Coal rollers and unleashed dogs

Two things I always keep an eye out for while bike touring are coal rollers and unleashed dogs.

Coal rollers modify the pollution-control devices on their diesel pickup trucks so they can blast cyclists, pedestrians, Toyota Priuses, and other favorite targets, with suffocating plumes of black smoke as they pass.

They think it’s hilarious to see how close they can get as they swoop by. You can see them laughing, checking for your reaction in their rear-view mirrors. 

Some unleashed dogs that give chase are probably just having fun and don’t seem all that serious about it.

But others, particularly country farm dogs, appear to mean business when they’re hustling after you, and I have met cyclists who have suffered serious bites.

Even if they don’t bite, unleashed dogs can cause injury to themselves and cyclists, just by getting underfoot.

I have been told that coal rolling is illegal everywhere, but that doesn’t seem to have discouraged this dangerous practice.

The best defense I have found is awareness. When cycling through rural areas, I regularly check my rear-view mirror for approaching diesel pickup trucks to avoid being taken by surprise. Smokestack exhaust pipes are often part of this foul bird’s plumage.

When I get coal rolled, I try to ignore the roller, denying them the reaction they seek. My hope is that will discourage them.

With an unleashed dog, if I can’t outrun it, I cuss it out big time. Sometimes that’s enough to stop it in its tracks.

If it keeps coming, I get off the bike, use it as a shield and point my can of pepper spray at the beast.

At least thus far, I have not actually had to spray a dog with the stuff. Just pointing the can in the dog’s direction seems to have done the trick. A lot of dogs that give chase on popular cycling routes are likely to be habitual offenders. They’ve probably been sprayed before. So pointing the spray may be enough. They’ve been there before and don’t want another taste.

I find it hard to believe that the coal rollers will still be yukking it up if and when their pinheaded pranks cause serious injury and they wind up cooling their heels in jail.

For the dogs, I blame their owners.

Pepper spray: Don't leave home without it