Trail Riders Shifting Gears on Cat Menace

The Laguna Rads don’t scare easily. A longtime mountain biking club, the Rads have achieved legendary status for their love of steep terrain, speed and nonstop risk-taking. But lately, the bikers known for living on the edge have become a little edgy.

Shaken by the mountain lion attacks on two bikers last week in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in south Orange County, several members of the Rads are considering arming themselves with pepper spray before setting out on dirt trails.

“Everybody in our community is talking about it, especially the second incident involving the girl who wasn’t even alone,” said Hans Rey, the Rads’ most renowned rider. “That’s really alarming. It makes it very real.”

The death of Mark Reynolds and the serious injury to Anne Hjelle haven’t kept the Rads or other local clubs off the trails, but riding habits seem to be changing, at least in the short term.

Several local biking clubs are advising members to ride in groups and carry pepper spray, a stick or an air horn.

Wildlife experts say they are rethinking their safety recommendations as they pertain to mountain lions.

“It’s possible we might begin issuing some additional safety measures, such as bringing a stick,” said Lorna Bernard, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Fish and Game. “Right now, we tell people to use anything they have, including their bicycle, to fight the mountain lion off.”

But Bernard said their limited data on cougar attacks on humans indicates that pepper spray would not be effective.

“Mountain lions ambush their prey by attacking from behind,” she said. “If you’re taken by surprise, you’re not going to have much time to use pepper spray.”

Hjelle, 30, was attacked from behind while riding with companion Debi Nicholls. Reynolds was riding alone when he was attacked while apparently crouching to fix a broken chain along the Cactus Ridge Trail. It is unknown whether he was attacked from behind.

One bicycle club, south Orange County-based Team Bosso, is trying to outsmart the cats. Founder Al Bosso is asking riders to carry an extra set of eyes to watch their back.

Bosso said members have begun ordering a decal that resembles a pair of eyes.

Cyclists will attach the decal to the back of their helmets, an effort -- albeit with no scientific basis -- to give cougars the impression that they are facing their prey. The stickers are being ordered from an auto racing Web site. “From talking to rangers and other wildlife experts, we believe mountain lions won’t attack if they see your eyes and you’re standing straight up,” Bosso said. “We thought we’d give this a try.”

Until last week’s maulings, tricking a mountain lion hardly seemed necessary. Many cyclists said they wouldn’t go out of their way to avoid seeing one.

“These lions are out there and they’re rare,” said Rey, a pioneer of extreme riding who lives in Laguna Beach. “I’m lucky; I’ve seen them twice and it’s been an honor. Of course, I didn’t get attacked. So maybe I wouldn’t be quite as excited to see one the next time.”

Rey, 37, has made a career of excelling in trials, a biking event that requires riders to navigate a jumbled set of obstacles -- fallen trees, ramps, boulders and even beer kegs.

While filming documentaries, he has taken his share of risks by riding with wild animals in Africa, up and down cascades in Jamaica and searching for headhunters in Borneo.

He said he won’t let the minute threat of a mountain lion attack force him off his home turf, the trails at Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park.

“It’s too dangerous around the city with all the cars and traffic,” he said.

Statistics support him. Reynolds was only the sixth fatality from a mountain lion mauling in California and the first since 1994. Because of those long odds, cyclists are generally fatalistic about a mountain lion encounter.

“It’s sad, but that guy was just at the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Erik Kinscher, who rides for Billy Goat Racing in San Juan Capistrano.

“It’s nature. It just did what it had to do to live. It’s an unfortunate thing, just like a lot of things in life. They happen and you never know why.”