To not have my dogs on leads in the woods?

[mymumdom]

We are lucky enough to have 700 acres of woods near us and they are perfect for walking the dogs off lead. There is a 'beach' and children's playground in the middle, so I tend to stick around the edges as my dogs seldom stick to the paths and go crashing in and out of the woods on either side and I don't want them frightening small kids.
I'm not alone, there are a lot of dog walkers that use these woods.
Over the last few days I've had run ins with people on bikes. Not families out for a ride, but men or boys on bikes, going hell for leather on the paths. You don't get much warning before they suddenly appear, and one of them came around the corner to find the dogs standing in the middle of the path looking at him. He managed to avoid them but fell off his bike and grazed himself badly.
I apologised but he was really pissed of and extremely rude, and said I should have the dogs on leads.
TBH I can't see that that would have helped, they would be more likely on the path on the lead than off. I'm sorry he hurt himself but it's not an off road track, a lot of people use it and he could have hurt a person.
Then today another bloke came pedalling fast through a local park. I didn't have time to get the leads on the dogs before The Lurcher ran out in front of him while playing with our old dog, and I got sworn at again.
The dogs aren't that interested in bikes, they don't chase them or anything, and I know the cyclists have as much right as me to be there, but surely they need to slow down and look around them a little too?

4madboys, I would be very embarrassed if my dogs behaved like that around children, they usually ignore them unless the child wants to pat them, then they go over to be fussed, in which case I'm right by their side.
And I'm always scanning ahead for picnics, families, or groups of people. An unexpected picnic in a usually deserted neck of the woods is my worst nightmare :(

mymumdom you and MOST dog owners thankfully but there are enough stupid dog owners/mad cyclists/ insert random annoying person that dogs.cyclists, children etc get a bad reputation.

its all just about common courtesy, politeness etc, you treat others like you would like to be treated yourself!! its not rocket science.

Malvern hills had problems with numbnut cyclists shooting fast round blind bends. So cyclists were inbthe wrong. I have no problems with dog off lead long as poo is picked up and dogs under control.

Hey, normally I come on these threads to shout about irresponsible dog owners, but you are definitely NBU.

We have a local riverside walk - very popular - which now has twin paths, separated by a bank of grass. One is for cycles, the other not. Do you think that stops cyclists pelting along the non-cycle path like bats out of hell? Does it heck? It means I can't enjoy the path with my dc without having to keep a tight hold of them and constantly yank them out of the way of the cyclists.

Blood-boiling stuff.

YANBU. It is a suitable place to let dogs off the lead. It is also a place for cyclists, families out for a walk, people doing treasure hunts and whatever else goes on there. These things can all coexist peacefully. The one being unreasonable was the cyclist going so fast he couldn't stop. As someone else said, what if it was a toddler rather than a dog?

nowa said "unlike a dog which is meant to be on a lead. I think YABU."
Who says the dogs are meant to be on a lead? Wankers.

OP YANBU at all. Sounds like an absolute MAMIL (middle aged man in lycra - Surrey's full of them, unfortunately) twit who was embarrassed at falling off his bike. He should show a bit more consideration for other people enjoying the countryside.

And for what it's worth, I'd have told both of them to slow down, or fuck the fuck fuckity off.

Now-the OP stated, men or boys on bikes, not bikers who knew what they were doing or what type of bike that they were riding. Dogs don't have to be on leads in the woods, you expect dogs off leads in such places. Some of the places i ride, you have to practically stop and get off the bike to shoo sucicidal pheasants out of the way, which you are not allowed to hit.

My DD is very uncomfortable with dogs so I avoid woods for that reason.
Parks are different because I get a good look at dog/owner and she has fair warning so she knows to stand quietly and we try to get her to ignore.9/10 times the dog owner will call the dog over and put them on the lead to pass her.

I used to horse-ride in woods and it is fair to say most people walking were with dogs.So if they were looking/standing then fair chance there was a dog in the woods.

Cyclists on the other hand- complete flippin nightmare.Horses always heard them before I did.Often their reaction was my first sign that a cyclist was near.