What's the Deal with Bears and Bicycles?!
I've noticed in the headlines recently several stories about encounters between cyclists and bears. Makes you wonder...
First, there was this story about a Boulder, Colorado man who hit a bear while doing 45 mph. The cyclist was doing 45, not the bear. The story doesn't say how fast the bear was going, just the bicycle. The bear was fine, a little embarrassed maybe. The cyclist had some broken ribs, but was able to climb back on his bicycle and ride to the hospital.
Then there was the story of a man in Bangor, Maine, who was riding his mountain bike in the forest, when a bear took a swipe at him. The man said he wasn't sure why the bear was so pissed at him, but hoped that there were no hard feelings.
Yesterday, news came out of Alaska that a teenage girl in a mountain bike race was mauled by a bear as she competed. The bear got away, but is described as black or brown, six feet tall, and weighing over 500 pounds. If you have any information you are urged to call the police. You do not have to leave your name.
I can't explain all this unusual bear-bike activity, but here is a picture of a bear attempting to steal a bicycle:
And here is a picture of a man chasing a bear who just stole his bike:
Maybe it is revenge for years of mistreatment, like this:
Dang bears.
Do you have an explanation for all the animosity between bears and bicyclists?
First, there was this story about a Boulder, Colorado man who hit a bear while doing 45 mph. The cyclist was doing 45, not the bear. The story doesn't say how fast the bear was going, just the bicycle. The bear was fine, a little embarrassed maybe. The cyclist had some broken ribs, but was able to climb back on his bicycle and ride to the hospital.
Then there was the story of a man in Bangor, Maine, who was riding his mountain bike in the forest, when a bear took a swipe at him. The man said he wasn't sure why the bear was so pissed at him, but hoped that there were no hard feelings.
Yesterday, news came out of Alaska that a teenage girl in a mountain bike race was mauled by a bear as she competed. The bear got away, but is described as black or brown, six feet tall, and weighing over 500 pounds. If you have any information you are urged to call the police. You do not have to leave your name.
I can't explain all this unusual bear-bike activity, but here is a picture of a bear attempting to steal a bicycle:
And here is a picture of a man chasing a bear who just stole his bike:
Maybe it is revenge for years of mistreatment, like this:
Dang bears.
Do you have an explanation for all the animosity between bears and bicyclists?
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7/3/2008 7:47 AM
us bicycle repair wrote:
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http://www.wikiality.com/Bears
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Ask yourself, if you tipped the scales at 500#, how it'd feel to sit on that little seat and pedal that thing And, how your nether regions would feel.
Heck yah, I'd be set to permanent "search & destroy" mode, too.
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Jason,
Here are some possible explanations from politicians on this bear vs. cyclists question.
Nancy Pelosi: The animosity between bears and cyclists is due to the failed Republican policies of the Bush Administration allowing a greater loss of the bear's habitat. It is well known that Dick Cheney and the NRA are planning to reduce the bear population under the guise of the Patriot Act. The bears are only expressing their frustration with current federal programs.
Barack Obama: The problem is that these bears are living without hope. The cyclists have done nothing to deserve these bear's actions. They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, unless the cyclists are Republicans. I say that this great nation of ours should offer hope to all bears. If elected I will enact legislation aimed at the bears of our land and I say to all bears that together, yes we can!
Bill Clinton: When I was president there was no problems between bears and cyclists. I did more for bears than any other president and my book will explain more on why I am known as the first bear president.
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