Can You Outrun A Bear On A Bike?

If you are riding or trekking on your bicycle in the woods, there is a chance of being attacked by a bear. Therefore, you should be prepared to cope with an attack.

As a result, you should certainly carry bear spray, emergency bells or whistles, and mountain rescue contacts. If you cannot get away from the bear and they assault you, fight back as best you can. However, we do not intend to suggest that you engage in a fistfight with the bear. Now the question here is, can you outrun a bear by cycling?

Let’s find out.

Can a Bicycle Outrun a Bear?

Yes, on a bicycle, you might be able to outrun a bear. It would be contingent on several circumstances, including how near the bear is to you and how quickly you can cycle when it begins chasing you.

On average, a bear has a maximum speed of about 35 miles per hour. Friendly reminder, keep in mind that this will be on all four paws. On the other hand, the average speed at which a human can ride a bike varies based on their expertise.

If you are a skilled rider, it may be about 28 miles per hour at most. Beginners may travel considerably slower, between 10 and 15 miles per hour. Of course, these numbers don’t appear to be encouraging, but remember that the bear’s maximum speed is stated above. In reality, they are likely to be slower than this, and it will take some time for them to catch up.

Things to Keep in Mind While Cycling in Bear Country

Here are some of the factors that you should keep in mind while cycling through a place where you may come across a bear:

• Always have bear spray on you and know how to use it!
• To avoid startling a bear, make a lot of noise.
• When possible, ride/hike with other individuals.
• Never try to flee from a bear.
• Stay calm if you come face to face with a grizzly bear.
• Dropping your load to distract the bear is never a good idea (or anything else)

Can You Carry Bear Spray on a Bike?

You can take several things to guarantee that you are safe from bear attacks while also safely riding. Carrying bear spray is one of them. You can opt to wear your bear spray in a holder around your chest or on your back to guarantee you have two hands-frees to pedal. You must ensure that you have easy access to the bear spray, mainly since bear attacks are unexpected and can occur quickly.

Remember that pepper spray and bear spray are not animal deterrents or repellents. It should not be sprayed on your tent, bike, or person because of this.

Instead, you should only use it to be effective in the case of a bear assault. The bear’s face, eyes, and nose should be sprayed to stun it, and then you should flee to safety.

Final Thoughts

We can conclude that you can outrun a bear on a bicycle if you have the right pace. So, as soon as you realize the trouble, you need to keep paddling the best you can and keep your mind free. Do not stress. That will lower your speed.

And remember – if you ride with your buddies, you don’t have to outrun the bear, you just have to outrun the slowest buddy.

Safe rides!