BR61 - Magpie attack

Danmed #$$@%$$ magpies. I made the mistake of doing a short ride and
leaving the group at K Ground. As soon as I did it started raining
(obviously the it-never-rains-on-BR rule only applies if you stay with
the group). Then as I reach Research and start the downhill section,
cold and wet, something smacks into the side of my neck. OUCH!!! By the
time I realised it was a magpie I figured I was safe because I was doing
a decent downhill pace. Swearing loudly to myself stupid, blood mag...
WHACK, the bugger has chased me down the hill and hit me from the other
side in the ear. Funny how you can sprint when magpies are chasing, I
was off like a rocket. Got home to find it had drwan blood on both
sides. Can someone please ride out there and explain to him that it is
still winter.

DaveB

Little winged mongrels, the Audax list just went ballastic on this very same topic. Oh, it's early early spring..funny that. 😠

On 2005-08-21, DaveB (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

Quoted message said:

Danmed #$$@%$$ magpies. I made the mistake of doing a short ride and
leaving the group at K Ground. As soon as I did it started raining
(obviously the it-never-rains-on-BR rule only applies if you stay with
the group).

Correct. It didn't rain for us. Very very light spittle for a few
minutes. Road was completely dry by Burgundy st.

We all went Clinton's road this time. Seems FD is now a convert 🙂
And Blah's first time up there on the bike.

My legs were sore ever since Clintons road. The last 70 km were a
struggle. 🙂 Blame that on the 4 hours sleep (watching Nick Cave and
Johnny Cash et al. on Rage rage rage ra ra ra ra ra raaaaaaaAAAAge!)
🙁

Ess got a flat tire this time -- much trouble getting the damn tire
off.

Note to self: When road bends slightly, make sure you follow it even
when you are drinking and have one hand on the top of the bar, and
both hands certainly away from the brakes. There was a sharp dropoff
and lots of trees to the left, and I came onto the gravel, and had to
slowly ease myself back onto the road without shifting suddenly,
without being able to use my brakes, nor having full control of
steering, and without slipping on the gravel. If I slipped 2 inches
to the left, I would have been meeting a tree somewhere down the hill.

--
TimC
And it should be the law: If you use the word `paradigm' without knowing
what the dictionary says it means, you go to jail. No exceptions.
-- David Jones

fuggin stoopid wet roads, shaszhzhsafrashshzhaarasshsza 😠
thought i had my headspace cleared out but today proved me wrong 🙁
luckily only damage to my pride. bike seems untouched. booo

In article <[email hidden]>,

DaveB said:

Can someone please ride out there and explain to him that it is
still winter.

They seem to open their hunting season around August 1 every year. And
as you found, they'll gladly chase you down a hill.

--
Shane Stanley

Evan said:

DaveB said:

Danmed #$$@%$$ magpies. > DaveB

Must be an east coast thing. I live in the Perth Hills with lots of
Magpies and never have any problems.

No, I can assure you that once you leave Perth for the southwest the
maggies breed at a different time. Right now if you head south on the
Albany Hwy, once you leave the safety of the jarrah forrest (the other
side of those safe hills that you live on) at North Bannister about 90km
southeast of Perth, thereafter you can be maggied every few km all the
way down to Albany. Thats' the rest of the 450km trip. Ouch. Brings back
memories of sprinting up steep hills on a fully-loaded touring bike
outside of Kojonup just to escape the buggers.

This is a product of clearing the bush, in that the opened up paddocks
suit maggies and also that the only trees suitable for nesting are left
in that thin strip of roadside reserve all the way down the highway. If
roadside verges were 100m wide instead of 5m wide you might have a
chance to sneak past. No such luck.

I came back from Albany on that particular trip where I discovered this
gem of maggie experience via gravel roads cut through the bush and
hills, what maggies I met were less ferocious. There's your hint, if
maggies are hotted up in your area avoid sparsely treed sections of road
or wear a really heavy helmet (every once in a while you may ask
yourself "what's that tapping sound on my helmet?"😉.

Bear in mind also that maggies are protected and you can't do much about
a particular maggie unless your council is prepared to deal with it for
you. Also the main culprit is the male and the understanding is that his
hormones at mating time put him under considerable, fiery stress. How do
you think that you'd behave (badly?) if your gonads felt like they were
burning a hole in your crotch? A comforting thought for after the next
time mr. male maggie swoops you is that it might be hurting him more
than you.

P.S I am talking of the western, not black-backed or white-backed,
maggie of SW WA. But I think these will behave similarly.

DD said:

maggies are hotted up in your area avoid sparsely treed sections of road
or wear a really heavy helmet (every once in a while you may ask
yourself "what's that tapping sound on my helmet?"😉.

I think those bloody maggies are onto the protection of the helmet. This
one seems to have avoided the helmet and come in just under it's
protection judging by the war wounds.

As I turned into my street to get home from the ride there was a group
of magpies on the road so I deliberately swerved into them to give them
a fright. Hmm that sounds familiar. Of course you shouldn't judge all
magpies based on one magpie running a red light ... er I mean swooping
you, most of them are quite law abiding.

Dave "sore ear" B

"DD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Evan said:

DaveB said:

Danmed #$$@%$$ magpies. > DaveB

Must be an east coast thing. I live in the Perth Hills with lots of
Magpies and never have any problems.

No, I can assure you that once you leave Perth for the southwest the
maggies breed at a different time. Right now if you head south on the
Albany Hwy, once you leave the safety of the jarrah forrest (the other
side of those safe hills that you live on) at North Bannister about 90km
southeast of Perth, thereafter you can be maggied every few km all the way
down to Albany. Thats' the rest of the 450km trip. Ouch. Brings back
memories of sprinting up steep hills on a fully-loaded touring bike
outside of Kojonup just to escape the buggers.

This is a product of clearing the bush, in that the opened up paddocks
suit maggies and also that the only trees suitable for nesting are left in
that thin strip of roadside reserve all the way down the highway. If
roadside verges were 100m wide instead of 5m wide you might have a chance
to sneak past. No such luck.

I came back from Albany on that particular trip where I discovered this
gem of maggie experience via gravel roads cut through the bush and hills,
what maggies I met were less ferocious. There's your hint, if maggies are
hotted up in your area avoid sparsely treed sections of road or wear a
really heavy helmet (every once in a while you may ask yourself "what's
that tapping sound on my helmet?"😉.

Bear in mind also that maggies are protected and you can't do much about a
particular maggie unless your council is prepared to deal with it for you.
Also the main culprit is the male and the understanding is that his
hormones at mating time put him under considerable, fiery stress. How do
you think that you'd behave (badly?) if your gonads felt like they were
burning a hole in your crotch? A comforting thought for after the next
time mr. male maggie swoops you is that it might be hurting him more than
you.

P.S I am talking of the western, not black-backed or white-backed, maggie
of SW WA. But I think these will behave similarly.

I was watching 2 maggies having a go at a kookaburra the other day and it
was unreal. I have a whole new respect for those black & white winged
buggers now after watching them doing wing-overs, stall spins etc trying to
chase away the ever persisting Kooka, it was like the red baron strikes
again...only it was b&w. The conclusion I've come up with is, unless you're
riding your bike dressed up like an astronaut, there isn't any way you're
gunna outsmart them or out run them doesn't matter where they are from. I've
even had mates on motorbikes getting attacked by magpies while doing
60-70kph only they come from the side and not behind.

DJ

My BR consisted of an 81km ITT on completely FLAT roads around Horsham...
bright blue sky and only a slight wind.. though it wasn't all roses,
Saturday was a crappy ride in the rain 🙁

Talking to a young kid at the local cycle store about any group/bunch rides
on Sunday mornings.. he looks at me and says "oh I dunno, they are pretty
quick".. I held my tongue...

arh.. back to reality (hills) now..

cheers,
GPL

"DJ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"DD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Evan said:

DaveB wrote:

> Danmed #$$@%$$ magpies. > DaveB

Must be an east coast thing. I live in the Perth Hills with lots of
Magpies and never have any problems.

No, I can assure you that once you leave Perth for the southwest the
maggies breed at a different time. Right now if you head south on the
Albany Hwy, once you leave the safety of the jarrah forrest (the other
side of those safe hills that you live on) at North Bannister about 90km
southeast of Perth, thereafter you can be maggied every few km all the
way down to Albany. Thats' the rest of the 450km trip. Ouch. Brings back
memories of sprinting up steep hills on a fully-loaded touring bike
outside of Kojonup just to escape the buggers.

This is a product of clearing the bush, in that the opened up paddocks
suit maggies and also that the only trees suitable for nesting are left
in that thin strip of roadside reserve all the way down the highway. If
roadside verges were 100m wide instead of 5m wide you might have a chance
to sneak past. No such luck.

I came back from Albany on that particular trip where I discovered this
gem of maggie experience via gravel roads cut through the bush and hills,
what maggies I met were less ferocious. There's your hint, if maggies are
hotted up in your area avoid sparsely treed sections of road or wear a
really heavy helmet (every once in a while you may ask yourself "what's
that tapping sound on my helmet?"😉.

Bear in mind also that maggies are protected and you can't do much about
a particular maggie unless your council is prepared to deal with it for
you. Also the main culprit is the male and the understanding is that his
hormones at mating time put him under considerable, fiery stress. How do
you think that you'd behave (badly?) if your gonads felt like they were
burning a hole in your crotch? A comforting thought for after the next
time mr. male maggie swoops you is that it might be hurting him more than
you.

P.S I am talking of the western, not black-backed or white-backed, maggie
of SW WA. But I think these will behave similarly.

I was watching 2 maggies having a go at a kookaburra the other day and it
was unreal. I have a whole new respect for those black & white winged
buggers now after watching them doing wing-overs, stall spins etc trying
to chase away the ever persisting Kooka, it was like the red baron strikes
again...only it was b&w. The conclusion I've come up with is, unless
you're riding your bike dressed up like an astronaut, there isn't any way
you're gunna outsmart them or out run them doesn't matter where they are
from. I've even had mates on motorbikes getting attacked by magpies while
doing 60-70kph only they come from the side and not behind.

DJ

Slightly OT, out in the bush I was watching in amazement magpies doing
aerial warfare (and winning) against two eagles. Many hits were scored.

As I commute to work each day on my bicycle I have noticed a few magpies
giving me dirty looks. I suppose that time of the year approaches - magpies
and hay-fever....

Henry.

hemyd said:

Slightly OT, out in the bush I was watching in amazement magpies doing
aerial warfare (and winning) against two eagles. Many hits were scored.

As I commute to work each day on my bicycle I have noticed a few magpies
giving me dirty looks. I suppose that time of the year approaches - magpies
and hay-fever....

Henry.

And if you lived further into the bush you'd have to worry about male
emus attacking you at breeding time, let alone maggies.

And if you lived in an outer metro area like I used to, where you had to
contend with semis loaded with sheep or pigs going to the wharves, you
wouldn't worry so much about maggies (Hint: you learnt never to stop
next to one of these trucks at traffic lights, never to be passed
closely by them, never to ride in the centre of the lane in their wake,
never never try to draft behind them. Else: [censored] happens).

The world is a very unsafe place or just smells that bad at least.

Paint eyes on the back of your helmet/neck.

"DaveB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Danmed #$$@%$$ magpies. I made the mistake of doing a short ride and
leaving the group at K Ground. As soon as I did it started raining
(obviously the it-never-rains-on-BR rule only applies if you stay with
the group). Then as I reach Research and start the downhill section,
cold and wet, something smacks into the side of my neck. OUCH!!! By the
time I realised it was a magpie I figured I was safe because I was doing
a decent downhill pace. Swearing loudly to myself stupid, blood mag...
WHACK, the bugger has chased me down the hill and hit me from the other
side in the ear. Funny how you can sprint when magpies are chasing, I
was off like a rocket. Got home to find it had drwan blood on both
sides. Can someone please ride out there and explain to him that it is
still winter.

DaveB

1013 said:

Paint eyes on the back of your helmet/neck.

This one really deserves to be sent to the Mythbusters team. Some people
swear by it, then I've heard others report being hit by a maggie, while
using a helmet equipped with eyes.

Cheers
Peter

Peter Signorini said:

1013 said:

Paint eyes on the back of your helmet/neck.

This one really deserves to be sent to the Mythbusters team. Some people
swear by it, then I've heard others report being hit by a maggie, while
using a helmet equipped with eyes.

Cheers
Peter

I'm tipping a bird smart enough to peck me about 2 cm's below the helmet
line is going to be able to distinguish painted eyes from the real
thing. besides, if I paint eyes on the back and both sides I'm gonna
strat to look like a dalmation.

DaveB

quote='DaveB'Peter Signorini said:

1013 said:

Paint eyes on the back of your helmet/neck.

This one really deserves to be sent to the Mythbusters team. Some people
swear by it, then I've heard others report being hit by a maggie, while
using a helmet equipped with eyes.

Cheers
Peter

I'm tipping a bird smart enough to peck me about 2 cm's below the helmet
line is going to be able to distinguish painted eyes from the real
thing. besides, if I paint eyes on the back and both sides I'm gonna
strat to look like a dalmation.

DaveB[/QUOTE]
so its started already hey, although they are usually a little more aggressive out of the city area, its a well known fact, Magpies are about as smart as they come, just behind crows I think.... its worth a try.....

sounds like it was an action packed, eventful ride! glad you are all safe and back home.

DaveB said:

Danmed #$$@%$$ magpies. I made the mistake of doing a short ride and
leaving the group at K Ground. As soon as I did it started raining
(obviously the it-never-rains-on-BR rule only applies if you stay with
the group). Then as I reach Research and start the downhill section,
cold and wet, something smacks into the side of my neck. OUCH!!! By the
time I realised it was a magpie I figured I was safe because I was doing
a decent downhill pace. Swearing loudly to myself stupid, blood mag...
WHACK, the bugger has chased me down the hill and hit me from the other
side in the ear. Funny how you can sprint when magpies are chasing, I
was off like a rocket. Got home to find it had drwan blood on both
sides. Can someone please ride out there and explain to him that it is
still winter.

I was out riding around Longwarry today and got swooped. First time
for
this season! Bring it on. My helmet not only protects me from
headstrike on the ground, but has a number of beak-prints where it
protected me from aerial attack. Put *that* in your "helmets are
no use" basket, Euan!

On 2005-08-21, MikeyOz (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

Quoted message said:

DaveB said:

I'm tipping a bird smart enough to peck me about 2 cm's below the
helmet
line is going to be able to distinguish painted eyes from the real
thing. besides, if I paint eyes on the back and both sides I'm gonna
strat to look like a dalmation.

DaveB

so its started already hey, although they are usually a little more
aggressive out of the city area, its a well known fact, Magpies are
about as smart as they come, just behind crows I think.... its worth a
try.....

sounds like it was an action packed, eventful ride! glad you are all
safe and back home.

Hey, if you come along again, MikeOz we can send you up front to
protect us from all the birds!

--
TimC
A mouse is a device used to focus xterms.

TimC said:

On 2005-08-21, MikeyOz (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

Quoted message said:

DaveB said:

I'm tipping a bird smart enough to peck me about 2 cm's below the
helmet
line is going to be able to distinguish painted eyes from the real
thing. besides, if I paint eyes on the back and both sides I'm gonna
strat to look like a dalmation.

DaveB

so its started already hey, although they are usually a little more
aggressive out of the city area, its a well known fact, Magpies are
about as smart as they come, just behind crows I think.... its worth a
try.....

sounds like it was an action packed, eventful ride! glad you are all
safe and back home.

Hey, if you come along again, MikeOz we can send you up front to
protect us from all the birds!

--
TimC
A mouse is a device used to focus xterms.

hey that sounds like a great idea Tim!!!

the dog from the week before probably had a word to the magpies during the week.... they are all in cahoots you know.

DaveB said:

Danmed #$$@%$$ magpies. I made the mistake of doing a short ride and
leaving the group at K Ground. As soon as I did it started raining
(obviously the it-never-rains-on-BR rule only applies if you stay with
the group). Then as I reach Research and start the downhill section,
cold and wet, something smacks into the side of my neck. OUCH!!! By the
time I realised it was a magpie I figured I was safe because I was doing
a decent downhill pace. Swearing loudly to myself stupid, blood mag...
WHACK, the bugger has chased me down the hill and hit me from the other
side in the ear. Funny how you can sprint when magpies are chasing, I
was off like a rocket. Got home to find it had drwan blood on both
sides. Can someone please ride out there and explain to him that it is
still winter.

DaveB

Greetings,
So magpie season has started again! I was waiting for that, and will
note the date. The first reported attack was 4 Aug last year over in
Perth, and I was still being bombed on 9 Oct. Is it my imagination, or
are there more of the stupid buggers along some rural roads, and is the
bombing season now longer than the few weeks in September it used to be
20 years ago. Some serious research needed I think. As someone wrote
last year: Wanted - Self guided, rocket propelled magpie ahnnilator. And
the little [censored] are a protected species as well, so you can't just
shoot them.
Cheers,
Ray.