are running across the road. I'm on the brakes hard, real hard, but not enough to lock them up.(that would be bad) I'm saying to myself, I'm not going to stop in time this is going to hurt. The mother and two cubs just squeak by me, but the third cub is at my front wheel and I'm still moving forward. I managed to miss the bear with my front wheel by inches but it was definitely going to go under my rear wheel, somehow I was able to stick my foot out. I hit the bear with my foot preventing the bear from getting under my rear wheel. The bear flipped over a couple of times on the road and then got up (a little stunned) and ran off into the woods towards its mother. As I looked in my mirror, two more cubs ran across the road. A total of 5 cubs with 1 mother. That was a little to close for comfort. I stopped for lunch down the road a bit for two reasons, 1st to clean my shorts out and 2nd to get something to eat. (that pair of underwear went right in the garbage when I got home) Every joint and muscle in my body hurt. I guess that's natures way of preparing for impact. The question is: If I broad sided the cub and killed it, along with me going down, what do you think the mother would have done? Hm mm, glad I didn't find out. I might have to invest in a pair of "BEAR" whistles for my bike ha ha. John

[lamble]

Sunday , I went for my usual bike ride through the valley of north west New Jersey . As I'm riding through the valley I see a big bear run out of the woods across the road in front of me. I slowed down to look and just enjoy nature. I continued down the road (about 1 mile) riding about 45-50 mph and as I came up over the crest of a hill a huge bear (probably 500 to 600 lbs) and 3 cubs are running across the road. I'm on the brakes hard, real hard, but not enough to lock them up.(that would be bad) I'm saying to myself, I'm not going to stop in time this is going to hurt. The mother and two cubs just squeak by me, but the third cub is at my front wheel and I'm still moving forward. I managed to miss the bear with my front wheel by inches but it was definitely going to go under my rear wheel, somehow I was able to stick my foot out. I hit the bear with my foot preventing the bear from getting under my rear wheel. The bear flipped over a couple of times on the road and then got up (a little stunned) and ran off into the woods towards its mother. As I looked in my mirror, two more cubs ran across the road. A total of 5 cubs with 1 mother. That was a little to close for comfort. I stopped for lunch down the road a bit for two reasons, 1st to clean my shorts out and 2nd to get something to eat. (that pair of underwear went right in the garbage when I got home) Every joint and muscle in my body hurt. I guess that's natures way of preparing for impact. The question is: If I broad sided the cub and killed it, along with me going down, what do you think the mother would have done? Hm mm, glad I didn't find out. I might have to invest in a pair of "BEAR" whistles for my bike ha ha. John


Pathetic!

To think you did all that and didn't bother to get your camera out and take action shots at the same time, what do you think sports mode is for...you should be ashamed!

Glad it all stayed safe in the end.;)

[barryg]

Unbelieveable and I believe it. Glad U survived it. Met a guy last year at the old Tag BMW up in Ill. who hit a bear in Wisconsin. He was at the dealer getting an estimate to fix the bike, He had a cast on and was pretty busted by the encounter. Ya'll are members of a pretty rare club (bear crash survivors) . And I worry about dogs and possums.

[PGlaves]

Come on! We want "Truth in the Title."

It should say - "I KICKED a bear this past weekend."

We can't count on anything anymore. ;)

p.s. Congratulations on good thinking!!

[Slablog]

It should say - "I KICKED a bear this past weekend."


A witta baby bear at that. I gotta ask, 'Were you a "cub" scout as a kid?'

No kidding. It could have been worse. Glad it wasn't.

[Rebgen]

I choose to view this event as the proverbial end to the Bear market we've been in. You challenged the Bear and forced a hasty retreat back into the woods. Thank you for taking the bullet for all of us!








Please stay alert on future rides for roaming Bulls. ;)

That is all. I don't think the generic meds are working as well.:laugh

[wsteinborn]

It woulda sucked a little too much if you would have hit the cub, went down, then had Mom tear you to bits.

[MCMXCIVRS]

It woulda sucked a little too much if you would have hit the cub, went down, then had Mom tear you to bits.

That's exactly what I was thinking too. Bad enough just hitting wildlife, you don't need them taking retribution afterwards.

[Pat Carol]

Two things would have possibly happened.

1. If you hit Boo Boo and laid the bike down. Momma might have come back and went off on you like a mad spider monkey.

2. If they were Russian Bears, maybe they would have all jumped on your bike and rode away, leaving you to the coyote's.

You are so lucky. I am glad that you shared your experience with us. Thank God your alright.

Take Care
Pat Carol

[shire2000]

You are very lucky you did not hit Mama bear square on. A friend hit a 500 pound bear at 60 MPH with his full size Ford Van E350 with a huge bumper on the front. Normally holds a trail bike. The Van was totalled. Engine was moved back 12 inches. It took 3 hours for them to cut him out of the van. Spent 9 months in hospital and now 18 months later he still has problems walking.

It hurts just to think what could happen to a bike rider. With any luck, you could have been launched over the top of the bear, but then you might have just been lunch.

You are one lucky somofabiatch.:thumb

[SheRidesABeemer]

Wow, bears in New Jersey....what a tale!