Dog and bike friendly sites

Gench replied on 08/10/2021 23:39

Gench

Posted on 08/10/2021 23:39

Hey All

We’re new members in an 8.2 m motor home with emtbs and three well behaved golden retrievers. We’ve tried a local site but don’t want the dogs to have to be tied up all day and are looking for some pitches countrywide that will enable us to cycle out direct from the site and be able to let the dogs have a run alongside us. If there was a forest or a beach and a pub involved that would be ideal ! I realise club rules require dogs to be on a lead but just wondered if there are any like minded souls out there who could steer us in the right direction ? Many thanks and happy touring.

27 replies

GTP replied on 11/10/2021 14:06

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Posted on 11/10/2021 08:32 by cyberyacht

Many years ago, people had "a" dog. Now it seems de rigueur to have a minimum of two and often more than that. Is it a wonder that there is a perception, even if exaggerated, that site are overrun with dogs?

Posted on 11/10/2021 14:06

and don't forget the baskets on bikes and perambulators for them to be carried around in..

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GTP replied on 11/10/2021 14:21

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Posted on 09/10/2021 19:24 by Takethedogalong

That is actually not a bad idea. Lots of horse riders wear informative tabards, I know we did, asking folks to slow down and drive wide. I was gifted an old Police type tabard. I occasionally wore it if I took our horse out onto main roads, and put all sorts of other reflective stuff onto him. The difference in how drivers behaved was astonishing to be honest.

You shouldn’t have to do it, folks should care a bit more, but if it helps. I always thought about wearing a tabard that said “Drive up my @rse, and I will sit on your bonnet” when out riding. That would just have had the not so caring honking instead though☹️🤷‍♀️

Posted on 11/10/2021 14:21

I always thought about wearing a tabard that said “Drive up my @rse, and I will sit on your bonnet” when out riding.

I actually had one made up with similar words after a TR7 sports came up behind my Hunter at traffic lights while waiting to cross over to St Annes beach...William did a 'dump' which repainted the bonnet...Interesting conversation followed.

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Graydjames replied on 13/10/2021 15:59

Graydjames

Posted on 09/10/2021 14:46 by Takethedogalong

Yes it’s a problem wherever you ride. I do my best when on busy paths not to frighten anyone, or make them jump, as I don’t like it myself. I use my bike bell, say hello, if I can. However, it’s a problem with anyone hard of hearing, or my own favourite, the phone or music zombie, who are also usually unaware of other users. The only thing you can hope is that they don’t require the whole width of the path (a lot do), and they try to be aware of what’s going on around them, and don’t walk more than two abreast. I have been knocked off my bike three times so far by other path users, twice by someone suddenly stopping dead in front of me, and once by a child running across me. Dogs on long leads are a ruddy nuisance. I’d rather a dog wasn’t on a lead than try to dodge some prat with their dog five metres away on a line. I haven’t learned to hurdle leads on my bike yet😡 Everyone using a shared discipline path needs to respect other users. Pedestrians have right of way as far as I am concerned.

You could consider rear view mirrors for your OH, on end of handles. Might help a bit. No excuse for riders to zoom past at high speed, that’s bad manners👍

Posted on 13/10/2021 15:59

Completely agree with almost everything above. However, I do find it a difficult decision about whether to use one's bell or not. I find that using it tends to make people jump; sometimes people who have been made to jump get very angry. On the other hand, I was once told in no uncertain manner that I should use my bell when I hadn't. Despite that, I remain very reluctant to use the bell. I just cycle up to within a few yards and wait for the pedestrians to spot me. They do usually although it is true that sometimes it takes a while. Then I'll say hello and offer some other pleasantry and slowly move on by. It's a tricky issue sometimes.

Pedestrians should always take priority, which is another reason why it feels rather arrogant to me to use the bell; It seems to be saying that they should jolly well get out of my way.

Loose dogs can be as big a problem as those on long leads in my experience although I perhaps agree that it is marginally preferable. I always slow to a crawl when I see dogs ahead of me. Some dogs, I have found, get a lot of pleasure from chasing cyclists!

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