If this sounds like you, I recommend coming out to the Silicon Valley and greater Bay area for some bike riding. I too thought I had seen it all until recently.
A couple of weeks ago I went out for a spirited Sunday morning ride with DGal, Buffalo, teammate John C and Don, who was out visiting from Cville. We started out with a climb up Old La Honda, descended the west side and had just turned onto west Hwy 84 when near disaster struck.
Hwy 84 west is not unlike the Afton descent on Rt. 250, for those well versed in Virginia cycling lore. It's fast and pretty straight, with woods lining both sides. Typical bike speeds are 40+ mph.
DGal and Buffalo (Tim Noakes) were ahead on the descent by maybe 100 meters, riding closely, when out of nowhere, a deer bounded down an embankment and onto the highway at 20+ mph from the left hand side.
Artist's Recreation:
It looked nothing like this, and yes, that is a chick, but what can you do?
The moment it touched pavement, the deer became very aware of us screaming down the mountain immediately in front of it and hit the deer-brakes, which were, unfortunately for him, limited to some slick-ass hooves. He went into a slide on his hind legs with front legs bucking WILDLY as if getting ready for a prize fight, all heading directly for DGal and Tim.
It happened so fast, and looked really odd. My thought process was, over about ~ 0.5 seconds:
1) What the hell is that?
2) An alien is attacking us from the woods!!
3) Why is the alien choosing DGal? That guy gets all the glory.
4) That kind of looks like a deer.
5) Definitely going to hit them and it is going to be bad.
Don't hate the player, hate the game
