"Pretty crazy" moment grizzly bear charges just past cyclist

Us UK-based cyclists can once again be grateful the extent of dangerous wildlife we encounter on our rides is an unpredictable squirrel or perhaps a last-minute lane-crossing pheasant. The stakes are higher over in Canada...

This incredible footage, captured and shared by breeze.photography on Instagram, shows the moment a grizzly bear chasing a herd of bighorn sheep narrowly avoids charging straight into a cyclist.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Bree - ALBERTA + BC ELOPEMENTS (@breeze.photography)

 The video has since been liked more than 44,000 times, replies laughing at the fact the unidentified rider has probably never put that much power through the pedals before. A charging bear out of nowhere is one way to hit your max heart rate.

"Cody and I got to witness something pretty crazy and honestly a little humbling today in Kananaskis when we rolled up to the parking lot for a late fall hike today," the photographer told her Instagram followers.

"This guy was ambling down the highway as we got to the parking lot but little did we know there was a herd of bighorn sheep hanging around as well. Turns out, grizzlies can move pretty fast when they are chasing after prey.

"I hope this video can be a good reminder that bears are out and about right now and they demand our respect and distance. I'm grateful we were safely perched right beside the car inside the door, when the sheep turned our way.

"Some things to remember when you're getting in your last fall hikes… Don't get too close to wildlife (on second thought, we probably should have just stayed in the car). Don't forget your bear spray! And take a friend (or a few) along for any hikes right now! Bears are super active right now as they prepare for winter. Feeling like we got to experience something very special today that I won't soon forget! What a beautiful creature and a wild day."

In May, a Vancouver cyclist said he was lucky to be alive after suffering serious injuries when he crashed straight into a black bear while descending a forest trail – which he had chosen for his evening ride to avoid cycling in traffic on the road.

> "Everyone was shaking": Montana cyclists survive close encounter with grizzly bear

"I did a flip over him. I pretty much kissed the bear and then I guess I flew through the air," Kevin Milner said after the incident which left him with multiple injuries, including a fractured scapula, cardiac contusion, bruised ribs, road rash, and numbness.

"It's probably safer riding with cars," Kevin jokingly concluded, having been assisted by another cyclist when the bear returned 15 minutes after the collision.

While in 2019 another Canada-based cyclist said she put in a "once-in-a-lifetime sprint" after being chased by a grizzly bear in Yukon territory.

"It decided to sort of chase me down the hill," Sierra Van Der Meer said. Luckily a driver of a minivan came into view and realised what was happening pretty quickly, speeding up to get between the bear and cyclist, ending the pursuit.

We also reported footage of a similar incident two years earlier, two pick-up truck drivers seen coming to the aid of a cyclist with full touring gear on a climb.