Killer Squirrel attack

Carl Sundquist

"Ryan Cousineau" <rcousine@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:rcousine-6CB576.01110920062008@[74.223.185.199.nw.nuvox.net]...
> In article
> <e374a2d9-81ca-4258-9e0a-466cb0df5cc1@w34g2000prm.googlegroups.com>,
> Dan O <danoverman@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Jun 19, 7:44 pm, "Carl Sundquist" <carl...@cox.net> wrote:
>> > "Dan O" <danover...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> >
>> > news:0f9fb585-87b0-4c39-aed2-f05123f0d31f@x1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
>> >
>> > > On Jun 19, 12:22 pm, carlfo...@comcast.net wrote:
>> > >> On Jun 18, 7:54 pm, Mike A Schwab <mike.a.sch...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > >> >http://picasaweb.google.com/dbiked/...key=iOs1rM3MJzo
>> >
>> > > Since, thankfully, "... he's now ok" I can say it: Steel is real.
>> >
>> > Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the fork breaking somewhat
>> > reduce
>> > pivoting of the bike/rider into downward force? In other words, if the
>> > fork
>> > hadn't broken, would the inertial forces of the bike/rider have rotated
>> > downward as the front wheel could no longer spin?
>>
>> You mean to suggest that you think it would've been worse with steel
>> forks?!? Did you see the Life Flight pics or what?! How would you
>> like to just lose the whole frickin' front end of your bike at speed?
>
> Well, even I believe it's very likely the squirrel-body would have given
> out first, but it would have been a rapid deceleration nonetheless.
>
> Also, never underestimate the utter randomness of bike crashes. At
> tonight's criterium race, two of my teammates collided and ended up
> landing on the ground, off the side of the course, about two feet from
> each other. One went home with a band-aid or two. The other went to the
> hospital with a probable broken collarbone and collapsed lung. His bike
> had a slightly bent rear rim and a big gash in the saddle.
>
>> Why couldn't the wheel continue to spin? And even if you did get...
>> um, an especially stout squirrel in the spokes, somehow managing to
>> lock the wheel, wouldn't that just pitch you over the bars instead of
>> smack into the ground?
>
> Again, it depends. I think your instinct that the big mass in this
> equation (to wit, the rider) would sorta want to not change its course
> in space, it would definitely be influenced by the sudden stoppage of
> the front wheel. Of more concern than the question of whether the rider
> would be plunged into the ground head-first at a speed exceeding that
> provided by the influence of gravity, would be that the rider would be
> launched horizontally forward off the bike but quite possibly spinning,
> meaning more random potential for injury.
>
> A fork breaking always bad, but so is getting a squirrel stuck between
> your spokes and your fork,
>

First and foremost, I would agree with you Ryan that there is a great
randomness to degree of injuries in crashes.

That said, I was simply trying to ascertain if there would be any benefit to
breakaway parts, somewhat akin to designed-in crumple zones on cars. Could
injury generally be lessened if a breakaway part was engineered so that you
could have more of a sliding impact rather than a direct impact? As Ryan
suggests, degree of injury for similar impacts seem random enough to make
this a pointless exercise, plus the litigious liability of breakaway parts
would probably be astronomical.

Dan, I don't know if you are acquainted with the rider who crashed or not,
but I'm sorry you took my post as something other than I intended.

Brian Huntley

On Jun 20, 8:32 pm, "Carl Sundquist" <carl...@cox.net> wrote:

> That said, I was simply trying to ascertain if there would be any benefit to
> breakaway parts, somewhat akin to designed-in crumple zones on cars. Could
> injury generally be lessened if a breakaway part was engineered so that you
> could have more of a sliding impact rather than a direct impact?

Perhaps something made of sacrificial foam, wrapped around one's
head...

Michael Press

In article
<rcousine-6CB576.01110920062008@[74.223.185.199.nw.nuvox.net]>,
Ryan Cousineau <rcousine@gmail.com> wrote:

> In article
> <e374a2d9-81ca-4258-9e0a-466cb0df5cc1@w34g2000prm.googlegroups.com>,
> Dan O <danoverman@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On Jun 19, 7:44 pm, "Carl Sundquist" <carl...@cox.net> wrote:
> > > "Dan O" <danover...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> > >
> > > news:0f9fb585-87b0-4c39-aed2-f05123f0d31f@x1g2000prh.googlegroups.com...
> > >
> > > > On Jun 19, 12:22 pm, carlfo...@comcast.net wrote:
> > > >> On Jun 18, 7:54 pm, Mike A Schwab <mike.a.sch...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > >> >http://picasaweb.google.com/dbiked/...key=iOs1rM3MJzo
> > >
> > > > Since, thankfully, "... he's now ok" I can say it: Steel is real.
> > >
> > > Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't the fork breaking somewhat reduce
> > > pivoting of the bike/rider into downward force? In other words, if the fork
> > > hadn't broken, would the inertial forces of the bike/rider have rotated
> > > downward as the front wheel could no longer spin?
> >
> > You mean to suggest that you think it would've been worse with steel
> > forks?!? Did you see the Life Flight pics or what?! How would you
> > like to just lose the whole frickin' front end of your bike at speed?
>
> Well, even I believe it's very likely the squirrel-body would have given
> out first, but it would have been a rapid deceleration nonetheless.
>
> Also, never underestimate the utter randomness of bike crashes. At
> tonight's criterium race, two of my teammates collided and ended up
> landing on the ground, off the side of the course, about two feet from
> each other. One went home with a band-aid or two. The other went to the
> hospital with a probable broken collarbone and collapsed lung. His bike
> had a slightly bent rear rim and a big gash in the saddle.

Rule 1: Always land on top of the other guy.

--
Michael Press

Michael Press

In article <485B3670.2030200@whatchamcallit.net>,
Me <user@whatchamcallit.net> wrote:

> Werehatrack wrote:
> > On Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:22:26 -0700 (PDT), carlfogel@comcast.net may
> > have said:
> >
> >> On Jun 18, 7:54 pm, Mike A Schwab <mike.a.sch...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>> http://picasaweb.google.com/dbiked/...key=iOs1rM3MJzo
> >> Dear Mike,
> >>
> >> Just cross-posting your link to the crash pictures to RBT, where the
> >> detailed photos of the damage may be appreciated.
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >>
> >> Carl Fogel
> >
> > When will people learn that if you're going to ride squirrel dicer
> > wheels, you need to sharpen the spokes properly?
> >
>
> Or, just get squirrel inhibitor(tm) wheels! With their closely-spaced
> spokes, there isn't enough space for squirrels to get lodged! Low
> spoke-count wheels such as these Mavic Krysiums seem designed to catch
> squirrels and fling them up against the fork. Hmmm...wonder when some
> sleazy lawyer will figure out that his new niche lies in suing
> manufacturers of squirrel-catcher wheels when these crashes happen?

Squirrels are quick. Remember that the spokes going to the
contact patch are moving very slowly. A squirrel can see that.

--
Michael Press

Michael Press

In article <mmnn5456lrgt6sefk4u4te08fgis9dge8e@4ax.com>,
Werehatrack <rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net> wrote:

> On Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:42:48 -0700 (PDT), sergio
> <servadio@df.unipi.it> may have said:
>
> >On Jun 20, 6:47 am, Me <u...@whatchamcallit.net> wrote:
> >
> > Hmmm...wonder when some
> >> sleazy lawyer will figure out that ...
> >
> >... while Insurance Companies will require us to ride TT- like,
> >squirrel repellent, dish wheels.
>
> Naaah, they'll just make the event organizers deploy effective
> squirrel-control methods...which will, of course, be available only
> from a company that's owned by the cousin of the insurance company's

20 gauge and a hamper of bird shot.

--
Michael Press

carlfogel@comcast.net

On Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:54:26 -0600, Werehatrack
<rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net> wrote:

>Squirrels around here are too fat to get past the spokes . . .

[snip]

Dear Werehatrack,

Naturally, I googled for fat squirrels.

This one is ready for a hard winter:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...at_squirrel.jpg

Beer drinkers are an imaginative lot:
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/590/9900

There'll always be an England:
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7008945211

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

Werehatrack

On Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:45:10 -0700, Michael Press <rubrum@pacbell.net>
may have said:

>In article <485B3670.2030200@whatchamcallit.net>,
> Me <user@whatchamcallit.net> wrote:
>
>> Werehatrack wrote:
>> > On Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:22:26 -0700 (PDT), carlfogel@comcast.net may
>> > have said:
>> >
>> >> On Jun 18, 7:54 pm, Mike A Schwab <mike.a.sch...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>> http://picasaweb.google.com/dbiked/...key=iOs1rM3MJzo
>> >> Dear Mike,
>> >>
>> >> Just cross-posting your link to the crash pictures to RBT, where the
>> >> detailed photos of the damage may be appreciated.
>> >>
>> >> Cheers,
>> >>
>> >> Carl Fogel
>> >
>> > When will people learn that if you're going to ride squirrel dicer
>> > wheels, you need to sharpen the spokes properly?
>> >
>>
>> Or, just get squirrel inhibitor(tm) wheels! With their closely-spaced
>> spokes, there isn't enough space for squirrels to get lodged! Low
>> spoke-count wheels such as these Mavic Krysiums seem designed to catch
>> squirrels and fling them up against the fork. Hmmm...wonder when some
>> sleazy lawyer will figure out that his new niche lies in suing
>> manufacturers of squirrel-catcher wheels when these crashes happen?
>
>Squirrels are quick. Remember that the spokes going to the
>contact patch are moving very slowly. A squirrel can see that.

Squirrels around here are too fat to get past the spokes of a 36-spoke
wheel; I've had a few dash out towards me, but they've mostly turned
aside when they got a look at my old-school 36-spoke wheels. One
bounced off the spokes, hit my leg and did some aerobatics before
running off in a different direction.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Michael Press

In article <3h5p5410f9aal0tlscc278dhqsvs9d13is@4ax.com>,
Werehatrack <rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net> wrote:

> On Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:45:10 -0700, Michael Press <rubrum@pacbell.net>
> may have said:
>
> >In article <485B3670.2030200@whatchamcallit.net>,
> > Me <user@whatchamcallit.net> wrote:
> >
> >> Werehatrack wrote:
> >> > On Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:22:26 -0700 (PDT), carlfogel@comcast.net may
> >> > have said:
> >> >
> >> >> On Jun 18, 7:54 pm, Mike A Schwab <mike.a.sch...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> >>> http://picasaweb.google.com/dbiked/...key=iOs1rM3MJzo
> >> >> Dear Mike,
> >> >>
> >> >> Just cross-posting your link to the crash pictures to RBT, where the
> >> >> detailed photos of the damage may be appreciated.
> >> >>
> >> >> Cheers,
> >> >>
> >> >> Carl Fogel
> >> >
> >> > When will people learn that if you're going to ride squirrel dicer
> >> > wheels, you need to sharpen the spokes properly?
> >> >
> >>
> >> Or, just get squirrel inhibitor(tm) wheels! With their closely-spaced
> >> spokes, there isn't enough space for squirrels to get lodged! Low
> >> spoke-count wheels such as these Mavic Krysiums seem designed to catch
> >> squirrels and fling them up against the fork. Hmmm...wonder when some
> >> sleazy lawyer will figure out that his new niche lies in suing
> >> manufacturers of squirrel-catcher wheels when these crashes happen?
> >
> >Squirrels are quick. Remember that the spokes going to the
> >contact patch are moving very slowly. A squirrel can see that.
>
> Squirrels around here are too fat to get past the spokes of a 36-spoke
> wheel; I've had a few dash out towards me, but they've mostly turned
> aside when they got a look at my old-school 36-spoke wheels. One
> bounced off the spokes, hit my leg and did some aerobatics before
> running off in a different direction.

Agree. Never thought otherwise. You make my point that
they recognize a no-go zone.

--
Michael Press

Artemisia

dgk wrote:

> Yikes! Was there nothing that could be done for the squirrel?

Why? This was clearly a suicide bomber recruited by Al Qaeda.

EFR
Ile de France

Bill Sornson

Artemisia wrote:
> dgk wrote:
>
>> Yikes! Was there nothing that could be done for the squirrel?

> Why? This was clearly a suicide bomber recruited by Al Qaeda.

Read him his rights and provide an ACLU lawyer!

BobT

"Werehatrack" <rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net> wrote in message
news:j09m5450usq6isfcu247a4qns3ju281kct@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:22:26 -0700 (PDT), carlfogel@comcast.net may
> have said:
>
>>On Jun 18, 7:54 pm, Mike A Schwab <mike.a.sch...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> http://picasaweb.google.com/dbiked/...key=iOs1rM3MJzo
>>
>>Dear Mike,
>>
>>Just cross-posting your link to the crash pictures to RBT, where the
>>detailed photos of the damage may be appreciated.
>>
>>Cheers,
>>
>>Carl Fogel
>
> When will people learn that if you're going to ride squirrel dicer
> wheels, you need to sharpen the spokes properly?
>
> --
> My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
> Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
> Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

It that why bladed spokes were created?

BobT

Zarniwoop

On Jun 21, 8:58 am, "BobT" <RobertLeeTaylor...@THISSuddenLink.net>
wrote:
> "Werehatrack" <raul...@earthWEEDSlink.net> wrote in message
>
> news:j09m5450usq6isfcu247a4qns3ju281kct@4ax.com...
>
>
>
> > On Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:22:26 -0700 (PDT), carlfo...@comcast.net may
> > have said:
>
> >>On Jun 18, 7:54 pm, Mike A Schwab <mike.a.sch...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>http://picasaweb.google.com/dbiked/...key=iOs1rM3MJzo
>
> >>Dear Mike,
>
> >>Just cross-posting your link to the crash pictures to RBT, where the
> >>detailed photos of the damage may be appreciated.
>
> >>Cheers,
>
> >>Carl Fogel
>
> > When will people learn that if you're going to ride squirrel dicer
> > wheels, you need to sharpen the spokes properly?
>
> > --
> > My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
> > Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
> > Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.
>
> It that why bladed spokes were created?
>
> BobT

So ,That's why the hubless wheel was invented. for free flow of
squirrel traffic.

A Muzi

>>>> On Jun 18, 7:54 pm, Mike A Schwab <mike.a.sch...@gmail.com> wrote:
> http://picasaweb.google.com/dbiked/...key=iOs1rM3MJzo

>> Werehatrack wrote:
>>>> Just cross-posting your link to the crash pictures to RBT, where the
>>>> detailed photos of the damage may be appreciated.

>>Carl Fogel
>>> When will people learn that if you're going to ride squirrel dicer
>>> wheels, you need to sharpen the spokes properly?

> "Me" <user@whatchamcallit.net> wrote
>> Or, just get squirrel inhibitor(tm) wheels! With their closely-spaced
>> spokes, there isn't enough space for squirrels to get lodged! Low
>> spoke-count wheels such as these Mavic Krysiums seem designed to catch
>> squirrels and fling them up against the fork. Hmmm...wonder when some
>> sleazy lawyer will figure out that his new niche lies in suing
>> manufacturers of squirrel-catcher wheels when these crashes happen?

* * Chas wrote:
> It's all related to the carbon fiber composite fork and low spoke count
> wheel fad.
> A properly laced 48 spoke wheel with a strong steel fork would just
> decapitate the little suckers and the rider could continue on his way with
> nary a sensation that anything happened.

I'd like to see that - just not on my own bike!
In my experience you can't easily get a small animal wedged in a 36h
wheel. I haven't pursued this rigorously but at least two dogs (thirty
years apart) scuffed against a wheel without engaging my bike.
--
Andrew Muzi
<www.yellowjersey.org/>
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

Tom Kunich

When I first starting riding off-road with a group I got off ahead and a
rabbit ran out of the bushes and between front and rear wheels somehow
missing the cranks. I told everyone and they laughed at me and told me it
was my imagination.

Two weeks later the whole group was riding together on road bikes near that
trail and I was slightly ahead when a rabbit ran out of the bushes, came
across the road and ran under my cranks again. This time EVERYONE saw it and
they stopped telling me I had imagined the previous encounter.