Sheep playing chicken

[David_S]

Has anyone else noted the propensity of sheep at the last minute to bolt in front of an approaching cyclist? Today on open moorland roads sheep grazing on left and right verges, and of course those to the left bolt to the right, and those on the right to the left. Fortunately living in Cumbria I am well versed in their crazy antics and slowed accordingly. Goodness knows the outcome if faced with a less cautious cyclist. What's really annoying is when struggling on upward slopes instead of bolting they saunter across the road in close proximity to your front wheel. Just taunting me !!

[Mike Sales]

I find it quite annoying when I am grinding up a long Welsh climb and the stupid sheep begins running ahead of me. I worry that I may drive it miles into the next valley, far from its home turf. So I attempt to raise my speed above the sheep's. Alas, I do not have the uphill accelaration of a Spanish pro, and the sheep easily stays ahead. The only hope is a widening in the road, perhaps a gateway, so that the brute dives to the side as I give it my all to get ahead of her.

[David_S]

That happens to me too, but I don't worry. They can take care of themselves more than adequately.

[Vorpal]

http://road.cc/content/news/125684-vide ... es-cyclist

[Vantage]

One of my favourites
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjXrFPEPIIs

[Mick F]

I was up on Dartmoor a few days ago, and it was a big brown cow that wandered onto the road in front of me. She just stopped in the middle of the road, looked around, then carried on her way.

There's a 40mph speed limit up there, and you can see why.

[thirdcrank]

I've always assumed that sheep can see that cyclists are people ie instinctively treated as a threat, especially when close by, but that they see and interpret motor traffic differently.

[tatanab]

I come across sheep and cattle quite frequently when riding through common land. None are bothered by me even though they may be only a foot or two away from me. I simply talk to them as I approach.

Horses are different. I used to live in the New Forest and I am pretty sure that the ponies look out for you. You can almost imagine the leader saying "ok lads, here's one. Wait until you see the whites of his eyes. Wait- wait. NOW step out".

[CREPELLO]

I've always assumed that sheep can see that cyclists are people ie instinctively treated as a threat, especially when close by, but that they see and interpret motor traffic differently.

On the busier open moor roads, the sheep seem anything but sheepish, even with us cyclists. Give em a few feet distance and they'll just continue chewin the cud.

[Mick F]

A friend of mine was talking to his daughter when she was learning to drive. He made a statement that has stuck in my brain since.

If the sheep are eating, they'll stay eating.
If the sheep aren't eating, they could cross the road in front of you.

[David_S]

My sheep were eating on either side of the road. They still bolted across the road as I approached. Fortunately I had the good sense to anticipate their erratic behaviour. Even more oddly they did they same thing, well sauntered rather than bolted, when I was heading uphill at 4mph. I could hardly be accused of startling them at that speed! Mind you herdwicks are an odd breed

[hufty]

When sheep think they are in danger their priority is usually to get back to the herd, which minimises their individual chance of being picked off. But they are stupid too.

[fluffybunnyuk]

The secret to remember is that running in straight lines is a great defense mechanism for getting away, provided your a sheep running from a predator.
So if the sheeps running down the road, slow down, and let it think your tired. Then it'll dodge off to the left or right. Understanding any kind of behaviour is always useful

[TonyR]

I've always assumed that sheep can see that cyclists are people ie instinctively treated as a threat, especially when close by, but that they see and interpret motor traffic differently.

How they react is related to the speed of the thing they are reacting to. Nature has programmed them to react only to things moving at the speeds that predators go and motor traffic tends to go a lot faster than that so typically gets ignored. Slow down in your car and they will react. Go fast enough on your bike and they'll ignore you.

[TonyR]

Horses are different. I used to live in the New Forest and I am pretty sure that the ponies look out for you. You can almost imagine the leader saying "ok lads, here's one. Wait until you see the whites of his eyes. Wait- wait. NOW step out".

Don't they just!!!