Buzzard attacks, broken chains & lightning strikes.

A few weeks ago, in a thread about the chances of breaking a chain on a
bike, David Martin stated that it was "about as likely as being attacked by
a buzzard, and only marginally more likely than being struck by lightning."

I have now had the first 2 happen to me this year so am rather hoping that
the third does not occur!



Earlier this year I was walking in the Howgill Fells when I was repeatedly
dive-bombed by a buzzard. Fortunately it did not connect, but fairly
un-nerving nonetheless!



On Saturday I was out on a day ride when strange noises began emanating from
the drive train. (Just sounded a bit like the chain rubbing on the front
mech cage). I stopped to investigate and was somewhat alarmed to see that
one of the side plates had disappeared from my chain. I'm amazed really that
it hadn't broken completely. (I must have ridden up a few small hills at
least with it in that state before I had stopped).

Needless to say I was about 50 miles from home at the time in the wilds of
the Northern Dales.
Fortunately I always carry a chain tool so I was quickly on my way.



Mind you, in about 120,000 miles of cycling, this is the first chain I have
broken, though whether with the increasingly narrow chains on modern bikes
it will become more common remains to be seen.
--

Dave Lawrance Photography
http://www.davelawrance.co.uk
http://www.northernlandscape.co.uk
http://www.cyclingphotos.co.uk

Also sprach Dave Lawrance
Earlier this year I was walking in the Howgill Fells when I was
repeatedly dive-bombed by a buzzard. Fortunately it did not connect,
but fairly un-nerving nonetheless!

And there is, of course, the famous Buzzard of Holsworthy, which is
well-known for attempting to snack on cyclists, or at least their headgear.
I believe a certain Mr. Kahn of the parish has been subjected to the
attentions of this bird.

--
Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
And I begged, "Angel of the Lord, what are these tortured screams?" And
the angel said unto me, "These are the cries of the carrots, the cries
of the carrots! You see, Reverend Maynard, tomorrow is harvest day and
to them it is the holocaust."

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 09:27:34 +0100, Dave Lawrance wrote:

Earlier this year I was walking in the Howgill Fells when I was repeatedly
dive-bombed by a buzzard. Fortunately it did not connect, but fairly
un-nerving nonetheless!

I've not had one buzz me but I did have one drop a rabbit on me. It gave
me quite a surprise that's for sure.

--
Regards
Tony
(Take out the garbage to reply)

I've not had one buzz me but I did have one drop a rabbit on me. It gave
me quite a surprise that's for sure.
I can imagine it would. I was equally surprised as I had not spotted the
bird at all. I was just walking along when I heard and felt the whoosh as it
swept over my head for the first time.
--
Dave Lawrance
http://www.davelawrance.co.uk
http://www.northernlandscape.co.uk
http://www.cyclingphotos.co.uk

Dave Lawrance wrote:
A few weeks ago, in a thread about the chances of breaking a chain on a
bike, David Martin stated that it was "about as likely as being attacked by
a buzzard, and only marginally more likely than being struck by lightning."

I have now had the first 2 happen to me this year so am rather hoping that
the third does not occur!

In other words, people will report it but it won't happen to most
people. Ie it is uncommon but given a sufficiently large population,
not unknown.

...d

Dave Lawrance wrote:
A few weeks ago, in a thread about the chances of breaking a chain on a
bike, David Martin stated that it was "about as likely as being attacked by
a buzzard, and only marginally more likely than being struck by lightning."


I had a bird touch my head whilst in Canada. Also had many birds flying
too close for comfort whilst in New Zealand. Never had a chain break
though nor been struck by ligthening !!!

MSeries wrote:
Dave Lawrance wrote:
A few weeks ago, in a thread about the chances of breaking a chain on a
bike, David Martin stated that it was "about as likely as being attacked by
a buzzard, and only marginally more likely than being struck by lightning."


I had a bird touch my head whilst in Canada. Also had many birds flying
too close for comfort whilst in New Zealand. Never had a chain break
though nor been struck by ligthening !!!

I have broken a chain (maybe a few) and the closest I have got to being
attacked by a bird was whilst climbing in Cornwall.

...d

Dave Lawrance wrote:
Mind you, in about 120,000 miles of cycling, this is the first chain I have
broken, though whether with the increasingly narrow chains on modern bikes
it will become more common remains to be seen.

I had a chain break on me quite recently, but I think it was my fault
because it was not long after I had refitted a chain and I think it was
the link that I had put back together [badly] that broke.

I now use Powerlinks only - and keep a spare in my on-bike toolkit,
along with my chain tool.

d.

Dave Larrington wrote:

I believe a certain Mr. Kahn of the parish has been subjected to the
attentions of this bird.

Indeed, on the Kernow & SW. He hit surprisingly hard, and with no
warning whatsoever - completely silent. He snatched my headscarf so
that I had to stop and retrieve it from where he dropped it in the
road.

On this same audax "Little" Richard Harding cleverly used his local
knowledge to take a longish detour to avoid the crazed predator. Due to
the infallible operation of the law of sod he was later swooped on by a
completely separate buzzard as he approached the environs of Looe. This
second bird did not actually strike him as I may have reported earlier.
He saw it coming and managed to deter it by vigorously shaking his fist
at it and shouting the traditional anti-buzzard cry of "f*ck off".

--
Dave...

dkahn400 wrote:
Dave Larrington wrote:

I believe a certain Mr. Kahn of the parish has been subjected to the
attentions of this bird.

Indeed, on the Kernow & SW. He hit surprisingly hard, and with no
warning whatsoever - completely silent. He snatched my headscarf so
that I had to stop and retrieve it from where he dropped it in the
road.

Another good argument for not using Hullmats. If you had, it might have
got a better grip on the slottie things with it's wee claws in the
foam, and, because you'd have a chinstrap, dragged you off to it's
lair to feed its starving fledglings. Or dropped you in the road.


--
Nobby