Hrmmph!!

I loved the way you wrote this...don't suppose you are free to write some of my College term essays?

Last year I encountered a horse ridden by a Police Officer. I was on the designated Bike Way with
fierce auto traffic to my left and this horse was "parked" in my path. The officer was carrying on a
conversation with a Greyhound bus driver...also parked on the Bike Way. The height of the seated
Officer and the seated bus driver were equal (not that this maters). I was down there looking up at
the rump of this horse offering loud suggestions to the Police Officer...like move it and get a room
etc. and was totally ignored. I could not pull out into traffic to get around the horse and bus and
so I decided to introduce the horse to Mr.Falcon Air Horn and that horse could have easily qualified
for the Kentucky Derby. It took off like a bat out of hell into the sunset and I got to ride home.
Thankfully Mr.Air Horn did not give the horse a coronary, would probably have got charged with
horse-icide.

In your case, maybe a few sugar cubes might make the horses more at ease with your lowracer. Get
them trained to look forward to meeting the guy with the Sugar Cubes and they'll ignore what you are
riding to get the Sugar to them.

Apart from the horse issue, where you ride sounds like a very nice country route.
--------------------------------------------
"Colin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Decided to take the bike out for a spin today before the rain came, and *once again* (being a
rural area) I met some horses, this time pulling a buggy. Now I am aware that all horses that I've
met so far are a bit wary

of

Quoted message said:

my bike, it being a lowracer recumbent, but I'm getting a bit fed up

having

Quoted message said:

to stop, get off, and stand by my bike until the horses have gone by - Frustrating, and moreso
today as I was told it was my fault the horses

were

Quoted message said:

a bit skittish "as I was so low" (so woebetide anyone out walking a daschund!), as if I'm
responsible for the rider/driver's lack of control

of

Quoted message said:

their animal. This is getting so common now that I thought I'd check the highway code out for the
next time it happens, as I'm sure it must say somewhere that all road users should be in control
of whatever mode of transport they are using, or words to that effect: only common sense, surely.
Imagine my annoyance to not find such wording (not yet, anyway), but did find rule 191 (titled
"Horseriders"😉 that states "...Look out for horse riders' signals and heed a request to slow down
or stop. ..." So it seems (unless anyone knows different) that despite being a

responsible

Quoted message said:

cyclist, knowing I must be in control of my bike and knowing I'm culpable for the actions I make
whilst on a public road, I can be stopped by anyone riding a horse simply because they cannot
control their animal as I cycle

by

Quoted message said:

on the other side of the road 🙁

As it happens, I always end up stopping anyway - I don't want to be even remotely "responsible"
for causing a mishap, and not least because my head would be very close to hoof height of the
horse <g>

I guess, like so many other cyclists, I shall just have to get used to

being

Quoted message said:

treated unfairly whilst out cycling

Colin

---
cycling AT spiralpathways DOT co DOT uk

"Wile E.Coyote" <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

In your case, maybe a few sugar cubes might make the horses more at ease with your lowracer. Get
them trained to look forward to meeting the guy with the Sugar Cubes and they'll ignore what you
are riding to get the Sugar to them.

For even more fun, get those kind of sugar cubes we used to buy from "Uncle Sid" back in the '60s...

rorschandt "Relax, turn off your mind and float downstream. Is this not dying?"

Colin said:

Decided to take the bike out for a spin today before the rain came, and *once again* (being a
rural area) I met some horses, this time pulling a buggy. Now I am aware that all horses that I've
met so far are a bit wary of my bike, it being a lowracer recumbent, but I'm getting a bit fed up
having to stop, get off, and stand by my bike until the horses have gone by - Frustrating, and
moreso today as I was told it was my fault the horses were a bit skittish "as I was so low" (so
woebetide anyone out walking a daschund!), as if I'm responsible for the rider/driver's lack of
control of their animal....

If you are in Iowa... [1]

[1] <http://nationalby-products.com/>

Tom Sherman - Various HPV's Quad Cities USA (Illinois side)

so like your desire to paint your new space frame trike Purple and have Xmas tree lights flashing on
and off inside the space frame really has nothing to do with you knowing Uncle Sid in the 60s right?
------------------
"rorschandt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Wile E.Coyote" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

In your case, maybe a few sugar cubes might make the horses more at ease with your lowracer. Get
them trained to look forward to meeting the guy with the Sugar Cubes and they'll ignore what you
are riding to get the Sugar to them.

For even more fun, get those kind of sugar cubes we used to buy from

"Uncle

Quoted message said:

Sid" back in the '60s...

rorschandt "Relax, turn off your mind and float downstream. Is this not dying?"

Colin,

Horses have a weird visual frame of reference. I have seen them freak out over a sheet of plastic
taped to the side of an arena. Recumbents invariably freak them out because they are new and
different, therefore not to be trusted. Don't take it personally, just do what you can to help the
rider out. I have found that talking to the rider calmly and cheerfully while the horse passes goes
a long way to make a dicey situation better.

How do you think motorists feel when you have to "take the lane" in traffic and it slows them down?
The good ones will make allowances and not get angry or peeved. Do your best to be tolerant when the
situation is reversed, and the world will be a better place to live in.

Cheers, Derek

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

Quoted message said:

Decided to take the bike out for a spin today before the rain came, and *once again* (being a
rural area) I met some horses, this time pulling a buggy. Now I am aware that all horses that I've
met so far are a bit wary

of

Quoted message said:

my bike, it being a lowracer recumbent, but I'm getting a bit fed up

having

Quoted message said:

to stop, get off, and stand by my bike until the horses have gone by - Frustrating, and moreso
today as I was told it was my fault the horses

were

Quoted message said:

a bit skittish "as I was so low" (so woebetide anyone out walking a daschund!), as if I'm
responsible for the rider/driver's lack of control

of

Quoted message said:

their animal. This is getting so common now that I thought I'd check the highway code out for the
next time it happens, as I'm sure it must say somewhere that all road users should be in control
of whatever mode of transport they are using, or words to that effect: only common sense, surely.
Imagine my annoyance to not find such wording (not yet, anyway), but did find rule 191 (titled
"Horseriders"😉 that states "...Look out for horse riders' signals and heed a request to slow down
or stop. ..." So it seems (unless anyone knows different) that despite being a

responsible

Quoted message said:

cyclist, knowing I must be in control of my bike and knowing I'm culpable for the actions I make
whilst on a public road, I can be stopped by anyone riding a horse simply because they cannot
control their animal as I cycle

by

Quoted message said:

on the other side of the road 🙁

As it happens, I always end up stopping anyway - I don't want to be even remotely "responsible"
for causing a mishap, and not least because my head would be very close to hoof height of the
horse <g>

I guess, like so many other cyclists, I shall just have to get used to

being

Quoted message said:

treated unfairly whilst out cycling

Colin

---
cycling AT spiralpathways DOT co DOT uk

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

Quoted message said:

Decided to take the bike out for a spin today before the rain came, and *once again* (being a
rural area) I met some horses, this time pulling a buggy. Now I am aware that all horses that I've
met so far are a bit wary

of

Quoted message said:

my bike, it being a lowracer recumbent, but I'm getting a bit fed up

having

Quoted message said:

to stop, get off, and stand by my bike until the horses have gone by - Frustrating, and moreso
today as I was told it was my fault the horses

were

Quoted message said:

a bit skittish "as I was so low" (so woebetide anyone out walking a daschund!), as if I'm
responsible for the rider/driver's lack of control

of

Quoted message said:

their animal. This is getting so common now that I thought I'd check the highway code out for the
next time it happens, as I'm sure it must say somewhere that all road users should be in control
of whatever mode of transport they are using, or words to that effect: only common sense, surely.

-snippage-

Horses think of themselves as "prey" and their natural fright response is to run away (bolt). The
relationship between a horse and it's rider, or driver in this case, is tenuous and based on mutual
trust. It's not uncommon to have a horse "spook" at totally irrational objects (mine spooked once at
a manhole cover in the street and threw me on the ground). Give the horse, and it's rider/driver a
break _and_ a wide berth if necessary. They aren't dogs/people/cats etc. They're are a 1200+ lb,
totally irrational animal capable of doing substantial damage.

$0.02 worth from someone who rode horses for a long time before riding 'bents.

<Chas> Haluzak Hybrid Race -- the inline wheelchair

There are shared horse/hiking paths in a forest preserve near me, (outside chicago) and very often,
when I'm out for a trail run, I get grief from the amateur horse handlers that populate the trail.
Their horses seem unable to cope with my running past, and they get even freakier when I'm leading
my golden retriever. He doesn't even give the horses a second look, but the riders get all huffy.

I'd like to say, "hey, my animal is behaving, how 'bout you train yours?" but on the otherhand, it's
like tangling with a car. Better to be alive than right.

Colin, you are either very brave or foolish to ride a low racer in horse country. Why the heck do
you think the big-wheel bone-shakers were the first bikes made (in commercial numbers for any
historical accuracy freaks out there)? Because they were safe? Because they were fun and easy to
ride? Because of the horses? Not. Not. And NOT QUITE. It was because of what the horses left behind.
Riders wanted to get as far away as possible.

It was only after automobiles replaced horses that it was safe to get closer to the ground. Really,
Honest. I am not making this up. 🙂 Don

I understand your point of view, and I'm not trying to say this is equivalent, but your frustration
at having to share the road with horses sounds to me a lot like the frustration drivers feel at
having to share the road with cyclists.

--
David Luecke Ridin' a RANS Vivo (wahoo!) Merritt Island, Florida USA

Seth Jayson said:

There are shared horse/hiking paths in a forest preserve near me, (outside chicago) and very
often, when I'm out for a trail run, I get grief from the amateur horse handlers that populate
the trail. Their horses seem unable to cope with my running past, and they get even freakier when
I'm leading my golden retriever. He doesn't even give the horses a second look, but the riders
get all huffy.

I'd like to say, "hey, my animal is behaving, how 'bout you train yours?" but on the otherhand,
it's like tangling with a car. Better to be alive than right.

I suggest that escalation is in order. You should get at least a camel to ride on the mixed use
trails. If you have the space to keep one, an Indian elephant would be the ultimate solution.

Tom Sherman - Various HPV's Quad Cities USA (Illinois side)

<Chas> wrote: <snip>

Quoted message said:

Give the horse, and it's rider/driver a break _and_ a wide berth if necessary.

I do just that - being a bit peeved is not an excuse for not doing the right thing

Quoted message said:

They aren't dogs/people/cats etc. They're are a 1200+ lb, totally irrational animal capable of
doing substantial damage.

But this was my point - If you put a totally irrational (or drunk, or
psychotic - in other words someone not in proper control) driver in control of a 1200+ lb car,
capable of doing substantial damage, I can't think of anyone in this group who would argue that
they should be out on the road with other users. Now before anyone has a go at me because they
think I am saying horses shouldn't be on the road, I'm not: I'm simply saying that if the riders
choose to take their horse on the road (which they are perfectly entitled to do, exactly the same
as car drivers, cyclists and pedestrians), then they should be in control (exactly the same as car
drivers, cyclists and pedestrians), for their own safety as well as that of others. Had I not
subscribed to alt.rec.bycycles.recumbent for some months before I got my bike, I would not have
been aware that they can spook horses. This would have meant that when I encountered the first
horse out on the road, I would have been expecting nothing different to the countless other times
I have passed horses on my upright bike without any problems. This could have led to a nasty
incident for both me and the horse rider: the fact I was aware there might be an issue meant I
took extra care.

Colin

--
cycling AT spiralpathways DOT co DOT uk

derek said:

How do you think motorists feel when you have to "take the lane" in traffic and it slows them
down? The good ones will make allowances and not get angry or peeved.

True enough, though how many would remain so if when seeing me approach from the other
direction, they had to stop, get out of their car and wait for me to pass lest I fall off, lose
control or run into them? Presumably they assume I am a competent rider and able to control my
steed out on the road.

Quoted message said:

Do your best to be tolerant when the situation is reversed, and the world will be a better
place to live
in.

Maybe it's just me, but I find tolerance is much easier when both parties make an effort, beyond
saying "It's your fault, you shouldn't be so low down"

Colin

--
cycling AT spiralpathways DOT co DOT uk

Colin said:

Now before anyone has a go at me because they think I am saying horses shouldn't be on the road,
I'm not: I'm simply saying that if the riders choose to take their horse on the road (which they
are perfectly entitled to do, exactly the same as car drivers, cyclists and pedestrians), then
they should be in control (exactly the same as car drivers, cyclists and pedestrians), for their
own safety as well as that of others.

You forget that horses and pedestrians were using the roads long before bicycles and cars came
along. Horses have always behaved like that and if we want to share the road with them with our
modern vehicles then we have to accept them as they are and their prior historical right to be
there. And no I'm not and never have been a horse rider.

Tony

--
raven-family.comraven-family.comOpen ↗

"All truth goes through three steps: First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed.
Finally, it is accepted as self-evident." Arthur Schopenhauer

IIRC some historical anecdotes about early laws covering cars, one law required someone with a flag
walk in front of a car to warn equestrian traffic of the approaching car. It seems the horsey set
still has enough political clout that the horse takes precidence on the local trail system. "David
Luecke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I understand your point of view, and I'm not trying to say this is equivalent, but your
frustration at having to share the road with horses sounds to me a lot like the frustration
drivers feel at having to share

the

Quoted message said:

road with cyclists.

--
David Luecke Ridin' a RANS Vivo (wahoo!) Merritt Island, Florida USA

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

Quoted message said:

Decided to take the bike out for a spin today before the rain came, and *once again* (being a
rural area) I met some horses, this time pulling a buggy. Now I am aware that all horses that I've
met so far are a bit wary

of

Quoted message said:

my bike, it being a lowracer recumbent, but I'm getting a bit fed up

having

Quoted message said:

to stop, get off, and stand by my bike until the horses have gone by -

<snip>

Quoted message said:

As it happens, I always end up stopping anyway - I don't want to be even remotely "responsible"
for causing a mishap, and not least because my head would be very close to hoof height of the
horse <g>

I guess, like so many other cyclists, I shall just have to get used to

being

Quoted message said:

treated unfairly whilst out cycling

Colin

I always gave consideration to horses / their riders on the Queen's highways and byways in the UK,
whether in my car, on my motorbike or pushbike... That was until recently when I rode e2e. 920 miles
in 10 days. 3 near misses that had me seriously concerned for my wellbeing. I couldn't believe it.
They were all horse transporters. I can only guess that it was because these monster trucks are
being driven by mummy who is only used to driving the family 4x4 during the week and gets a little
confused with vehicle width, driving Priscilla to the donkey show at the weekends !!....from now on
they're all 'fair game', no further consideration!! and don't give me no b*ll*x about sinking to
their level. I must have had hundreds if not thousands of vehicles pass me during that ride as it
was all on A-roads, some of them approaching M-way standards (i.e. lots of v.fast traffic).
Literally, no problem with any of it except these three lorries.... Cheers, Safe riding, Dave.

p.s. - guess all the Americans are from the recumbent ng ?....

Colin said:

Now I am aware that all horses that I've met so far are a bit wary of my bike, it being a lowracer
recumbent, but I'm getting a bit fed up having to stop, get off, and stand by my bike until the
horses have gone by -

Rings a bell :-)

I find that talking to the riders helps. "Is the horse bothered by the bike?" seems to be well
received, and I now routinely stop if the horse seems at all skittish. Nothing unfaiur about it,
really - just as motorists are obliged to slow down and give us extra consideration (not that the
selfish gits ever do) we are obliged to take account of the reactions of horses; they are none
too bright.

Guy
===
** WARNING ** This posting may contain traces of irony. chapmancentral.comchapmancentral.comOpen ↗ (BT ADSL and
dynamic DNS permitting)
NOTE: BT Openworld have now blocked port 25 (without notice), so old mail addresses may no longer
work. Apologies.

Quoted message said:

IIRC some historical anecdotes about early laws covering cars, one law required someone with a
flag walk in front of a car to warn equestrian traffic of the approaching car.

Actually, there's pending legistlation in Illinois regarding horses and bikes on trails.

In summary: Bicycle riding anywhere in vicinity of horse trail must do the following:

1) Have someone walk in front with a yellow flag. Said flagger must not wave flag, though, as this
might spook horse. Said flagger, moreover, must have voice of soothingness not less than that of
an NPR newsman, ie Cory Flintoff.

2) Flagger must carry one dozen doses of large animal valium (NAV) in a quick-dose system. These
must be administered to any horse within sight of bicycle, either orally or through the horse's
anus. If anal dosing is necessary, flagger must use an even more soothing voice.

3) Upon dosing horse with Valium, flagger must cut one or two bushes worth of local foliage and tape
it to approaching bicyclist, as to hide both man and machine from drugged horse.

4) After horses and bicyclists have passed one another, flagger must apologize to horsemen for the
inconvenience.

I'm not sure who's sponsoring the bill, but he was wearing a cowboy hat and he had a decal in the
back of his truck that depicted a Chevy truck urinating on a Ford truck.

You'll hear from Bruce the shrubber about this! "Seth Jayson" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

IIRC some historical anecdotes about early laws covering cars, one law required someone with a
flag walk in front of a car to warn equestrian traffic of the approaching car.

Actually, there's pending legistlation in Illinois regarding horses and bikes on trails.

In summary: Bicycle riding anywhere in vicinity of horse trail must do the following:

1) Have someone walk in front with a yellow flag. Said flagger must not wave flag, though, as this
might spook horse. Said flagger, moreover, must have voice of soothingness not less than that
of an NPR newsman, ie Cory Flintoff.

2) Flagger must carry one dozen doses of large animal valium (NAV) in a quick-dose system. These
must be administered to any horse within sight of bicycle, either orally or through the horse's
anus. If anal dosing is necessary, flagger must use an even more soothing voice.

3) Upon dosing horse with Valium, flagger must cut one or two bushes worth of local foliage and
tape it to approaching bicyclist, as to hide both man and machine from drugged horse.

4) After horses and bicyclists have passed one another, flagger must apologize to horsemen for the
inconvenience.

I'm not sure who's sponsoring the bill, but he was wearing a cowboy hat and he had a decal in the
back of his truck that depicted a Chevy truck urinating on a Ford truck.

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

Quoted message said:

So it seems (unless anyone knows different) that despite being a responsible cyclist, knowing I
must be in control of my bike and knowing I'm culpable for the actions I make whilst on a public
road, I can be stopped by anyone riding a horse simply because they cannot control their animal as
I cycle by on the other side of the road 🙁

"Control" is a relative term. A horse is not a machine; a bicycle is.

--
Dave...