Wild dogs in Sicily

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
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Konrad
Posts: 1
Joined: 3 Oct 2024, 7:05pm

Wild dogs in Sicily

Post by Konrad »

Hey! Anyone has some experience with cycling on Sicily? Im planning to do 2-week trip around, and will be using roadbike so i plan to stick to public roads 100% of the time. Im worried mainly about drivers and wild dogs. I heard that traffic is really heavy on the coastal roads but inland where I plan to go is way more calm. What are ss and sp marked roads like for cycling - are they ok or too busy? After checking google maps sp roads seem to be optimal. Also i dont think im gonna stick to smaller, local roads because of my other worry - wild and sheperd dogs :// - i have bad expierience after cycling in Greece where i had to change my route many times because packs of dogs were so common that they made me impossible to stick to smaller toads. Share your experience with the dogs on Sicily - is it the same situation as its in the Balkans or is it better? Is it common to meet wild or sheperd dogs on sp marked roads?
Andrew-l
Posts: 92
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 12:42pm

Re: Wild dogs in Sicily

Post by Andrew-l »

I rode the off road version of the Sicily Divide route a couple of years ago (https://sicilydivide.it/tappe-e-traccia-sicily-divide/ ). It was a good, interesting, hard route. Very well thought out by its local creators. They also have a road bike version now, which might give you some inspiration.

Dogs were definitely a problem. Not wild dogs but shepherds dogs. I outran a few (they do get up to 20mph+ though!) and I paused and talked to a few as well. The dogs were my least favourite thing, and I'd definitely consider taking some form of electronic deterrent next time.
borisface
Posts: 382
Joined: 19 Feb 2010, 3:48pm

Re: Wild dogs in Sicily

Post by borisface »

Can't comment on Sicily but like you have had a couple of bad experiences in Greece from shepherd's dogs. It depends if the dogs are blocking the road or simply chase you and whether you're toiling up a mountain or not. If the latter I have found that a squirt of water from a bidon can be enough to check the dog leaving you a couple of seconds in which to pedal away. There are also some dog repellent sprays that have capsicum and or vinegar in them which are meant to temporarily disable a dog which could be more effective than water. If you Google homemade dog repellent you can find a recipe and put some in an old bidon or spray container.The other thing is as has been suggested is a portable sonic dog repellent. Not tried either of the last 2 suggestions perhaps someone who has maybe along shortly.
Jdsk
Posts: 27826
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Wild dogs in Sicily

Post by Jdsk »

Recent discussion of deterrents:
viewtopic.php?t=161558

Jonathan
scragend
Posts: 175
Joined: 13 Oct 2020, 7:16pm

Re: Wild dogs in Sicily

Post by scragend »

Konrad wrote: 3 Oct 2024, 7:27pmWhat are ss and sp marked roads like for cycling - are they ok or too busy? After checking google maps sp roads seem to be optimal
SS = Strade Statale = state roads, broadly equivalent to our A roads*. They can be single or dual carriageway and are likely to have fast-moving traffic once you're out of town. Probably not the best for cycling.

SP = Strade Provinciale = provincial roads. A lower category than SS and maintained by the local authority rather than nationally. They can vary in nature and quality but they're not main roads in the way that SS are.

* The designation really refers to who maintains the road rather than what kind of road it is, but major roads would tend to be SS. Although that's not to say you can't get provincial roads which are quite busy.
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ConRAD
Posts: 764
Joined: 20 May 2010, 10:55am

Re: Wild dogs in Sicily

Post by ConRAD »

Konrad wrote: 3 Oct 2024, 7:27pm Hey! Anyone has some experience with cycling on Sicily? Im planning to do 2-week trip around, and will be using roadbike so i plan to stick to public roads 100% of the time. Im worried mainly about drivers and wild dogs. I heard that traffic is really heavy on the coastal roads but inland where I plan to go is way more calm. What are ss and sp marked roads like for cycling - are they ok or too busy? After checking google maps sp roads seem to be optimal. Also i dont think im gonna stick to smaller, local roads because of my other worry - wild and sheperd dogs :// - i have bad expierience after cycling in Greece where i had to change my route many times because packs of dogs were so common that they made me impossible to stick to smaller toads. Share your experience with the dogs on Sicily - is it the same situation as its in the Balkans or is it better? Is it common to meet wild or sheperd dogs on sp marked roads?
Don't care too much about difference in the between SP and SS marked roads. Wild/stray dogs are generally not a problem, sheperd dogs on the contrary might be definitely annoying only on very minor roads. The very big and disturbing problem is littering spread around everywhere.
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