On Apr 7, 3:04*pm, "tom" wrote:

Cougars on the other hand are smart enough to use
almost always use the element of surprise --- they'll usually leap on you
without warning from behind. *The first indication you'll have is the sound
of something running and jumping behind you, by the time you turn around to
look it's already flying through the air at you. *And they know exactly
where to bite you on the neck to effect a lethal injury.

In the Sierra Nevada's, I was sitting on my bike having a smoke break.
Looking over the valley below. I was at 11,000 ft and there was a big
rock outcropping behind me with several levels going up the side of
it.

I finished my smoke and kicked the bike into gear. Looking into my
rear view mirror, I saw something that will be burned into my brain
for the rest of my life.

A really big Cougar was crouched down on the second level of rock
about 50 feet behind me and it was in the muscle quivering, tensed,
ready to attack position and looking directly at ME.

My hand was already on the throttle and clutch. Instinctively, I
punched it hard.

About twenty pounds of gravel flew at the cat and it jumped down to my
level and made a dash at me. I hit the pavement and was doing about 60
in a couple of seconds. I didn't stop until I was at the bottom of the
hill, about a mile away.

I never, never, never stopped on another pull-over for a smoke. I
waited until I was at a business of some type first.

Same pass, different year....I came over the hill into a HERD of deer.
I saw a patch of light through them, tucked in my elbows and punched
it.

Got through. No hits, no foul, no outs. Slid to a stop in time to see
all of them, (about 20) bounding down the hill away from me.

I was going about 70.

My biking days have been over now for about 20 years.

I like my big van. The mileage sucks, but I feel a lot safer.