[Londo Molari]

I ride mountain bikes in the People's Republic of New Jersey and we have plenty of bears here. I have been within 20 feet of a bear -- shocked the hell out of both of us. The bears usually run away about 200 feet and turn to look to see what you are going to do. The answer is -- back away slowly and make noise.

It is kind of scary to be that close to something that could easily kill you with just one swat. They are both magnificent and clumsy creatures. I feel terrible for these people.

[wintertime]

I ride mountain bikes in the People's Republic of New Jersey and we have plenty of bears here.

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In the early 1980s, I was driving East on I 80 and saw a bear walking along the south side of the freeway. We we near Lake Hopatcong. I can't imagine the bear managed to that close to the freeway,,,and on the south side too.

[xone]

'They are both magnificent and clumsy creatures'

I agree on the magnificent but clumsy? Compared to us they are a ballerina when hunting, or killing.

[Fester Chugabrew]

. . . back away slowly and make noise.

How do you do that on a mountain bike?