Sudden stopping

Well I've hit a confidence hump again. My job takes me to back roads through bush land on the way home in the dark (i.e. 11pm) and is the only way to go and it's about 30-40km. None of these roads have lights (or minimal) and bush comes right up to the side. I was literally crapping myself last night cause I'm petrified a kangaroo will jump out. Not being the most competent or confident on the bike already, this is something that really freaks me out. I know if I encounter this I am going to be a real 'girl' and grab the brakes, swerve and hit the deck - which obviously I don't want to do!

Suggestions? What practice can I do? (Les, keep it clean!) I'm ok with normal sudden stops from speed, but when it's a moving animal and you don't know the direction and it's black and you can't tell if there are more...

It is really giving me the heebie-jeebies! Techniques or suggestions I would love.

 

Get a car???

 

As you're 'literally crapping' yourself maybe a nappie? Otherwise...what Tom said.

 

No different from driving over the Ashdown Forest day and night, and Deer, Rule is Do not swerve unless 100% certain nothing else is on the road, I find if Deer are not moving on the side of the road they will not move, but if they are moving, then you gotta try and slow right down / stop, as they could go in any direction, even turn around come back and cross the road in front of you. The worse Scenario is deer in groups running across the road with out any warning out of bush, if you see one, dam sure a load will follow. I would guess a Kangaroo moves slower than a deer especially from a standing start.

Maybe look at getting some big upgrades on head lights so you can see a lot further down the road, or get a car

 

This is one solution....might need fabricating slightly to fit your bike

 

Ditto what Madpro says, might be worth sticking a HID light upgrade into the bike.

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys (well except Les - would I expect anything less!)

Problem with kangas is that they don't always hit you full on. A lot of the time they can clear you when jumping so could be their feet & tail etc that just hits.

Think I'll follow up about lights and noisy thing. Will get some practice in next weekend me thinks. Will find a nappy too just to make Les happy

 

Hmmn. You said, "Problem with kangas is that they don't always hit you full on. A lot of the time they can clear you when jumping so could be their feet & tail etc that just hits."

Presumably that's only a problem with the boy kangaroos?

Seriously, though... My boss in New York used to swear by something similar to these http://deerwhistle.com/ because he'd hack down I-95 on Friday nights towards his farm in Connecticut and saw many, many car or truck interractions with deer - none of which could be said to have a positive outcome. I did once point out that on the plus side is the year's supply of venison which hadn't even cost the usual round or two (er ...or three) to bring down, but that elicited a pretty withering response including something about needing a new car.

1. Do these work on 'roos?
2. Do you see many non-functioning roos beside the route when you ride it in daylight?
3. What advice do the local bar-room lawyers have about what deterrents actually work?
4. Do 'roos have the same herding instinct as dopey deer? ie. if Florence is startled and heads across the road, do all her lady friends suddenly think, "Oh, No... Florence has seen a better patch of grass / buck with a large willy / left her handbag behind - I'd better run after her"? There's a dim male deer equivalent, of course, involving some variety of 'last one across is a sissy', and 'last one across wins', but you get the drift, I'm sure.
5. I go with the 'improve your lighting' solution voiced above - you'll spot eye-shine from a long way off and be able to take avoiding action in good time. And be able to pull out a gun if you like 'roo steaks and have a freezer at home.

 

I've just remembered another potential solution you could bring to the attention of the local municipality. It took place in America (where else, I ask myself) and concerns deer crossing the road, but perhaps it'll work with Kangaroos too? I have posted this elsewhere, but not, I think, here.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5edIVgiTU4

 

I don' know how wide this road is, but can you ride, if safe, towards the middle of the road, this will give a little extra time to see any animals coming from either side. A set of spot lights set to illuminate into the bush on both sides might also help