Lions and tigers and bears oh my!!!

[John Nelson]

Pat, you left off ticks and mosquitoes. In certain areas, ticks can carry life-threatening diseases. Use DEET and/or don't spend a lot of time in tall grass, or, if you do, check yourself thoroughly.

[zzzz]

At the risk of Soleboyy#1 cancelling his plane ticket, John makes a really good point. While it's easy and understandable to get caught up worrying about charismatic fauna like bears or lions or wolves or even poisonous snakes taking you out, something like a tick is a lot more likely to leave you with a lasting memory from your trip thats not a pleasant one.

In particular, here on the east coast we have something called "Lyme Disease" which is tick borne. And not just any tick, only deer ticks carry it and they are hardly bigger than a freckle. I live in a heavily wooded lot and I have had the misfortune of having it twice. So when you cross to the east side of the Mississippi start being careful for them, use the DEET as John suggests if you want to be extra cautious, I think they even make DEET infused socks you could use around the campground. And if you feel a tick that's dug in (it will be quite sore to the touch and a little rough bump like a small mole got torn free) look to see if a bullseye rash develops over the next couple of days. Even if a rash doesn't show, IF a tick gets bored in (it takes 24 hrs for it to transmit) go see a doc and get tested at the end of your trip. I don't think Lyme exists in England so if you started to develop symptoms when you got home they wouldn't know to look for it.

pm

[jamawani]

I have to agree with Pat - the most dangerous animals out there on the road are Fred and Doris.
Retired, driving a rental 40-foot RV with extended mirrors, taking nitroglycerin tablets for angina.
And with an attitude that bikes shouldn't be on the road.

Now those are some dangerous animals.
I'll take a mountain lion any day.

[indyfabz]

Forgot about bison. Give them a wide berth. This was in Custer Sate Park in SD, but I encountered even worse between W. Yellowstone and Madison Junction. There were a couple lounging in the roadway.

[Joyride]

Good Stuff Here!

[Soulboy#1]

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to reply to this thread. I guess you've answered My worries and in reality I'm probably at more risk of harm walking around the streets in south London than cycling through the US. I'm a seasoned cyclist in and around London so well aware of the risks involving bad motorists and have come a cropper into the front end of a car also, so I'm aware of the hazards. I guess factoring in good, safe etiquette on my trip is needed as I'm in a different country so it's great t have everyone's advise. So I'm thinking I can purchase a special bear bag for food I might carry?

Happy Christmas everyone

[Joyride]

A bear bag can be as simple as suspending your panniers from a tree 3+ meters from the ground with a piece of paracord. Do it 20-30m at least from your tent.

[John Nelson]

I agree. A pannier makes a great bear bag. I prefer to put it at least 100 yards from my tent, sometimes much farther away. Be sure to remember how to get back to where you put it. I try to leave some markers, but on occasion, it has taken me a while to find it in the morning.

Put everything that smells in it. Not just food, but toothpaste, soap, bug repellent, sunscreen, dishes, etc. In addition to not eating anywhere near your tent, don't brush your teeth anywhere near your tent either.

[PeteJack]

Lots of good advice above. On the Transam I met a guy who had had a boxing match with a racoon inside his tent, it had torn through the wall, but saw nothing myself besides dogs in KY. They can be a pest. I carry Halt spray available in bike shops over here and the couple of times I've used it it worked. At Grand Teton  I was urged to put anything with a scent including toothpaste in a bear box.

As others have said the biggest danger is traffic especially those trailer things that fit on pickups. They are often driven by an ancient who only takes it out once a year and has no idea how wide it is.  In general huge trucks are considerate of cyclists often going completely to the wrong side of the road to overtake you. They are driven by professionals with little interest in the hassle of hitting a cyclist is my opinion.

[bikemig]

Just remember to ride on the right side of the road and you'll be fine. . . . .

Sorry I just couldn't resist, 

The advice on this thread is very solid (and cars and ticks are more a likely problem than lions, bears, and dogs). Still I'd carry some pepper spray just in case for dogs as well as bears. People go nutso over using pepper spray on dogs but it's up to you to make the choice whether to use it or not in an emergency).

[PeteJack]

If you decide to hang your nosh in a tree when you camp don't forget to take it with you in the morning! Done that.

[Soulboy#1]

Thanks again everyone. great advice and all duly noted. Bring on the ride...

[LucyM]

Reading with interest - as planning my own trip and the worst thing in Scotland is midgies - hoping that I see bears when I'm in the States - was really lucky and saw some in Canada when cycling touring - but don't want to be woken up by one in the middle of the night - I know I have eaten in my tent but not used tent for at least 6 months so hoping that any foody smell has disappeared by now.

[Pat Lamb]

I know I have eaten in my tent but not used tent for at least 6 months so hoping that any foody smell has disappeared by now.

Depending on what you ate and when, it might be worth the preparation time to wash your tent inside and out and let it air dry for a bit (few days, perhaps).  Warm salami smell, for instance, even I can smell after a few months with the tent rolled up.  And a bear's nose is much more sensitive than mine...

[LucyM]

Just remember to ride on the right side of the road and you'll be fine. . . . .

Sorry I just couldn't resist, 

The advice on this thread is very solid (and cars and ticks are more a likely problem than lions, bears, and dogs). Still I'd carry some pepper spray just in case for dogs as well as bears. People go nutso over using pepper spray on dogs but it's up to you to make the choice whether to use it or not in an emergency).

Not such a bad point - I cycled toured in Canada for 9 weeks and returned to the UK and forgot what said of the road I should be on - only remembered when I came face to face with a car,  luckily neither of us going very fast.