Garry Booth wrote:The recently deceased bike fixing guru Richard Ballentine had some strong words on dog defence tactics: he was normally a sensible chap and his bike book is excellent. But he loses it a bit with man's best friend.
"If the dog attacks: one defense is aerosol pepper sprays made for this purpose. They have a range of about ten feet and are light enough to clip to your handlebars. A water pistol loaded with a water-amonia solution will also work but is a good deal less convenient. If you have neither of these and can't or won't climb a tree get a stick or a large rock. No? The bicycle pump. Try to ram it down his throat. In any event, don't cower or cover up, because the dog will only chew you to ribbons. Attack. Any small dog can simply be hoisted up by the legs and his brains dashed out. With a big dog you are fighting for your life. If you are weaponless try to tangle him up in your bike and then strangle him. Kicks to the genitals and which break ribs are effective. If you have got a pump or a stick hold it at both ends and offer it up to the dog horizontally. Often the dog will bit the stick/pump and hang on. Immediately lift the dog up and deliver a very solid kick to the gemitals. Follow up with breaking the dogs ribs or crushing its head with a rock. If worst comes to worst ram your entire arm down its throat. He will choke and die. Better your arm than your throat."
I am a great fan of Richard B's writing, and was sad when he died last year as it was his books that kept me going through difficult London commuting of the 1980s!
The passage above, I believe, caused some great debate and upset when it was published and I understand it was removed (or rather edited and tempered!) in later editions of Richards Bicycle Book. I never had one of the early editions with the above in it and am interested to have finally read what he originally wrote as I had heard about this passage!!
Mind you I think he had a similar view on motorists too
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