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From: jp@tellab1.UUCP (John Perretto)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: FLAMING HORSES, etc.
Message-ID: <193@tellab1.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 24-May-84 14:25:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: tellab1.193
Posted: Thu May 24 14:25:04 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 31-May-84 19:03:41 EDT
Organization: Tellabs, Inc., Lisle, Ill.
Lines: 33



I have to agree with Mr. Fishell in his dislike for horses on the
Illinois Prairie Path (although my dislike is somewhat milder).

One thing that wasn't mentioned however, is this: in addition to
negotiating piles of manure (the manure slalom, as I call it), and
enduring the bone-crunching, horse-trodden path surface (shooting
the stone rapids, as it's affectionately called), there is a definite
traffic problem when horses are encountered on this narrow path. 
Countless times I have had to come to a screeching halt behind a group
of horses that were plodding along--their riders seemingly oblivious to
their surroundings. While some of these people exhibit a certain amount of
courtesy and move their animals aside, others seem to ignore my
presence, making it necessary for me to yell "excuse me," or
"beep-beep," or "get that horses a-- out of my face!"  It seems that
fellow cyclists either have a sixth sense, and know when to get out of
the way, or they're going fast enough that there's no need to pass
them. Additionally, while most cyclists have control over their bikes,
it seems that our equestrian friends do not always have control over
their horses. In fact, one time while riding a stretch of the path, I
encountered a horse and rider--when I approached ( at a rather brisk
pace) the horse spooked and turned broadside, blocking the entire
path. I was forced off into a clump of bushes, narrowly escaping
hitting a tree head-on. The horse and rider promptly galloped away--no
apologies.

But us IPP cyclists must look on the brighter side. Think of the
bike-handling ability we achieve in negotiating the manure slalom (not
to mention the crotch-callouses we get from shooting the rapids--who
needs chamois-lined shorts?).